CONCEPTS FOR EFFECTIVE COMBAT
Combatives is a fusion of concepts, principles, techniques, movement, and striking. The better you connect these elements smoothly, the more adaptable, animated, and prepared you become as a fighter. It is not just a collection of isolated skills; it is the ability to blend them under pressure into effective body movement, positioning, and offense. True combatives training teaches you how to think, move, and respond as one complete system rather than as separate parts. Concepts give you the understanding of why a tactic works, principles guide your decisions in changing situations, techniques provide practical tools, movement creates angles and balance, and striking allows you to disrupt, control, or finish an encounter. When these pieces are connected, your actions become more fluid and purposeful, allowing you to adjust quickly to distance, timing, resistance, and the unexpected demands of a real confrontation.
CONCEPTS, POSITIONS & MOVEMENTS EXPLAINED
CONCEPT
Branching
If a technique is not working, immediately transition to another one instead of forcing the same response over and over. Do not become emotionally attached to a technique simply because it was your first choice.
In a fight, resistance, movement, fatigue, and injury can quickly make a preferred option unavailable. The ability to branch allows you to stay offensive, maintain pressure, and deny your opponent the opportunity to adapt, recover, or take control of the fight.
CONCEPT
Disarming
Disarming does not necessarily mean taking the weapon away from someone. You may disarm a person by making them either unwilling or unable to use the weapon by causing injury, unconsciousness, or a loss of functional control.
The priority is not possession of the weapon, but neutralizing the threat it presents. If the attacker can no longer access, aim, swing, stab, fire, or retain control of the weapon, then the weapon has been effectively removed from the fight. Focus on shutting down the person, not wrestling over the object.
CONCEPT
Take Their Space
Once you attack, do not let your opponent recover. Keep moving forward and force him backward, off balance, and under pressure. Your feet should replace where his feet were. Do not strike and wait. Drive into him, take away the space he needs, and make him react to you until the threat is controlled or you can safely escape.
Example: If your initial strike causes him to step backward, follow immediately and keep striking as you advance. Do not stop at the point of contact; move into the space he gives up and prevent him from resetting.
POSITION
The Index
We often use physical positioning to prepare for possible violence. Violence may not happen, but if it does, you’ll be more ready. The first position is an indexed position: a natural, non-threatening stance that gives you a base to attack or defend. It is neutral, athletic, balanced, and less formal than a guard. An index also identifies the strike you plan to use and, most importantly, mentally prepares you for what may happen.
POSITION
The Guard
The guard is a balanced athletic stance: one foot slightly back, body bladed, knees bent, and weight ready to move. Hands stay open or loosely curled so you can protect yourself, move, and attack. Use the guard when violence is certain and you must respond immediately. If grabbed, shoved, or attacked, you move into guard because violence has already begun.
Keep the guard alive and protective: raise your arms and drop your elbows to cover sudden attacks and create a chance to strike back.
MOVEMENT
Opening The Gate
The inquartata, or “opening the gate,” is a simple pivot: one foot anchors while the other swings around to clear the attack. If needed, take a corrective step to regain your nose-over-toes stance. This movement also adds power by moving your body off the line and giving the attacker space to fall.
​
Out-of-line movement clears your body from the weapon’s path. Instead of backing straight up and risking a fall, move off the line, create an angle, and reattack from a disadvantageous position for the attacker.
MOVEMENT
Shuffling
Shuffling is pretty much the same basic footwork used in boxing: To move forward, push off the rear foot, step with the lead foot, then bring the rear foot up.
To move backward, push off the lead foot, slide the rear foot back, then bring the lead foot back. Keep the heel lifted when moving backward so the foot can clear curbs or obstacles.
To move sideways, push off the opposite foot and bring the other foot over. Practice the shuffle in all directions until it becomes smooth and automatic.
MOVEMENT
Vaulting
Vaulting is an explosive shuffle used to generate power by driving your body weight through the weapon. Instead of relying only on your arm, you push hard off the rear foot, lift the lead foot, and drive forward with a fast, plyometric burst. Unlike walking, where weight is split between stepping and pulling forward, vaulting sends the force forward into the strike.