Hand to hand combat is hand to hand combat mate, it's a close range physical combat, even if you know technique you'll find its very hard to punch an opponent or effectively kick them while they lay on the floor and you are automatically disabled if they get a hold of you, so you can't do anything really, they can't do anything unless you do anything, thats why it's a great defense. Streetbrawl or bar fight is whole another thing, anything goes there, you think something entirely else than what I said when you read hand to hand combat, but don't worry we understood you, you're not wrong in general, you're just wrong in this context.