I fenced a little bit. Epee. One of my favorite moves? Just extend your weapon forwards while taking a step backward. If the person pursues too aggressively, they get hit. If not, nothing lost.

Was decompressing from business earlier tonight, friend and I start playing around martial arts. (Actually, I was just getting smacked around, he's a martial artist and I'm not.) But he was teaching me a bit, and I realized the same principal applies and I've done it in fistfights - take a step backwards, snap a left jab up. No chance of getting hit if you miss, but if they close distance/pursue too fast they get clocked.

There's probably some generalization of this lesson to life. Take a step back, snap something out there and see what happens.