Distances in kickboxing
One of the most important skills that a Kickboxer must have is the understanding and adequate use of distance. If the concept of distance is not assimilated correctly and perfectly used, a competitor, despite good physical preparation and excellent techniques, will not be completely efficacious and will undoubtedly be defeated. Instead, a competitor with less ability, both technical and physical, but with the right use of distance, has a good possibility of becoming a champion.
Theory on distance
Distance must be the right separation between an athlete and his or her adversary, in order to make attacks have effect and not give the other time to react and put the adequate defense into practice. As we will see, the different techniques, their effectiveness and the possibility of defense and the response depend on distance.
After all, it constitutes an essential ingredient of competitive tactics; furthermore, it provides the athlete with a certain safety margin, giving him or her the possibility of immediately seeing the adversary’s actions, therefore being able to oppose them in time. In principle, the best distance will be an average one, from which the athlete, protected by an effective guard, can study his or her adversary’s strategy, tactics and technique.
Then during combat, the distance will be progressively changed, up to reaching the best one. Remember that every kickboxer must adopt a distance that suits him or her best and this depends on his or her physical structure, technical ability and the training followed prior to competition. Forcing the adversary to enter the best distance is one of the phases of the combat strategy and the feints, dodges and moves of the kickboxer must be aimed at it, therefore breaking up the rhythm or forcing errors in the adversary’s position that will give him or her the advantage needed to win.
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