About Hand-to-Hand Combat

Hand-to-hand combat is any fighting or warfare that involves people doing battle face to face. This can be either fighting with bare hands or with hand-held weapons. Fighting with projectiles or other such weapons is not considered hand-to-hand combat. In essence, if you can't look your opponent in the eye as you fight him, it isn't hand-to-hand combat.

History

Back in the days of the caveman, all combat was hand-to-hand combat. If you wanted to fight, you had to use your hands or a hand-held weapon. It wasn't until humans developed spears and bows and arrows that they could fight from a distance. However, missile combat never completely replaced hand-to-hand combat. There has always been a need to know how to fight face to face. Cultures all over the world developed systems for teaching hand-to-hand combat. These martial arts evolved into subcultures. This is seen in the rules of chivalry with medieval knights and the code of Bushido with the samurai.

Types

There are thousands of types of hand-to-hand combat. Some such as boxing, wrestling and tae kwon do have evolved into popular sports and are events in the Olympic games. They are now pursued for amusement rather than combat. Martial arts are studied by men, women and children of every age all over the world. There are hundreds of varieties practiced; the most popular include karate, kung fu and krav maga. The study of hand-to-hand weapons is also popular. Fencing, kendo and stick fighting all have loyal followings.

Features

The basic philosophy of all hand-to-hand combat is to use your strengths against your opponent's weaknesses. In every form of hand-to-hand combat, there is attack and defense. The key is to get your attack around your opponent's defense.

Significance

Human beings seem to have a need for the spectacle of hand-to-hand combat. This is seen in our entertainment and sport. Mass media, literature and theater is full of conflict that leads to hand-to-hand combat. Many of our sports evolved from hand-to-hand combat. Gladiators of ancient Rome fought each other for the entertainment of others. Similar spectacles are seen today in boxing, sumo wrestling and mixed martial arts.

Effects

Military and police organizations throughout the world teach hand-to-hand combat, despite having firearms and advanced combat technology. The belief is that you need to know how to fight without a weapon, as well as with one. Even the safest societies with the lowest crime rates have large numbers of people voluntarily studying hand-to-hand combat.