Become Fighter
Distance management: Kickboxing guide
Know which weapons live at which range, and choose the range yourself.
Every strike has a range. Kicks reach furthest. Punches sit in the middle. Knees and clinch work live close. Your job is to stand where your weapons work and theirs do not.
A kickboxer who understands range keeps the opponent at the end of their kicks, where only the longest weapons connect. When someone closes the gap, you either move out of it, or stop it with a teep or a check before it arrives.
Key points
- Long range: only teeps and kicks reach. Medium: punches reach. Close: you are in a clinch or exchange.
- Stand just outside your opponent's kick range, close enough to step in and strike.
- Move with small steps. Lunging gives away your direction and leaves you off balance.
- Angles beat straight lines. A small circle changes which of their weapons can reach you.
- Notice what range the opponent likes. Pressure fighters live close. Counter fighters want you to come to them.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Standing in the pocket to admire a combination. Strike and leave. Finish with a step or pivot so you do not eat the return.
- Backing up in a straight line. Step off to one side. A straight line keeps you in their range and in their power.
- Never changing range. If the opponent keeps adapting, vary the distance between exchanges so they cannot settle.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Range and timing module of Kickboxing foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Range and timing
- The teep as a range tool: Kickboxing guide
- Feints and rhythm changes: Kickboxing guide
- Timing the counter kick: Kickboxing guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.