This question is really meant for those with more than 5 years in any Martial Art?

Question

However, I know many other will answer anyway.

What is your definition of the "red/dead zone" if you have one, and how do you teach this concept to your students?

Answer 1

I heard it was Bruce Lee that named the Red Zone, but that may be just a myth.  He defined it as being anywhere within a hands width of being struck, particularly in the body/head (as opposed to legs).  This was because a crafty opponent or someone with deceptively long reach can strike effectively in a wider arc than typical arms length.

Anyway, we study "the zone" as being anywhere in striking distance of your opponent - and that there are multiple distances within the zone - 1 clinch/grapple, 2 punch/knee, and 3 kick.  Beyond that you have a safety buffer which is essentially innefective for either you or your opponent to strike from.

Beyond the simple class lecture giving the definition of zone/distance we do drills within each zone.  We practice 2 main philosophies regarding the zone.  

1- keeping your primary target (head) out of the zone while delivering a strike - Muay Thai kick to the leg for example - step outside the opponents reach leaning your head outside the opponent's striking zone while placing your tool (shin) inside the centerline to deliver the blow to the inner thigh or across the body.  Your body tilts back keeping your head outside the zone and your opponent's body inside the zone.

2 - defense inside the zone - every short punch (hook) or clinch technique is delivered within this red zone.  To diminish your vulnerability to attack while inside the zone, you cover your primary target while delivering your attack.  So for a simple hook - you have to be relatively close to your opponent, and easily within striking range.  Your objective is to keep shoulders up, chin down, hands high and tight and punch crisply with power - body rotation as much as arm thrust makes the hook more effective.  The protecting elbow - not the punching one -  stays in your center, with your protecting hand over your forehead or to the side you are rotating towards.  Recovering, evading with a bob/duck, and returning to ready stance are part of zone defense as well - leaving yourself open AFTER the punch is just as dangerous as being open while deeper in the zone.

So we drill and drill and drill - if the puncher leaves an opening, the feeder/partner mentions it, then feints to it, then hits it.  Eventually the opening gets closed and form improves.

Wordy, but its a vital part of self defense - maybe the most vital.

Answer 2

We teach that there is a distance where an aggressor inters this should be considered an attack and the student has to respond accordingly. This would include a preemptive move or strike depending on the situation. We spend a lot of time on drills and simulations of "street" encounters.

If that is what you mean about red zone? I never heard the term before. Can I use it ?

Answer 3

If I am understanding you correctly, because I have never heard that term before, we teach our students that there are three ranges. Zone 3 is where somebody would have to make a major motion, at least a step to reahc you with a kick or punch. Zone 2 is better, because they still would have to at least shuffle to reach you with a punch, but wouldn't have to move forward to reach you with a kick. Zone 1 is where you do not want to be, because they can reach you with a punch or kick, also elbow/knee/grab depending on proximity, without any movement at all.

We do not break it down into grappling range because that is included in Zone 1. If they are that close already you are in traouble anyway. We teach our students that if confranted, do everything possible to keep the person in zone 3, and absolutly no closer then Zone 2. Many times we just do an excersise where one person advances and retreats as an aggressor and the other person has to move with them and maintain the same distance. We also do a similiar drill with a Bo pressed lightly against each persons stomach, and one moves and the other folows, and the goal is to keep the bo from falling.

I hope this is what you are looking for.