:
"Fight" and "fighting" redirect here. For the film, see Fighting (film). For other uses, see Combat (disambiguation) and Fight (disambiguation).Combat, or
fighting, is purposeful
violent conflict intended to establish
dominance over the
opposition.
The term "combat" (
French for
fight) typically refers to armed conflict between
military forces in
warfare, whereas the more general term "fighting" can refer to any violent conflict. Combat violence can be unilateral, whereas fighting implies at least a defensive reaction. However, the terms are often used
synonymously along with the term "Battle Ready".
Combat may take place under a certain set of
rules or be unregulated. Examples of rules include the
Geneva Conventions (covering the treatment of soldiers in war), medieval
Chivalry, and the
Marquess of Queensberry rules (covering boxing).
Combat in
warfare involves two or more opposing
military organizations, usually fighting for nations at war (although
guerrilla warfare and suppression of
insurgencies can fall outside this definition). Warfare falls under the
laws of war, which govern its purposes and conduct, and protect the rights of
soldiers and
non-combatants.
Combat may be armed (using
weapons), or unarmed (not using
weapons).
Hand-to-hand combat (
melee) is combat at very close range, feeling the opponent with the
body (
striking,
kicking,
strangling, etc.) and/or with a
melee weapon (
knives,
swords,
batons, etc.), as opposed to a
ranged weapon.
Hand-to-hand combat can be further divided into three sections depending on the distance and positioning of the combatants:
