Page 125 - Pat O'Keeffe Combat Kick Boxing

Chapter Eleven
Environment –The Unknown Factor

In the ring there are few variations in the conditions. The ring may vary in size
and the surface is occasionally more slippery than normal, but basically that’s it.
In combat the conditions under which you may be forced to defend yourself
are potentially endless and a grasp of the problems posed by those conditions may
save your life. Below are some of the more common variations that will affect
fighting conditions.

1) Ground: Smooth, uneven or steep ground can affect kicking and fast
movement.

2) Footing: Wet, icy, or muddy surfaces, gravel, crumbling earth or unstable
sand can affect balance, kicking and even basic movement.

3) Light: Day, night, dawn or dusk.
In poor light you may be forced to
fight in close. In good light you may
be conspicuous.

4) Clothing: Weather conditions will
affect the type of clothing you and your
opponent might wear.
(a) Winter: Long heavy clothing
affects target choice. Hitting the body
and groin is unlikely to be accurate or
effective. It may also affect what
techniques you can throw as
movement may be restricted.
(b) Summer: Light clothing brings
a whole range of targets on-line, both
on yourself and on your assailant and
can open out the potential technical
response options.
(c) Protective Clothing: Motorcy-
clists are virtually armoured! Your
technique and target choice will be
limited against someone fully-clad in
leathers and helmet. (Fig. 215)
Security personnel, including
doormen, have unfortunately been
known to cause rather than stop
incidents. (See Chapter Four.) Be
advised that such people may well be Fig 215

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