The ultimate goal in any self-defence scenario is to preserve your safety. If violence cannot be avoided then you must deal with it. If that means fighting until you win, so be it. If you can create an opportunity to escape or make your opponent reconsider his choice to attack you then that also works. Ultimately, it is all about preserving your safety by whatever means gives you the best chance of success. A very simple but useful set of self-defence rules looks like this:
• Strike with open hands, elbows or hammerfists to the head and with fists to the vulnerable areas of the body
• Strike with the knees to the body and the thigh
• Do not become involved in lengthy grappling or wrestling matches
• Avoid going to the ground if you possibly can
• If you cannot incapacitate an opponent, strikes can make some room for an escape
• Disengage and get away as soon as you can
Always remember the goal – it’s not about ‘winning a fight’ or ‘fighting back’, it’s about preserving your safety. If you can do that by withdrawing, talking or running then those are viable options. But if you have to fight, then you have to win.