Jabs are quick; the cross and the kick hit harder but are easier to see coming. Leaning back sways your upper body out of reach, so jabs and crosses miss and leave the attacker off balance, but a kick still catches you. Hit someone while they’re winding up and you land a counter for an extra point. A blocked attack makes the attacker recoil, so blocking opens a window to punish. Blocking drains your guard meter; empty it and your guard breaks for a moment. Esc pauses.