What if you started or provoked the fight?
If you started an altercation, you can only claim self-defense if: You withdraw from the encounter, Effectively communicate your intent to withdraw, and The other person continues to attack. If these 3 things happen, you turn from the initial aggressor into a victim. This allows you to use force in self-defense. Additionally, self-defense is not an option if you provoked the fight. This prevents people from creating an excuse to use self-defense.