Long Range

SubFamily

遠距離(Enkyori)

Traditional

Translation: long range

Overview

The Long Range subfamily covers the fighting distance where fighters are beyond punching range, requiring kicks, long jabs, or forward movement to close distance. ^[1] Long range is the distance where the longest-reaching techniques — front kicks, side kicks, teep, and jabbing while stepping — are the primary offensive tools. ^[1],[2] Fighting at long range favours fighters with reach advantages, kicking skills, and superior footwork who can maintain distance and control the pace. ^[2],[3]

Also known as

Out-Fighting Range^[1]Kicking Distance^[2]Long Distance^[3]

Used in

Karate Taekwondo Kickboxing MMA

History & Origin

Long range fighting has been emphasised in kicking-based arts like Taekwondo, Karate, and Savate, where maintaining distance and using kicks as the primary weapon is central to strategy. ^[1] MMA's integration of kicking at range expanded the tactical importance of long range management. ^[2],[3]

Effectiveness

Long range is the distance for kicks, long punches, and footwork-based fighting. ^[1],[2]

Lineage

Long-range fighting is emphasised in karate, taekwondo, and kickboxing traditions. ^[1]

Competition Record

Long-range fighters in MMA include strikers like Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones. ^[1]

Images

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Biomechanical Mechanism

Primary Action — Perpendicular chest-to-chest control — pinning the opponent's upper body while maintaining mobility

Joints Involved — Attacker's chest (primary contact), hips (sprawled or driving), opponent's near shoulder and hip (controlled)

Force Vector — Downward and lateral — chest pressure pins the opponent while hip positioning prevents escape

Positional Mechanic — Crossface and underhook combination controls the opponent's head and near arm, preventing bridging or turning

Position & Entry

From neutral position — Assume the fighting stance by placing feet at shoulder width, bending knees slightly, and establishing guard position

Before engagement — Establish the proper stance as the starting position before initiating or receiving attacks

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Ratings

Danger Rating

Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to

Low2/10

Standing positions are pre-engagement stances; minimal direct risk

Difficulty

Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably

Beginner

Competition Legality

Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets

— Unified MMA — Legal

Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF

— IBJJF — Legal

IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF

— IJF — Legal

IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF

WBC/Boxing — Legal — stance and footwork are fundamental {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}

— WKF — Legal

WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF

— UWW — Legal

UWW International Wrestling Rules, January 2026PDF

Training Notes

✓Long range is the distance where only the longest weapons reach — the jab, front kick, and teep are the primary tools at this distance (Haislet, Boxing, 1940)

✓Long range is the safest distance: fewer techniques can reach, giving more time to react to attacks

✓Long-range fighters use the jab to maintain distance: each jab pushes the opponent back and resets the range

✓The front kick (teep) is the longest-range technique in MMA: it controls distance better than any punch

✓Long-range fighting requires superior footwork: lateral movement, in-out stepping, and angle changes maintain the distance

✓Fighters who dominate at long range: Jon Jones (longest reach in UFC history), Valentina Shevchenko, Sugar Ray Leonard — all use range as their primary weapon

✓Long range is where counter-striking thrives: the distance allows time to read the opponent's attacks and counter

Common Mistakes

!Standing at long range without using the jab — the jab is the primary tool for maintaining long range

!Moving only backward to maintain distance — lateral movement and angles are more effective than straight retreats

!Not using the front kick to manage distance — the teep is the longest-range tool available

!Allowing the opponent to close distance without consequence — punish every attempt to close range

!Being passive at long range — long-range fighting requires active distance management, not just standing far away

!Fighting at long range without the reach advantage — if the opponent has longer reach, long range favours them

!Not training footwork for distance management — footwork is the foundation of long-range fighting

Related Techniques

Transition — movement between this position and adjacent positions in the hierarchy

Counter Techniques

Posture Control — maintain strong posture to limit the opponent's offensive options Escape to Neutral — work back to standing or a neutral position

Setup Chain

1Achieve Position — transition into this position through passing, sweeping, or scrambling

2Stabilize — establish controlling grips and weight distribution

3Maintain — adjust to the opponent's escape attempts to hold position

4Attack — launch offensive techniques from the stabilized position

Sources & References

Primary Source

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Theory and Technique (Renzo Gracie & Royler Gracie, 2001)

1BookBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [3] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)

2BookMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)

3SyllabusKodokan Judo Institute — Official Waza Names

Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)

4OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)

Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)

5CitationBoxing (Dempsey, 1950)

Alias sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950) [3] Championship Fighting (Dempsey, 1950)

6CitationMuay Thai: The Art of Fighting (Kraitus, 2002)

Effectiveness sources — [1] Mastering Jujitsu (Gracie & Danaher, 2003) [2] Muay Thai Unleashed (Delp, 2006)

Community

Athletics

Requires

balance, lower body stability, quick directional change

Favours

well-proportioned build with strong base

Key muscles

calves, quadriceps, core, hip stabilisers

Sub-techniques

Standard Long Range

Genus

The Standard Long Range position places fighters at a distance where kicks and fully extended punches are the only techniques that can reach. [1] At standard long range, the primary tools are front kicks, roundhouse kicks, side kicks, and the jab delivered with full extension and forward step. [1,2] Fighters at long range focus on footwork and angle changes to create entries to mid range or to maintain distance if they prefer to fight at range. [2,3]

Explore

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Long Range work?

The Long Range subfamily covers the fighting distance where fighters are beyond punching range, requiring kicks, long jabs, or forward movement to close distance. Long range is the distance where the longest-reaching techniques — front kicks, side kicks, teep, and jabbing while stepping — are the primary offensive tools.

Where does the Long Range come from?

Long range fighting has been emphasised in kicking-based arts like Taekwondo, Karate, and Savate, where maintaining distance and using kicks as the primary weapon is central to strategy. MMA's integration of kicking at range expanded the tactical importance of long range management.

Is the Long Range legal in competition?

Unified MMA: legal — Legal; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal — stance and footwork are fundamental; WKF: legal — Legal; UWW: legal — Legal

How dangerous is the Long Range?

Danger rating 2/10. Low — standing positions are pre-engagement stances; minimal direct risk

How do I set up the Long Range?

The standard setup chain: Achieve Position → Stabilize → Maintain → Attack.

How do I defend against the Long Range?

Standard counters include: Posture Control — maintain strong posture to limit the opponent's offensive options / Escape to Neutral — work back to standing or a neutral position.

What are the variants of the Long Range?

Common variants: Standard variation (primary positioning for control and attack); Offensive variation (configured for submission or striking opportunities); Transitional variation (positioned for quick movement to the next position); Defensive variation (prioritising stability and control over attack).

How effective is the Long Range in competition?

Long-range fighters in MMA include strikers like Israel Adesanya and Jon Jones.

What are common mistakes when doing the Long Range?

Top errors to watch for: Standing at long range without using the jab — the jab is the primary tool for maintaining long range / Moving only backward to maintain distance — lateral movement and angles are more effective than straight retreats / Not using the front kick to manage distance — the teep is the longest-range tool available / Allowing the opponent to close distance without consequence — punish every attempt to close range.

What are other names for the Long Range?

The Long Range is also known as Enkyori, Out-Fighting Range, Kicking Distance, Long Distance.

long range enkyori position standing position distance management karate taekwondo kickboxing mma muay thai fencing savate sanda out fighting range kicking distance long distance