Distance is your friend in any possible dangerous situation whether you're on foot or in a vehicle (including boats...), period. When I first got into law enforcement - fifty years ago now, I didn't know that at all and I was already an Army vet (although not a combat type at all...). Learn it now or wait and learn the concept the hard way -the way I did - but learn it, and use it as the first principle in any possible confrontation... That's what I'd teach any rookie (or new armed citizen) from the very first moment.
I still maintain that your actual tactics in any possible bad situation - are more important than your skill with weapons - all day long...