A clang of the bell. Two fighters come out of their corners, prepared to meet in the middle of the ring and duke it out. Each expecting the other. Each moving and countering as they get closer. They know what’s happening. They know what to expect.
Switch scenes.
It’s after work. You are walking to your car looking for your keys in your pocket. Then, out of the blue, someone grabs you and pushes you from behind. You stumble, hitting into a nearby car. Your glasses fall off your face. Someone is shouting at you and hitting you.
Two very different scenes. Two very different approaches. In a self-defense situation the fighting may be similar to the fighting in a ring, but the approach and environment is 100% different. The main difference is expectation. In a ring you are there to fight. You know you will be fighting. Your body is prepping for it. In the other scene you are just going about your business and the last thing you are expecting is to be fighting for your life. Not to mention that it is probably at night, in poor weather conditions and on uneven, and treacherous ground.
You play the way your practice. Make sure to practice with this element of surprise. Get outside of the ring. Practice on gravel, wet grass and sand. Understand the extra elements that are not present in the ring. Preparation is the key!