| A D / ← → | Footwork — move in and out of range |
| W / ↑ | Hop — clears low kicks; costs a little stamina |
| S / ↓ | Duck (hold) — straight punches whiff overhead and open a counter, but a low kick catches you harder |
| J | Jab — fast, low damage, opens every chain |
| U | Cross — the power straight; slow alone, fast after a jab |
| K | Palm strike — heavy, cracks guards |
| I | Elbow — devastating and guard-wrecking, but only at point-blank range |
| O | Knee — biggest single hit, point-blank range only |
| L | Low kick — longest reach, chips damage even through a block |
| Space hold | Block. Tap it just as a strike lands to parry and open a counter window |
| Shift | Dodge — a short slip with a moment of invulnerability |
| E | Grab break (tap the instant you're grabbed) / clinch escape (tap repeatedly) |
| R | Step out — reset distance when things get crowded, and answer ⚠ awareness cues |
| P / Esc | Pause |
Watch the ring above your opponent's head: red means a strike is coming, yellow means a grab. Stamina (yellow bar) fuels attacks and dodges; guard (teal bar) wears down while blocking — if it breaks, you're staggered. Parries, escapes and counters restore momentum and score big.