Hand-to-hand combat facts for kids

Hand-to-hand combat (sometimes called HTH or H2H) is a fight between two or more people who are very close to each other. This kind of fighting doesn't use long-range weapons like guns or bows and arrows.

Even though it's called "hand-to-hand," it doesn't always mean people are unarmed. It can also include using small, close-up weapons. These are called melee weapons. Examples include knives, sticks, batons, or even everyday items used as weapons.

What is Hand-to-Hand Combat?

Hand-to-hand combat is a direct physical fight. It happens when people are close enough to touch, grab, or hit each other. It's a very old form of fighting, used throughout history by soldiers, police, and even in sports.

Why is Hand-to-Hand Combat Important?

Hand-to-hand combat skills are important for several reasons:

• Self-defense: Knowing how to defend yourself can be helpful in dangerous situations.
• Military and Police: Soldiers and police officers often learn these skills. They might need them in situations where they can't use other weapons.
• Sports: Many sports, like wrestling, boxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA), are based on hand-to-hand combat techniques.

Types of Hand-to-Hand Combat

There are many different styles and techniques of hand-to-hand combat. Some focus on striking, like karate or taekwondo. Others focus on grappling, which means holding and wrestling, like judo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Many modern systems combine both striking and grappling.

History of Hand-to-Hand Combat

People have been using hand-to-hand combat for thousands of years. It was the main way to fight before modern weapons were invented.

Ancient Times

In ancient civilizations, soldiers were trained in hand-to-hand fighting.

• The ancient Greeks had a sport called Pankration. It combined boxing and wrestling.
• The Romans also trained their legionaries in close-quarters combat.

Modern Era

Even with the invention of guns and other weapons, hand-to-hand combat skills remained important.

• During World War I and World War II, soldiers often found themselves fighting very close to the enemy, especially in trenches or urban areas.
• Today, special forces, commandos, and police tactical units still receive intense training in hand-to-hand combat. This is because there are times when using firearms isn't possible or safe.

Images for kids

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  Pankratiasts portrayed on a Roman relief. 2nd or 3rd Century A.D.

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  The centre of the International Settlement of Shanghai, 1928.

See also

In Spanish: Combate cuerpo a cuerpo para niños