Street fighting

Street fighting is hand-to-hand combat in public places, between individuals or groups of people.^[1] The venue is usually a public place (e.g. a street) and the fight sometimes results in serious injury or occasionally even death.^[2][1] Some street fights can be gang-related.^[3]

A typical situation involve two men arguing in a bar, then one suggests stepping outside, where the fight commences. Thus, it is often possible to avoid the fight by backing off, while in self-defense, a person is actively trying to escape the situation, using force if necessary to ensure their own safety.^[1]

In some martial arts communities, street fighting and self-defense are often considered synonymous.^[1][4]