There are some crucial factors that you have to understand when you strike. You can kick, punch, do palm strike, chop, elbow strike, knee charge and so on. 

![Understand the distance in a fight.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/rezoanulvibes/5yCayech-Understand20the20distance20in20a20fight.jpg)
<sub>[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/mma-mixed-martial-arts-fighter-1890458/)</sub>

If you are good at doing punch, kick, palm strike, chop, knee charge and elbow strike, that's great. The question is, whether you are able to hit with your strike or not. 

If you know how to strike, it does not mean that you will be able to hit. Whatever you do in a fight, you have to understand the distance. You and your opponent stand in a certain position. 

You are striking but your opponent stands far away, will you able to hit him? Of course not. At the same time, if you are too close to your opponent, and you want to punch, you cannot do it properly.

There is nothing wrong with your strikes. You cannot strike and hit your opponent effectively only because you do not consider the distance. 

![Kick in a kicking range.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/rezoanulvibes/fcn9VHOG-Kick20in20a20kicking20range.jpg)
<sub>[Source](https://pixabay.com/photos/mma-mixed-martial-arts-japan-maza-1315923/)</sub>

You can kick and hit your opponent if you are in a kicking range. You can easily do front kicks, side kicks, roundhouse kicks and it will be effective to hit the target. However, if you are in a punching range, you will find it hard to raise your legs and kick as you do in a kicking range. 

In a punching range, you do palm strike, chop, punch or grab your opponent, move him and strike. Now if you and your opponent are too close, you can do elbow strike, knee charge, and hit on the foot of your opponent. But you cannot do these strikes in a kicking range. Well, you can strike, but you will not be able to hit your opponent, so what's the point? 

That's why understand and control the distance when you fight for self defense. You will see a world of difference if you do that. Thank you so much for reading this post. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Stay safe. Always be happy!