“Competition
noun
UK /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ US /ˌkɑːm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
B2 [ U ] a situation in which someone is trying to win something or be more successful than someone else.” - Cambridge dictionary.
Fighting is in some ways about as competitive as it's possible to be – although it differs from say, most sporting competitions in some ways as both parties are seeking radically different goals in many cases.
The most commonly understood situation in terms of self defence is that one party is attacking and the other countering in order to get away.
Some defensive drills and scenarios rely upon the idea that both parties understand the goal of learning and allow rather than counter certain events so as to focus on acquiring skill.