I'd order them:
Punching- this is how nearly all people do damage to each other.
Grappling- either offensively or defensively, you need this skill. This can be further subdivided into skills like clinch fighting, throws/takedowns, pinning, and locking/choking. When people clash, they end up clinching. If you want to defend throws and takedowns, you have to get good at them yourself. If you want to defend against someone pinning you, you have to understand how pins work. If you want to defend against chokes and locks, you have to practice them regularly.
Kicking- Really a tertiary skill unless you're in some ranged sporting context. Most fights happen at a VERY close range, too close to get in too many kicks, but they can be used to damage, to off-balance, and to create space, all of which are valuable.
Trapping- Not even worth learning for most people, if we're talking Wing Chun style trapping. It's just very hard to pull off if someone is trying to hit you as hard and as often as they can. If you're competent- or actually, above average- at the other skills, this might be worth looking into as an add-on, for those rare occasions that the opportunity presents itself.
So basically you want to know if it's better to be an expert striker or a ground fighter. It really depends on the situation most street fights will end up on the ground within the first minute, unless you can use your striking skills to avoid hitting the ground. If you're fighting more than one person then ground fighting can get you killed but a one on one I would think ground fighting is a more effective way of controlling your opponent.
In an MMA situation it varies, the rules are more friendly to strikers since ground fights can take a while and be broken up b y the ref but if the ground fighter can subdue and beat the opponent before the ref steps in which often happens then ground fighting is very effective. Also a striker with little knowledge in a ground and pound situation is going to get beat if they go down. A striker needs to learn at the very least to escape that situation and bring the feet back to a standing position.
It really depends on what you feel most comfortable with. Focus on what clicks for you the most and expertise in that but don't ignore the other factors.
Always place an invisible line between you and your opponent, that will be your critical distance line. Once you cross that line you're in range, the opponent is in range so do what comes natural to you once over that line while maintaining knowledge of how to deal with something that doesn't come natural to you once over that line.
Trapping is the most combative range. This is where you use your strongest tools (headbutts, knees, elbows). You don't have to be a pro boxer or kickbocer, you just have to understand those ranges so you can enter into trapping range. Same with grappling, you don't need to be a black belt in BJJ, you just need to understand positions on the ground so you know what to do or how to avoid getting in that situation.
EDIT: Trapping is also the range that most people are unfamiliar with. If you've never done muay thai and get put in a clinch it's like being in the pool and not knowing how to swim. But of course, the fight is pretty much over after the first headbutt. Knees and elbows are just bonus damage.
There are 3 parts to RAT, the system vunak taught to seal team 6.
1. Entry (destruction)
2. Pressure (straightblast)
3. Termination (hke)
It's really pointless to go into much detail unless you have someone to train with.
In a self defence situation best place to be is beyond kicking range you have nothing to worry about and if some one enters into your range and you feel in danger you may attack to protect yourself so best keeping people away and no closer than punching range as soon as your attacker can grab hold of you its anyone's fight. But im mma you need to be good at all of them
The most essential range, is the one you're most comfortable with.
I know that you need to be good at all ranges (Kicking, Punching, Trapping, Ground) but I'd rather be an expert in just one or two than be okay at all of them. So from greatest to least how critical is each fighting range?
