Making Distance...Why?

From Senshido Connecticut's Rick Capozzi (www.senshidoct.com): 

  I was adding a new video to my YouTube channel (Senshido CT YouTube Channel ) and while reviewing it some interesting clips showed up on the sidebar.  Being the curious type, I watched a few.  What I saw left me shaking my head and wondering 'why'? It appears there are many 'self defense instructors' who place a high priority on making distance during an attack.  Big mistake. No, it's worse than big.  It's a tactical error of Biblical proportions!  Let me explain........

    Being at kissing distance to your attacker offers several important advantages to you.  For starters, it allows maximum use of Tactile Sensitivity and Opportunity Striking ( two of the five principles of Senshido ).  Tactile Sensitivity is enhanced at this range due to the increase in body contact, so you're not just relying on the input from your hands.  You Judo, Ju Jitsu and Greco-Roman wrestlers know what I mean.  Being close enough to have hip or leg contact will help you feel which way your opponent  is going to step ( or fall ).  Opportunity Striking is enhanced by the increase in tools you can utilize.  At extreme close quarters one can use elbows, knees, head butts and bites.  These tools are simply not available in punching range.

    Another advantage of staying in close to our attacker is the psychological impact of the invasiveness  felt at this range.  Most people ( not all, as nothing is 100% in combat ) are between uncomfortable and flat out terrified of being intimately close to a stranger.  It's a survival mechanism humans have developed over the years.  Don't believe me?  Slowly make your way into kissing distance with a stranger the next time you're in line at Starbucks.  Watch what happens.....    If they freak out, make a scene, or call the police I'll deny any involvement.  The invasion of personal space in combat will hasten the Predator / Prey shift and intensify their  Condition Black experience ( See post above on Condition Black ) . Personal space in combat?  Really Rick?  Yes.  The attacker wanted to keep you in a certain range ( most likely 'punching' range ) for a reason.  They're confident and comfortable there ( perhaps they have a reach advantage as well ).  Anything closer is scary to them.  It becomes personal space because they suddenly feel vulnerable, and I assure you they ARE vulnerable.  Unless they have trained to fight at this range, and in my experience 90% of people have NOT, they can't deliver powerful strikes here.  Why?  Because 'distance' ( one of the three elements for effective striking, along with 'grounding' and 'torque' ) has been taken away and the attacker will instinctively know it.  Also, any reach advantage he might have had and depended on just disappeared. Once you're in close and utilizing a shred you attacker will be the one wanting to make distance.  Don't let him.  Keep your anchor and let the shred roll!

    To quote Senshido's founder Rich Dimitri: " distance creates opportunity, for your opponent ".  My street experience has shown this to be true.  I will add to that: close proximity denies opportunity to your opponent, while providing you with the tactical advantage.  So, why would you want to make distance?  You wouldn't.  Why is making distance being taught?  I don't know...........