Combat Fighting: What It Is And How It Works

Fighting has always been a big part of society. We might not like to admit it, but fighting is ingrained in the fabric of our society. People need to understand how to handle themselves in a fight, and more importantly, how to win.

Combat fighting is an interesting subject that has received a lot of attention in recent years. Many people are looking for new ways to protect themselves in combat situations. We’ll cover the different aspects of combat fighting, including the different techniques that are used, as well as what is involved in hand-to-hand close-quarters combat.

This blog has some valuable information on close combat fighting techniques and combat training.

What Is Combat Fighting?

What is combat fighting? Combat fighting can be defined as a system of techniques, principles, and tactics used in armed combat. It can be contrasted with other forms of close combat such as boxing, wrestling, or martial arts. The goal of combat fighting is to incapacitate an opponent through the use of techniques such as striking, kicking, grappling, throwing, joint locks, chokes, nerve strikes, and pressure point attacks.

This does not mean that fighting is only aggressive and cannot be used for self-defense. The proper use of fighting is learning how you can use it effectively. Learning is the basis for any sport so allowing yourself to learn combat fighting techniques will give you the skills to defend yourself as well as others.

Training With An Instructor

Once you decide to learn combat fighting then it is recommended that you train with an instructor. If you are looking for an area where there are instructors that may be close then look on the internet for combat fighting classes offered in sports clubs in your area. Make sure you are also clear on what style of fighting you are most interested in. If you need a supportive environment or even if you need to be able to defend yourself then a martial art that is natural to where you live is probably what you are looking for.

Reasons To Do Combat Fighting

You probably have your reasons for wanting to learn a combat fighting system. There is no right or wrong reason, there is just what you are comfortable doing. It is best to build your goals around your reasons for wanting to learn close-quarters combat training. Learning something that comes naturally to you will build your confidence and give you the motivation to continue learning. Remember that you can also challenge yourself by learning that which does not come naturally to you. You may feel that you are too old for it or that you just do not have what it takes, there is no need to tell yourself that.

Gaining combat expertise is a great way of challenging yourself and digging into the techniques you’re learning will increase your knowledge of how to defend yourself. By learning close combat fighting you may not necessarily be able to save your life if put in a life-threatening situation but you will improve your chances of being able to defend yourself if things get out of hand and increase your chances of getting out safely.

Types Of Hand-To-Hand Combat

For some reason, people think that martial arts do not take place in a gym or a class environment, they assume that it is scenario-based and only applicable in movies or on TV. The fact is that martial arts are most certainly a sport. You can compete at a national and international level. The latest martial art craze has been taken up by the worlds of MMA and UFC, which is mixed martial arts.

As touched upon earlier, any form of martial arts competes at a national and international level. The combat training that you engage in is broken down into 3 categories. These are fist combat, kicking combat, and grappling.

Stand-Up Fighting

Fist Training

There is body-to-body contact using hands, feet, knees, elbows, and kicks. Hand-to-hand combat has rules which govern how you can get hit, hold or throw your opponent.

Kick Training

Kicking combat uses kicks such as high, middle, and low kicks. In addition, there can be spinning kicks and kicks to the head.

As you read on you’ll get more information about some of these styles under “modern hand-to-hand combat techniques”.

Ground Fighting

Close Combat Grappling

Grappling combat fighting techniques are practiced in a variety of different ways. These styles include; MMA, submission grappling, jiu-jitsu, and Sambo to name a few. Each of these styles has rules.

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts)

Mixed martial arts is a combat sport that blends many close-quarters combat sports such as boxing, jiu-jitsu, and judo. MMA competitions have a variety of bouts, including, weight class, age class, style, height, and weight. In addition, there are rules such as, how much weight a fighter can weigh in, as well as prohibitions on choke hold and eye gouging.

Submission Grappling Combat Fighting System

Submission grappling is the grappling style used in mixed martial arts. It is a grappling sport that establishes dominance by forcing an opponent to tap out (e.g. surrender).

Jiu-Jitsu Fighting System

Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art. It works by combining techniques from Japanese jujitsu and judo ground fighting. It is named after the Japanese martial art Jujitsu.

Sambo Combat Fighting System

Sambo (Самбо) is recognized by two main styles, Sport Sambo and Combat Sambo. It originated in the Soviet Union.

Sport Sambo is derived from Judo, Jujitsu, Kurash, Alysh, Bökh, Ssireum, Greco-Roman Wrestling, and Catch Wrestling.

Combat Sambo is derived from Sport Sambo, Kulachniy Boy, Pankration, and Savate.

The list of the above styles could go on. In different parts of the world, combat fighting is practiced in different ways.

For people who are interested in martial arts, but may lack the ability to train themselves rigorously, there are martial arts schools to get you started.

As you can see, martial arts are not only a sport, it is a form of art.

