It basically goes like this. I was walking down the street when this guy approaches. He was skinny, smelly, and didn't look particularly strong, or even armed - but the way he looked at me told me he was a two-bit hood. Guy comes up to me and says, "Dude, I've got two other of my guys further down the street, we don't want trouble, we just want your money, your cell phone... It's three on one, you know."
"All THAT tells me is you didn't get into the drug-dealing business because you have the math skills of a first grader. Can't count beyond ten without an extra set of hands, can you? If you don't want trouble, you're just gonna have to walk away."
"Don't provoke me man, it's not good for you, just gimme your money and whatever else you got I can sell later."
"What's not good for me is inhaling the stench you give off. Pretty sure it's killing my brain cells just being on the same sidewalk as you."
At this point, the guy decides to try and get violent. Now, the most basic move anyone in "street fighting" goes for is a low kick followed by a swing - you grab the attention of your target and smack him in the head, disorienting him. It usually works pretty well because most people without any kind of formal training fights head-to-head, and only cares about the front angle.
I, however, had this moment of clarity where I could almost see the guy moving in advance. My brain kinda kickstarted the adrenaline from there, and I had this quick play in slow motion where he completed his move and I reacted. So I stepped to the side, making the guy get closer without hitting me, then stepped forward while swinging my upper body with an outstretched arm aiming for his throat. Dude flipped and fell on his back like a sack of potatoes. He clutched his neck and started coughing like I'd given him tuberculosis. As I walked away I could see his two "friends" running up to him and moving him away.
I can't wait to learn actual kung fu strikes. They're bound to be more fun than just improvising.