first of all i want to say that what your teacher did was just wrong. Emma was right to walk out but she may have done something else had she not been so tired.
My school was a very nice place to releave pressure not by kicking the crap out of someone but by getting your mind of it and into blocking the persons kicks and punchs.
Once again it just depends on the person your fighting (do you know the persons style?). But if you know how to block well and still stay on your feet then no kicking isn't required.
well i say it depends on the person you fought and what they had learned (all schools being different). Some are told to move more or get in closer so don't give TKD a bad name just because you fought an novice.