Ma ai (appropriate distance)

In a brawl, between attackers and defenders themselves of course there is the distance separating the two. Ma ai here literally means "an appropriate distance" or distance that is safe for the attackers and defenders themselves when they engage in fights. Ma ai in a fight to be understood from two viewpoints, namely viewpoint attackers and defenders themselves.
The attacker would not be able to attack from long distances if the attack was not carried out with weapons that can be thrown towards the target of attacks. Therefore, the attacker needs to approach the target, until he gained enough distance to attack effectively. However, if the distance is too close to the attacker attacks the target, then the body position can be turned into "the target of attack" for self defense.
Conversely, self defense will not be free to defend themselves if the distance was too close to the attacker. He needs enough space to be able to apply his martial strategy. Distance effective for self defense is the distance where he was not too far from the attackers, nor too close, so that he could do something against a surprise attack and can develop good self-defense techniques. Ma ai in broad outline can be determined from the range of hands and feet of a person against his opponent. However, in general, the proper ma ai can be determined from each end of the reach of both hands when they fight without using weapons.