I’d not mind sparing with a few people, but I’m starting to get the impression that whoever goes first, looses, always.
The defender has a definite advantage in a hunt-duel, but there’s enough randomness in the outcome that it doesn’t matter too much. After all, even someone who blithely walks into a trap will come out on top one time out of five at least.
Try to leverage gambits a bit if you can. Knowing from the start that you can cut off one avenue of attack can help you focus your stats in a more productive manner. Granted, this gets easier once you have sponsorship, which requires stringing together a couple of victories.