Combat Steps

Combat is split into 1 minute melee rounds. The reason why is clearly explained on p61 DMG, but to summarise, a round is not a single swing of a sword, but a cut, a thrust, a feint and connecting attack that opens a wound inflicting damage or just wearing your opponent open down physically.
Each melee round follows this pattern (with the exception that surprise only occurs once at the start).

1. Surprise
2. Distance
3. Declare Intentions
4. Pre-Initiative Actions
5. Psionic Actions
6. Determine Initiative
7. Resolve Actions
8. Example of Melee