A review of the literature on skilled behavior in combat sports shows initial support for conceptualization of combat dyads as a single dynamical system or interpersonal synergy.

This position implies that skilled behavior should not be sought solely within the individual athlete, but rather that the emergence of skilled performance and learning is distributed across the athlete–opponent interaction.

Combat athletes and coaches should seek to develop ‘brinkmanship’ to purposefully and accurately perceive and act near their action boundaries.