Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./N.Z.) to attack, usu. with the fists.

1880		Bulletin (Sydney) 21 Aug. 13/2: We’re sorry to say that in every country town which has two newspapers the editors are at war. When an editor has no local brother scribe to attack, he ‘takes to’ [...] the newspaper man in the next town.
1939		K. Tennant Foveaux 50: There was a sudden roar from the ladies’ parlour where Jock Jamieson had suddenly taken to Curly Thompson with his fists. The table went over with a crash.
1959		D. Niland Big Smoke 145: And he got you so you lost your block and took to him and done for him.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 207: take to 1. Attack. ANZ early C20.