Modern Hand-To-Hand Combat Fighting Techniques

If you are into martial arts or even self-defense, then you probably know that learning new moves should always be the goal. The more moves you know, the safer you will be and the better you will feel.

Modern martial arts have become a lot more strategic. In the world of mixed martial arts, it is no longer enough to just get a punch or a kick to the face. There is now a science behind grappling. In fact, in MMA fights, which last five rounds, the majority of the rounds involve grappling and after the 4th and 5th rounds, the champ usually has a huge advantage.

Equally, fighters transitioning from boxing and kickboxing to MMA find that grappling has become a lot more important. Fighters who can balance, escape, and counter-grapple are nearly always winning fights.

Most of the best fighters in the world can compete in MMA, boxing, and kickboxing. They can do this because they have been able to develop a wide range of moves that allow them to fight those different styles. There are, of course, many different martial arts styles. The main styles that fighters stick to are:

Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) comes with much hype and for different reasons. The main advantages of MMA versus kickboxing are that in MMA, there are a lot more take-downs and more specialized moves than there are in boxing.

The main appeal of modern martial arts is that anyone can learn them. No previous skills or training is required. Most MMA fighters are lean and muscular, which promotes the idea of being in shape to fight.

The main drawback of modern combat sports is that they are more and more regulated. In particular, MMA fighters have to be licensed to fight.

Combat Boxing

Boxing has its earliest origin in the Sumerians in Iraq, probably around the time of the 3rd millennium BC. This combat sport is a striking-based art, but there were also grappling and wrestling moves incorporated into the fundamentals.

The main differences between MMA and modern boxing are that in boxing, there are no take-downs, and the punches thrown are faster and more powerful.

Combat Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a relatively recent invention. It is also known as Kyokushin Karate. Kickboxing is from Japan and is a hybrid martial art of Muay Thai and Karate. The style promotes exercise as well as fighting.

The fighting style involves a lot of standups and a lot of kicking. It is seen as an effective style of fighting due to the combination of kickboxers’ speed and raw power.

Kickboxing is also effective in MMA and is often used as a preparation for more serious MMA fighters.

Kickboxing is a great style for people who want to get better at fighting. They will learn moves and techniques that allow them to hit their opponent hard and fast.

Combat Muay Thai

Muay Thai is a type of kickboxing that is popular in Thailand. Thai boxers are usually considered to be the best in the world. Roughly about 40% of the fights on TV in Thailand are Muay Thai bouts.

Muay Thai is striking based. The fighters are usually lean and muscular with good stamina. The fighters usually compete in 5 rounds and often fight at a very high pace. This makes Muay Thai one of the most popular styles that can be performed in a kickboxing match.

Muay Thai has a great history. During the time of peace in the 16th century, the martial art was practiced by soldiers and was known to be practical for actual warfare use, but it would eventually turn into a sport that was fought for entertainment.

In the early 19th century it was used for self-defense and attack, physical exercise and personal advancement, and recreation.

In 2017 Muay Thai became part of the World Games.

Military Fighting Styles

Combat Sambo is used and specially made for the Russian military and uses striking and grappling techniques. It was designed to exceed the Soviet martial art called ARB created back in the 70s. Combat Sambo is similar to modern MMA.

Defendu is a British close-quarters combat system that is simple and easy to learn and advocates fighters to end confrontations as fast as they can striking vital organs, efficiently and powerfully. This system was even designed to be learned in days because of the military’s tight schedule.

Jukendo is a Japanese martial art that is thought to be similar to kendo but it uses bayonets instead of swords and is based on spear fighting, while another opinion from a French researcher named Baptiste claims that it was influenced by the French military.

KAPAP is an Israeli martial art created in the 30s which implements the use of weapons, judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, and boxing.

Krav Maga is another Israeli martial art made for the IDF and security forces. This system was put together from techniques that came from judo, boxing, wrestling, karate, and aikido.

Lerdrit is used by the Thai Military and other units. This system focuses on close combat expertise in striking using the heels, outer edge of the hands, shin bones, knees, elbows, and skull.

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) is the US Marine’s martial art system that started in 2001 and teaches unarmed combat training and weapons. It also works for mental and character improvement, not just physical training.

Sanshou, Sanda, also known as Chinese Boxing, is a Chinese Military martial art that comes from traditional kung fu and modern combat fighting techniques which use kickboxing, wrestling, throws, sweeps, kick catches, punches, kicks, takedowns, elbows, and knees.

Special Air Service (SAS) is a very secretive and selective branch of the British Military, not anyone can join. Their chosen martial arts are also held in secret and not open for public knowledge, but it’s known that they’re experts in escape and evasion.

