Distancing is significant in an altercation as it determines both attack and defence options for all parties involved.
[1] Timing and tactics are also important elements of combat which are often used in conjunction with distancing by experienced martial artists.
In a martial sense, armed combat takes the form of traditional weapons practice.
Indeed, many martial arts have their own uniques expressions for various distances or ranges derived from those they specialise in.
[1] In a general, most arts describe each of the following ranges (from longest to shortest):[2] In addition, a great many sub-ranges may be included.