Self-defense

Self-defense is a countermeasure used to protect a person's health and well-being from harm. It is a way to respond to an immediate threat of violence. This response can be physical or it can be verbal. Verbal self-defense involves using words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault.

The success of any self-defense attempt depends on several factors. These include the severity of the threat and the mental and physical preparedness of the defender.

Physical self-defense can be categorized into unarmed and armed methods. Unarmed defense often involves martial arts styles. Some styles focus on escaping a knife or gun situation. Other styles teach how to break away from a punch or how to attack. Many modern schools combine different techniques to create practical training.

Armed defense involves using weapons to counter a threat. The choice of weapon depends on the threat and the defender's experience.

This category includes tools like telescopic steel security batons, pepper spray, or personal electroshock weapons. Some people also use improvised weapons. These are everyday objects like flashlights, baseball bats, or even hair spray cans used with a lighter.

There are many different types of martial arts used for training. Some systems are based on modern military combatives. Examples include Krav Maga, Defendo, Spear, and Systema. Other systems are Japanese armed and unarmed combat arts. These include Bujinkan Jujutsu, Aikido, and Bartitsu. There are also traditional unarmed fighting styles like Karate, Kung fu, and Hapkido. Some styles, such as Kali or Arnis, focus on armed combat. Other systems are specifically oriented toward street fighting. These include Jeet Kune Do and the Keysi Fighting Method. Many combat sports, like boxing or wrestling, can also be applied effectively for defense.

History shows that self-defense movements often connect to social changes. In the early twentieth century, women's self-defense training emerged in the United States and the United Kingdom. This movement happened alongside the women's rights and suffrage movements. Early feminists used training to raise awareness about violence faced in the home or at work. They challenged the idea that men were the natural protectors of women. Many women found physical and personal empowerment through boxing and jiu-jitsu. This interest grew during the Second-wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s. It also grew during the Third-wave feminism of the 1990s.

Today, specialized training like Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) is common. ESD courses teach verbal, psychological, and physical strategies. These instructors explore how violence connects to issues like sexism, racism, and classism. They focus on holding perpetrators responsible while empowering students.

Commercial self-defense education is now a large part of the martial arts industry. Many instructors tailor their classes to specific audiences. For example, some courses focus on defense against attempted rape for women. Other programs are designed specifically for children and teenagers.

Self-defense is also a major topic in international and local law. The United Nations Charter, in Article 51, recognizes the right of individual or collective self-defense. However, this right is limited by the duty to use proportional countermeasures. Proportionality means the force used must match the threat. In Canada, a person must prove three elements to use self-defense as a legal justification. First, they must show a reasonable belief that force was being used against them. Second, the act must be done to protect themselves or others. Third, the act must be reasonable under the circumstances.

Legal systems look at many details to decide if an action was reasonable. For example, they consider if the threat was imminent. If there is a long time between an attack and a response, it might look like revenge. Courts also look at whether the person could have escaped. In some places, there is no duty to retreat from one's own home. In the United States, the Violence Policy Center found that between 2008 and 2012, about 1 out of every 38 gun-related deaths was a justifiable killing. This shows how complex and serious the application of self-defense laws can be.