response

[greensage22]

I reworded this due to the fact that it should be phrased differently. when you encounter
someone on the street and a fight breaks out, why do I seem to react differently to
different people with the same build and experience. sometimes I feel superior right away
and go easy on them, other times I'm shakey and unsure. what sutbleties do you pick up
that let you know if someone can fight or not, before any punchs are thrown.

[SevenStar]

To answer the first part of your question, yes, it is adrenaline. Apparently you can't control it as well as you think. this is part of what is known as the fight or flight response. We all experience it. how you handle it depends on how well you've been trained to handle it / how many times you've actually had to handle it. Don't worry about form going out the window - fighting isn't supposed to be pretty anyway.

As for the second part of your question, you are not fighting your fight. You let your opponent dictate your pace. When they go hard, so do you. If they are novices, you go easier with them. I know several people who do this.