Zone 1
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Zone One is the most common area to be attacked with a weapon and therefore the first zone we teach our students to attack & defend against. Statistically around 95% of people will favour their right hand for wielding their primary weapon, be it stick, knife, club or sword. A strike to this area is the simplest attack when holding a weapon in your right hand.
No matter what the weapon, an overhand downward swing or slash is a very natural, strong attack (gravity & bodyweight are easily used to gain power in such blows) and have been used to great effect in armed combat ever since our caveman ancestors picked up bones with which to club down other creatures. It is no accident that hospital A&E departments treat more wounds to the left side of the face, head & neck than any other.
In addition, the right hand of an unarmed combatant will usually be the stronger, preferred limb, and a punch into this zone (face, chin, throat etc) is perhaps THE most common attack in unarmed situations.
As shown on the striking zones page, there are an unlimited number of attacks which can be said to fall within Zone One, ranging from straight down, through a 45° arc, to an almost 90° arc. As our students soon discover, no two attacks within this zone are the same, even though they may be delivered by the same person, with the same weapon, and from the same position. If you think you can easily defend against a really good No.1 Strike from an experienced fighter - think again. It is simultaneously where the Escrima Concepts system begins & ends.
Read more about the characteristics of other Striking Zones below;
- More about zone two
- More about zone three
- More about zone four
- More about zone five
- More about how the five zones overlap each other
Zone One forms part of the Basic Box Theory which you can learn more about in other parts of this site.
