Under attack

In order to assault you, the opponent must usually come very close. By breaching your assumed 'personal space' the aggressor makes you very uncomfortable.

The act of coming in close indicates that they do not respect your boundaries and intend to make physical contact without your consent.

You feel vulnerable psychologically and physically exposed by the attack. Your body will have learned certain conditioned responses to this incursion and these actually work against you in  self defence.