Hierarchy of Striking: or why does only grappling get flowcharts?

The only correct technique is the one that get you closer to the win and farther from a loss

This post is to explain three concepts in the development of striking; mechanics, tactics, and strategy. These three ideas will make up how a striker develops and how they will express themselves in the ring. The order of importance descends from the top but strikers learn these skills in ascending order. The end of this article will go on to explain the interplay of these core ideas.

Mechanics - the "How"

Every striker starts their journey here. Mechanics are simple to understand and are largely taught similarly across gyms. This is "how" to throw a technique. Human bodies are largely similar to each other. Generally, we have two arms, two legs, a torso, a head on our shoulders. Proportions change some taller, some wider than others but the fact we have the same number of bones, of ligaments, et cetera means that our fundamental technique remain similar across the board after pressure testing.

Tactics - Striking with Purpose

Even if you have mastered how to throw a strike the mission of landing that strike on an uncooperative opponent becomes the next issue. The only proper strike is one that hurts your opponent and keeps you safe. This is where tactics come in. Simply put tactics is how you set up you strikes. Lets look at an example of the jab-cross-hook on a defending opponent. If the jab-cross is being used to set up the hook as our damaging shot by bringing the jab-cross to front of the face we attempt open the side of the head to deliver a whallop to a now open target. The mechanics of a jab-cross-hook on the bag is the same mechanically but now that we have added purpose, we have begun to fight tactically.

Strategy - the "Game Plan"

This largely takes place before the fight (things change and so might strategy mid bout). Strategy is less the move set of a fighter but the goals of the fighter and the end they wish to pursue. Strategy is overarching and more conceptual. Going in to a match and trying to take it into later rounds is a strategy. How that strategy is then implemented will inform and depend of the tactics and mechanics we choose to utilize.

The Interplay

None of these three core concept exist in a vacuum. Their value is contingent of each other. For all martial artist the goal of a contest is the same, the pursuit of victory. How we get there can come in near countless way. How a knockout is earned, how a TKO develops, and what it takes to win a decision all have varied ways in which they can be achieved. Let's look at two examples of how a fight with the same strategy can be fought before looking how we might change mid fight.

Imagine a fighter tall, lanky, lacking power and athleticism (humour me) fighting a stocky power puncher.

ex 1:

Strategy: fight long, maintain striking range while being outside opponents range

Tactics: straight hitting using push kicks and straight punches.

Mechanics: drive of the shoulder and hips to create a structure in which the smaller fighter cannot pressure through. Minimal stepping towards the opponent to inhibit the creation of crashing into a brawl.

ex 2:

Strategy: fight long, maintain striking range while being outside opponents range.

Tactics: bouncing in and out. flicking shots at our range when bouncing in before immediately bouncing away from counter strikes. Additionally this fighter may finish combinations with kicks when his opponent moves away so that they can strike with out having an additional entry.

Mechanics: Using a rhythm step to drive power (reliance on movement means less sitting on strikes).

ex 3: assume ex 1 only this lanky fighter has a knee for a money shot. So the move set has expanded but how might this effect the fight. In order to stay safe the fighter continues to fight long, maintaining space from his opponents strikes. By maintaining range he forces the opponent to move forward. Utilizing a jab-cross-lead push kick to keep the opponent away, the next time switching the push kick into a lead knee to catch the opponent trying to close distance before the push kick. Mechanically the knee requires a nearer distance than a push kick. Tactically we have also have shift: first is our strikes still serve as distance management but also, it now, operates as bait to a close range power shot. Meanwhile the strategy largely remains the same with a caveat of hopefully drawing the opponent into pursuit.

Keep in Mind

Things change and your opponent is pursuing the same goal as you are. A fight is dynamic with changes, traps, and just plain weird shit. Any of these concepts may have to change in a fight. In fact, if you are finding success then you are likely going to have to change at least one part of your game. If one thing works over and over it is folly for your opponent not to make changes of their own that will then force you to adjust. It is knowing what needs to be adjust.

But What About Flow Charts; an intellectual exercise

Fill it in yourself