self-defense
or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself,
one's property, or the well-being of another from harm. The use of the
right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in
times of danger is available in many jurisdictions, but the
interpretation varies wide.
Physical self-defense is the use of
physical force to counter an immediate threat of violence. Such force
can be either armed or unarmed. In either case, the chances of success
depend on a large number of parameters, related to the severity of the
threat on one hand, but also on the mental and physical preparedness of
the defender.
Many styles of martial arts are practiced for
self-defense or include self-defense techniques. Some styles train
primarily for self-defense, while other martial or combat sports can be
effectively applied for self-defense. Some martial arts train how to
escape from a gun situation, or how to break away from a punch, while
others train how to attack. To provide more practical self-defense, many
modern day martial arts schools now use a combination of martial arts
styles and techniques, and will often customize self-defense training to
suit the participants' lifestyles, occupations, age groups and gender,
and physical and mental capabilities.
Self-defense techniques
and recommended behavior under the threat of violence is systematically
taught in self-defense classes. Commercial self-defense education is
part of the martial arts industry in the wider sense, and many martial
arts instructors also give self-defense classes. While all martial arts
training can be argued to have some self-defense applications,
self-defense courses are marketed explicitly as being oriented towards
effectiveness and optimized towards situations as they occur in the real
world. It should not be presumed however that sport based systems are
inadequate, as the training methods employed regularly produce well
conditioned fighters experienced in full contact fighting. There are a
large number of systems taught commercially, many tailored to the needs
of specific target audiences (e.g. defense against attempted rape for
women).