(Approx 1 minute 40 second read)

The one who controls the distance in an encounter controls the situation – whether that’s to escape or, if you have no choice, to fight.
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Those of us who practice a more practical type of karate often dismiss the endless step-kumite drills common in modern dojo. Many defend them for teaching timing and distance – but timing and distance for what?
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In Japanese, this concept is called maai (間合い) – the “interval” or “space between”. It means the optimal engagement distance in combat, covering not just physical separation but also the timing and rhythm of attack and defense.
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Maai is not just distance – it’s distance and timing.
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It’s not one fixed distance either – it’s two sometimes very different distances.
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My maai in relation to you will always be different from yours to me, even if the gap stays the same (because of reach, reaction time, and other factors).
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Picture two people of different heights: one six feet tall, the other five. If they both stand at arm’s length from me, I might be inside the taller person’s maai but outside the shorter person’s. Yet they’re both inside mine. This depends on each person’s reach – so your maai is your ideal fighting distance.
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It’s also about how long it takes to cross that gap – and from what angle, and in what rhythm. Stepping in from six feet away in a neat straight line might look great in class, but in reality, it’s rarely the ideal distance, timing, or rhythm to strike with effect.
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So timing, rhythm and distance blend together. By reading this flow and using it well, you find the moment to strike, defend – or escape.
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Maai is the constant judgement of shifting space – different for every opponent, every encounter, every attack.
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While some styles drill to hold a precise maai, Okinawan styles develop a feel for it through tegumi (grappling) or kakie (pushing hands).
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For me, this is exactly why I’m against step-kumite – because the distance, timing, and rhythm it teaches are rarely realistic or optimal.
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Master the distance, and you master the fight – anyone can throw a punch, but only those who understand maai decide when it lands. As Vince Morris of Kissaki-Kai reminds us, controlling distance is one of the simplest and most important rules of combat: too close, and you get grabbed; too far, and you can’t strike effectively. Simple.
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Written by Adam Carter