Mastering Close Combat: Techniques, Ranges, and Target Areas

What Is Close Quarter Combat?

What is the purpose of close-quarter combat? The purpose of close-quarter combat is to implement unarmed and armed techniques that include lethal and non-lethal means across multiple ranges of assaults using force in continuity.

The use of unarmed techniques can include hand-to-hand combat and the ability to counter hand-held weapons.

If you’re using armed techniques, then they can include techniques that can be used with any weapon of convenience.

Purpose of Close Combat

Close combat serves a crucial purpose – to equip individuals with the skills needed to engage in hand-to-hand combat or defend against hand-held weapons. It’s a discipline that spans the lethal to non-lethal ends of the force spectrum. Here’s a breakdown:

Unarmed Techniques

Unarmed techniques are the bedrock of close combat, encompassing hand-to-hand combat and defense against hand-held weapons.

Armed Techniques

Armed techniques, on the other hand, involve the use of weapons like your standard T/O weapon or any available weapon that can be wielded effectively in the heat of the moment.

Ranges of Quarters Combat

What Are The Ranges of Close Quarters Combat?

What Are The Ranges of Close Quarters Combat? The ranges of close-quarters combat are three in which close combat engagements will occur. There are three ranges: they are known as long, middle, and close.

When you’re taking on opponents, these three ranges may converge or shift from one to the other until you’ve defeated your opponent or the situation has been taken care of.

What is considered long-range in close combat?

What is considered long-range in close combat?  Long range in close combat is considered the distance between opponents using weapons such as a rifle and bayonet, anything that can be conveniently used as a weapon, or something like a non-lethal billy club.

If you ask me, even a billy club can be lethal. So, this depends on how you use your weapon.

What is considered mid-range in close combat?

What is considered mid-range in close-quarter combat? Mid-range in close-quarter combat is considered the distance between opponents in which they can take on each other with something like punches, kicks, or even knives.

What is considered close range in close combat?

What is considered close range in close-quarter combat? Close range in close-quarter combat is considered the distance between opponents where they are now able to grab a hold of each other, and can use elbows and knee strikes, as well as grappling.

Suggested Reading: Learn more about grappling | Understand what combat fighting is about

Weapons Of The Body In Close Combat

Your arms, hands, forearms, and elbows are considered separate weapons of your arms.

**Different Areas on Your Hands as Effective Weapons**

Your hands offer various potential weapons, each with specific applications:

1. **Fist:** The fist can be a potent weapon when aimed at an opponent’s soft tissue areas, such as the throat. When striking with your fist, focus on the first two knuckles or the meaty area just below your little finger to minimize the risk of injuring your hand.

2. **Edge of Hands (Knife Edge):** The edge of your hands, also known as the “knife edge,” can serve as an effective weapon similar to the fist. It’s ideal for targeting an opponent’s vulnerable soft tissue areas.

3. **Palms (Heel of Palm):** The heel of your palm, due to its padding, is valuable for striking, parrying, and blocking attacks from your opponent. It provides a cushioned surface for both offense and defense.

4. **Fingers:** Your fingers can be versatile tools for various attacks, including eye gouging, throat-ripping, and targeting sensitive areas like the groin.

By understanding these different areas on your hands as potential weapons, you can enhance your self-defense skills and strategic use of hand techniques.

After the hands, your forearms are also considered weapons. You can use your forearms for offensive and defensive techniques. During defensive use, you can use them as tools to deflect or block attacks. Your forearm can also be used for striking to impair or break joints and limbs. When you are striking with your forearm, it’s not considered high risk when it comes to self-injury like striking with your fingers, hands, and fists.

Your next set of tools is your elbows. Your elbows can be used as great striking weapons. When you use your elbows for striking, you don’t need a long distance to generate a lot of power, the short distance is plenty to create plenty of force for devastating blows. These are excellent weapons, especially when you’re grappling during close range in close-quarter combat.

Your legs are considered to be the strongest weapons of your body. They are also less likely to incur any injury when striking. When you strike with your legs, it’s preferred that you do so with your feet, which are protected or should be protected by the boots that you’re wearing.

The foot is your next weapon. With your feet, you can use the balls of your feet, the insteps, and your toes to kick your opponents. You should only use your toes if you’re wearing your boots. Your heels can also be used. You can use the cutting edge of your heels to trample your opponents.

Your knees are also weapons similar to your elbows. And like your elbows, your knees are excellent weapons during any grappling you find yourself in during close-range combat. You should use your knees when you’re fighting close to your opponent because, at this range, kicking is useless. A perfect place to target is the groin area for your knee strikes, even if you’re fighting someone who’s still standing. The knee strikes can also be a crushing backup attack to your opponent’s face after the first blow which causes him to bend at his waist.

Target Areas Of The Body

What Are the Target Areas Of The Body? The target areas of the body during close combat which are readily accessible are going to differ because each situation is not the same, as well as during the overall confrontation. Your intention should be to attack the open areasThe areas that are almost always accessible for attack are going to be the head, neck, torso, groin, and extremities such as the end part of a limb like a hand or foot.

A Target Area Of The Body Is The Head

The following are considered to be the exposed areas of the head: they are the eyes, temple, nose,

ears, and jaw. Be aware that any immense damage to the skull can likely kill someone.

The Eyes Are Targets In Close Combat

The eyes can be considered high-value targets since they’re not covered by muscles or bone, and because they’re soft tissue. When attacking this area, your opponent is going to try to protect his eyes with his hands. This gives you plenty of opportunity to attack other target areas while your opponent is not aware.

The Temples Are Targets When In Close Combat

The temples are known to be the most delicate areas of the head. Powerful strikes to the temple can cause long-lasting damage or even death.