Special Combat Aggressive Reactionary System (SCARS) was an American combat fighting system that was created according to studies made on the nervous system, the body’s physical movements, the body’s physiology, and the mind’s psychology. There is no defense in this system, it focuses on checking attacks by directly striking unguarded nerves.

Systema is a Russian martial art that focuses on hand-to-hand combat expertise, knife fighting, firearms, and grappling training.

Teukgong Moosool is a South Korean martial art used by their special forces unit and incorporates quick suppression and submission. It came about after fighting between them and North Korea proved North Korea’s superior fighting skills showing their hand-to-hand combat expertise.

US Army Combatives Program is a martial arts program created in 1995 for the US Army to train them in close combat fighting techniques and battle operations. It is also used to develop them into leaders and real soldiers.

How To Learn Combat Fighting

You either love it or hate it, but that’s probably the point. There is virtually a martial art for every type of person on the planet. Whether your idea of an adrenaline-charging workout involves jumping around in a hall with cool warriors beating each other up, or sitting down on a couch watching people kick and punch each other with YouTube, there is a martial art for you.

Once you have picked a martial art, the next step is to learn it. There are so many different ways to do this. Some of the easiest is to join a class. There are several schools literally across the world which offer lessons in all different types of martial arts.

If you want to learn martial arts at home, then you will need to find someone who is teaching martial arts in your area. There are a variety of different combat fighting classes, some contain weapons, and some are more focused or balanced. You can often find martial arts instructors on sites such as Craigslist or Trademe.

An alternative is to go to a fitness club that offers martial arts classes. Again, many gyms offer the option to take part in martial arts classes. If you are a member of a gym, then it may be easier to join these classes than if you are looking to go independently.

However, even if you prefer learning independently, there are plenty of opportunities to learn martial arts online from teachtofight.com

If you are not sure of the style of martial art you want to get into, then start by doing a little bit of research. There are loads of resources online, some of which give comprehensive guides to martial arts. Other sites are more about news and reviews, giving more of an objective view of martial arts.

Once you know the style of martial art you want to learn, start talking to teachers. Most martial arts teachers are more than happy to try to persuade you to one of their combat fighting classes. They are constantly getting new students, so there may be a chance to find a teacher that is just right for you.

Martial arts can be very technical, so technical knowledge is also important. Certain types of martial arts, such as karate, have very strict technical requirements, so you will need to be ready to meet these before you can be accepted. However, there are martial arts styles, such as jujitsu and judo, which tend to be more forgiving and can take anyone from novices to black belts.

Make sure to ask lots of questions. The last thing you want to do is walk into your first martial arts class and find yourself lost. The instructors are there to help you learn so don’t be afraid to ask.

Once you have picked a style and an instructor, you need to be prepared to commit. Martial arts are not something that can be dropped after a week. They are a lifestyle. If you are serious about martial arts, then you need to be prepared to commit to regular training to make that style work for you.

It may seem a little annoying to have to say this, but martial arts can be dangerous. If you are involved in a martial arts class, and an accident occurs, then the instructor should have insurance to take responsibility. However, if the instructor doesn’t have insurance, then you could be the one responsible.

To be ready for the unexpected, you must have a copy of your health insurance card and details of your next of kin. Do not rely on your instructor’s insurance company. Don’t do anything you’ll regret, but having a 0.5% chance of getting involved in a significant accident is a risk well worth taking.

With all this in mind, you are ready to start your martial arts journey. Try and find a good, qualified teacher that is right for you. Then start learning. Once you start, then chances are, you will fall in love with it.

This post was inspired by our readers to see what combat training is about. As I have outlined, there are many types of combat fighting systems. This is because people use different forms of hand-to-hand which include standup striking, ground striking, strike styles, and grappling styles just to name a few. From this blog post, you can learn which one suits you best. To carry on learning more you could check out our other fight systems articles to find the type of combat style that suits your combat fighting interests.

Related Questions:

What does combat mean? Combat can be defined in many different ways. It can range from a physical struggle to a mental struggle. Combat has a different meaning for each person and each situation. When something is dangerous or hard to use, it is said to be “combatible”. This term generally refers to the interaction between two or more entities or combatants. They may be referred to as wars or battles, but they are most commonly referred to as combat.

What does fighting mean? A fight is any conflict with two or more people competing to do something that has values attached to it. Fighting is often meant to determine something or gain control over something. That means going into a conflict to achieve a goal. It may be civil and it may be self-defense, but it is always about problem-solving and conflict resolution. It covers many different areas of life. It can have a negative connotation but it can also have positive ones. Fights are important to have but there is a right way to have one.

How to combat stress for fighters? Having a combat mindset and fighting stress fighters are two of the most important parts of their training. One way to fight stress is to use breathing exercises, meditation, or exercise to keep yourself calm. While it may be easy to find these solutions on your own, there are other things that you can do. Some things can help you positively deal with your stress.