The moment I realized that if I fall, that would probably be my end, I became really, really calm and detached. I picked up a good spot in the parking, with the back to the wall,, between 2 cars, and I moved there to meet them, all the time I was very focused to not get taken down and to take as many of them with me as possible. That was all I was thinking. In retrospect, I still think there were a decent amount of adrenalin circulating through my body, but in the moment I really felt zen and in complete control of myself.
Now, I don’t think that’s the average reaction you can expect in a combat situation, nor do I think that so much control is needed. But I’ve been in other critical and stressful situations (like in the middle of a forest fire, or going up the ring to fight other guys in front of a few hundred people), and I think that it’s not the prospect of death or getting hurt that are most stressing, is not knowing what to do
--Bogdan M (emphasis mine)
Source/context?
http://www.cliffstamp.com/knives/forum/read.php?5,28239,page=2