Elements of engagement

1.       Get off the line of attack
 As your opponent initiates his attack, get out of the way. Do your best to get off of the line of attack. The manner in which you do this is very important it is not a dodge or a retreat. You should move just enough so that you do not get hit and there should be a forward component to your movement but we’ll get into that more a little later.

 

2.       Occupy Centerline
As you are moving in reference to your adversary you must forcefully occupy your centerline. Punches, kicks, and deflections must be employed with energy and commitment as you break critical distance. Halfhearted attempts will cause you to lose the opportunity to gain superior position and put you in danger.

 

3.       Move Forward
There are only four ways you can be physically attacked with a punch or kick as defined by the type of energy being used in the attack (long or short) and the path that the attack takes through space (linear or circular). For linear attacks you want to move ever so slightly off the line and then move forward while occupying centerline. For circular attacks you can move outside the arc of the attack and deflect it or move inside the arc of the attack to receive and dissipate it. In either case it is important to create the opportunity to move forward to engage and land a finishing blow. Use your sensitivity to problem solve if your attempts to strike are thwarted. Engage, bridge, and finish as quickly as possible. The longer you take the higher the probability something can go wrong.