See the target. Hit the target. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Essentially it is whack -a-mole. But what are we whacking the mole with? And how far away are we from the mole? This concept is what I call TWD: Target - Weapon - Distance.
TWD can be any order. For example: DWT: What distance am I at? What weapon do I have? What target is open? Or WTD: What weapon do I have? What target is open? Am I close enough to hit it? It is very basic but also crucial for success.
Every weapon/tool has an optimum distance for max effect. A pistol at 10’ is better than a knife. Also targets will change based upon the weapon/tool. A knife stabs organs but a baseball bat crushes bones. Fundamentally different, and that has to be applied in every situation - automatically.
TIP: Every “thing” can be used for self-defense. Some “things” are better than others. But each one has it’s own uses and range. Practice them well.