Here’s a great article from Tony Blauer on the “Close Quarter Range“.

The more I read about Blauer’s approach to combat, the more I like it. It’s modern in approach, it builds upon natural body reactions and movements, but he also doesn’t totally dismiss more traditional arts. If there’s anything he dismisses it’s martial arts bullshit, which I appreciate.

For instance, Blauer understands the value of “forms” practice (kata, hyung, poomse). Many modern martial artists poo-poo the notion of it, but in the end any sort of repetitive practicing of movements is forms practice. IMHO there’s a lot of good in forms practice, so long as it’s a meaningful form and meaningful practice. If you’re just flailing and dancing, there’s no point to that other than perhaps some physical exercise and ego feeding. If however you are practicing actual martial movements to ingrain them as natural actions, if you train with the proper mindset, that has utility. Some forms practice is like moving meditation, and there’s utility in that as well (Kuk Sool’s Baek Pahl Ki Hyung is that for me). In the above-linked article, Blauer presents a “Close Quarter ‘Muscle Memory’ Form”. You must first obtain the correct mindset: visualizing where the strikes are landing, visualizing the reactions so you properly flow with their movement. Then imagine that you’re in a situation, you tried to avoid physical confrontation but the attacker/bully presses the issue and you must physically react.

Start from a “Submissive Posture”
Legend: YOUR ACTION ‑ opponent’s reaction

1. SHORT LEAD FACE SLAP ‑ opponent flinches and closes his eyes.
2. PALM STRIKE UNDER CHIN ‑ opponent steps back, growls and rushes in to nail you with a “big Haymaker.”
3. Intercept with the S.P.E.A.R. ‑ opponent is jammed and hesitates.
4. VERTICAL ELBOW ‑ catches opponent under the chin, snapping his head back.
5. DOWNWARD RAKE (flows from same elbow #3) ‑ scratching attacker’s face, he flinches forward.
6. HORIZONTAL ELBOW (opposite arm) ‑ hits opponent in the nose.
7. REVERSE RAKE (same arm #5) ‑ causes opponent to clutch his face and turn away.
8. DIAGONAL ELBOW (opposite arm/up and downward, slashing motion) ‑ hits attacker in the temple (clavicle, ear, etc.) region causing him to buckle.
9. HAIR GRAB & KNEE ‑ grabbing the opponent’s hair, you drive a knee solidly into his face. He clutches his face and starts to stand up.
10. LEAD FRONT KICK ‑ seizing the opportunity to attack the groin, you step in and snap a hard, quick kick to the groin. Your opponent doubles over, clutching his groin.
11. REAR LEG FRONT KICK ‑ With the opponent doubled over, drive a powerful front kick, and use the shin as a striking surface, into his hands. Turn and run.

Is that a form? Sure is. Is it useless to practice? I don’t think so.

Blauer’s got an interesting approach. Well worth the read.

Updated: Found a video demonstrating the form. Tony himself made the video, narrates it.