1. No rules: The only 'rules' guiding the execution of a confrontation are the law, rules of engagement (for military, police and security), social norms and the personal belief systems of the participants. But there is no requirement to adhere to these, some are vague and participants generally don't know what the others' belief systems are anyway. So in effect there are no rules. Each participant is completely free to fight as they choose (unless survival instincts take over then they are not literally 'choosing' but responding).

2. Variable outcomes: Participants in a confrontation are free to choose any outcome that in their view will bring the confrontation to a successful conclusion. For the 'victim' that outcome may be escape, compliance, talking to defuse, posturing or fighting with a degree of force anywhere along a continuum, or any combination of the above as required to achieve a conclusion. (For the instigator that outcome could be revenge, robbery, rape, murder etc.). Participants may also change their intended outcome as the confrontational situation changes. The fact that participants in a confrontation may have differing end aims (unlike a martial arts competition where the aims are the same) adds to the complexity of the situation.

3. Weapons: there may or may not be weapons present and one should not assume that because a weapon is not visible the other person is unarmed. It is not uncommon for weapons to be produced after a fight has started. Further, a weapon does not have to be a knife, club or gun, any everyday object such as a chair, bottle, billiard cue of hot cup of coffee may be used [5].

4. Low level assaults more common: It is no surprise that low level confrontations (verbal exchange, pushing and/or grabbing) are more common than serious assaults. These are confrontations where a striking, locking or throwing response is excessive. It is therefore disappointing (but not surprising) to see that many martial arts don't give this more common scenario the attention it deserves, especially the verbal and body positioning skills required.

TIMING

1. Location and timing: can vary greatly: From car parks to crowded night-clubs to open streets to cars, buses, trains, elevators etc., day or night, rain or shine [6]. That also implies that the clothing worn at the time by participants will vary greatly. Criminal assaults in open well-lit matted martial arts training gyms with those involved wearing loose fitting training uniforms probably occur but are hardly commonplace.

2. Risk of serious injury: All confrontations involve a degree of risk to the well-being of the participants from minor injury through to death [7]. And there is no second chance if you fail to deal with an incoming strike. You wear the full consequences of that hit and have to continue in whatever state it leaves you in. This heightens the level of anxiety especially given that any situation can spiral out of control and become lethal.

3. Stages: Confrontations have distinct stages as the interaction between the participants' changes in nature, especially as the emotional temperature of the participants rises. This means there are different skills sets required at each stage. More importantly there is the opportunity to halt the situation flowing to a subsequent stage or at least setting you up optimally should the situation flow to the next stage.

4. Short duration: The fight stage is often short in duration lasting only minutes if not seconds. The energy expenditure of the combatants in this brief period is high and usually at maximal capacity. This contrasts with pre and post confrontation stages, which last longer and can in extreme cases occur over periods of months or years as in ongoing disputes. Although there is no time limit to a fight, they are usually brief because either or both parties are exhausted, there is a decisive outcome or at least one side has had enough.

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