1)

The state of being in touch or association with.

2)

An idiom referring to the accepted amount of force is to be used during a sparring and/or training situation.

Inflected Form(s):

Contacted (past tense), Contacts (plural)

Comments:

1)

Contact is an extremely generic term and can be used in a wide variety of contexts and situations.

The vast majority of any martial art and its associated theories, concepts, principles, rules, and definitions is related in some way to contact.

The distinction of a martial art is its application of contact and the theories, concepts, principles, rules which it employs to govern that contact.

In general, contact tends to be used more in a physical sense, and is not commonly used in a psychological context.

In a social context:

Contact (both physical and psychological) is one of the primary activities of a society, collective, or group of people.

Contact has both a physical and psychological aspect.

In a physical context:

a.In a generic context, contact is when one Environmental Object touches one or more Environmental Object(s).

b.In common vernacular, contact is when a weapon touches a target, without regards to intent.

c.When dealing with range and weapon effectiveness, contact is tightly associated with range. See Stages of Range for more information on this subject.

d.Within the context of range, an intended target is either:

Out of Contact

Within Contact

For the spectrum of contact within the context of sparring and Self-Defense Techniques see Degrees of Contact.

In a physical, non-touch context:

Body Communication is a form of contact between two or more individuals.

In a psychological context:

Contact refers to some form of association or communication between individuals such as

a.Emotionally relating to another (such as through common experiences)

b.Empathy for another (such a sympathy, envy, idolatry)

c.Commonality in strategy, planning, or approach to a situation with another

d.Psychological Weapon

See Degree of Contact for more information.

2)

This term is common in all contact sports - especially in the fighting type sports / arts.

In this context, contact is the pre-determined amount of force that the practitioner and partner should anticipate from offensive maneuvers during a match.

There are generally considered four (4) degrees of contact:

1.no contact

2.light contact

3.medium contact

4.full contact

Often, the first two (2) degrees are combined to no contact to light contact. In other words, no visible mark (i.e. bruising, scratching, etc.) should be apparent after contact.

Synonym(s):

1)

Touch

2)

Control

Opposite(s):

1)

Gap, Range, Space

Example(s):

1)

Touching another demonstrates physical contact with another.

Sympathy demonstrates psychological contact with another.

2)

A boxing or kick fighting match would be considered a full contact fight.

Related Definition(s):

1)

Break, Check, Ch'iSao, Contour, Control, Dead, Dislocation, Fit, Full, Gauge, Gouge, Hard, Heavy, Hug, Intent, Light, Live, Lock, Major, Minor, Penetration, Pin, Poke, Pull, Push, Rake, Ream, Rip, Scissor, Semi-Live, Slice, Spar, Strike, Tear, Telegraph, Trap, Trip, Whip

2)

Combat, Spar

Related Term(s):

1)

Angle of Contact, Angle of Incidence, Body Communication, Body Signal, Close the Gap, Colliding Forces, Contact Deviation, Contact Manipulation, Contact Penetration, Contact Placement, Control Manipulation, Degree of Contact, Depth Penetration, Four Stages of Range, Grabbing Check, Hugging Check, Nudging Check, Out of Contact, Patting Check, Penetration Point, Pinning Check, Pin-Point Effect, Point of Contact, Pressing Check, Pressure Relief, Psychological Leverage, Psychological Strategy, Psychological Weapon, Pushing Check, Rebounding Check, Rebounding Strike, Ricocheting Block, Ricocheting Blocking Strike, Ricocheting Strike, Self-Defense Technique, Stages of Range, Sticky Hands, Striking Block, Striking Check, Surface Concentration, Surface Contact, Third Hand, Within Contact

2)

Combat Arena, Combat Effectiveness

Related Basic(s):

1)

Sliding Check, Take-Down, Tackle