The Nose Is A Target In Close Combat

The nose is another target area that is very delicate and can be easily broken. If the nose were to be attacked, an opponent could suffer from uncontrolled watering and closing of his eyes, which can leave your opponent open to other attacks. If your strikes to the nose are not strong enough, then your opponent is not going to be affected by them because if he’s someone who’s been training, then he’s grown used to being hit in the nose and can handle what you’re throwing at him.

The Ear Are Targets In Close Combat

Another target area is the ears. If you decide to attack the ears, you could tear your opponent’s eardrum. The ear is on the same level as the nose, if you’re not striking hard enough and your opponent is well-trained, then you’re not going to stop him or even divert his attention away from more serious attacks.

The jaw area is another target area and if struck with great force, then it can cause your opponent to become incapacitated. When striking the jaw of your opponent, you can cause serious injury to his teeth and tissue areas like his tongue and lips, at the same time though, you’ve just increased your risk of injury as well. The only way to avoid any risk is by using something else that can be used as a weapon, some sort of hard object, or even the heel of your boots.

The Neck Is A Target In Close Combat

The front of the neck or throat is just soft tissue and not covered by strong muscles or bone. There’s no natural protection from the body in this area. Damage to this region can cause the windpipe to swell and close your opponent’s airway and may cause his demise.

The back of the neck is where you’ll find the spinal cord where the nervous system is connected to the brain. A person’s head is heavy and there aren’t large muscles in the neck area to prevent damage if attacked there. Any serious blows or twisting beyond what the spinal column can bear can cause a lot of damage, enough from pain to completely immobilize your opponent.

The Torso Is A Target Area In Close Combat

The clavicle or collarbone area can be easily injured and fractured, enough to keep your opponent from being able to use his arm at all.

If you were to attack the solar plexus or center of the chest, you could render your opponent senseless by knocking his breath out of him.

The Ribs Are Targets In Close Combat

The ribs are a dangerous place to attack. Any damage to them can leave your opponent impaired, and you may also cause him internal

and may cause internal injuries.

The Kidneys Are Target In Close Quarters Combat

The kidneys can also be targeted. Any powerful blows to the kidneys can also cause immobilization, permanent damage, and even death.

The Groin Is A Target In Close Quarters Combat

The groin, which was discussed previously, is an obvious target area. The groin area is a large soft tissue area that is not covered or naturally protected. When attacking this area, there’s going to be an involuntary reaction to protect the area if injured or from injury. It’s almost like a reflex carried out by the hands or legs. The scrotum, which is the pouch of skin that contains the testicles should be the main target because even a near miss is going to cause severe pain, contract the lower stomach muscles, destroy your opponent’s stance, and may also cause serious internal damage.

The Extremities Are Targets In Close Quarters Combat

The extremities are also targeted as discussed earlier. If these areas are attacked, it’s going to be very rare that an opponent’s extremities, which are his arms and legs, will cause him to go to the afterlife, but they are considered to be very important target areas in close-quarter combat since any damage to a joint is going to immobilize your opponent and leave him helpless.

In this article, you have given a beginner’s guide to close-quarter combat and a dangerous one at that. Ranges of close combat, weapons of the body, and training for close-quarter combat have been discussed in depth so hopefully, you have enough information now to understand the different techniques of close-quarters combat and where you need to improve yourself, or what you need to begin training in.

Close Quarter Combat is all about getting in the zone with the body and learning the basics. It allows the combatant to initiate a series of attacks at any part of the opponent’s body. Let us know what your thoughts are on this type of fighting martial arts in the comments section below.

Training for Close Combat Mastery

Mastery of close combat techniques requires diligent training. It’s not enough to understand the theory; you must practice regularly to develop muscle memory and reflexes. Training should contain the following components:

Physical Fitness

Close combat demands physical strength, agility, and endurance. Regular exercise and conditioning are essential to prepare your body for the rigors of combat.

Technique Drills

Work on perfecting your strikes, blocks, and grappling techniques through drills. Repetition is key to achieving proficiency.

Scenario-Based Training

Simulate real-world scenarios to enhance your situational awareness and decision-making skills. Practice in different environments and under varying conditions.

Sparring

Engaging in controlled sparring sessions with a partner helps you refine your skills in a safe but realistic setting. It also builds your ability to read your opponent’s movements.

Weapons Training

If applicable to your training, become proficient in the use of both hand-held weapons and improvised objects that can serve as weapons.

Mental Toughness

Close combat is as much a mental game as a physical one. Develop mental resilience to stay calm under pressure and make split-second decisions.

Situational Awareness

Situational awareness is paramount in close combat. Being aware of your surroundings and your opponent’s movements can mean the difference between success and failure. Here are some tips:

Constant Vigilance

Stay alert at all times, even in seemingly safe environments. Threats can emerge unexpectedly.

Body Language

Learn to read your opponent’s body language. Their posture, gestures, and facial expressions can provide valuable insights into their intentions.

Use of Cover

When available, use cover to your advantage. This can include objects or terrain that provide protection from attacks.

Positioning

Maintain good positioning to control the engagement. Ensure you have room to maneuver and respond effectively.

Escape Routes

Always be aware of potential escape routes. If the situation becomes overwhelming, having an exit strategy is critical.

Conclusion

Close combat is a skill that combines physical prowess with mental acuity. It’s not just about knowing how to strike; it’s about training rigorously and being acutely aware of your surroundings and your opponent. By mastering these aspects, you can greatly enhance your effectiveness in close combat scenarios and increase your chances of staying safe. Remember, preparation and knowledge are your greatest allies in close combat.