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For the legal theory of self-defense, see Right of self-defense.
This telescopic steel security baton is sold to the public in Japan (2009).

Self-defense or self-defence (see spelling differences) is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property, or the well-being of another from harm.[1] 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 widely.[2]


Ju-Jitsu defence against a knife attack. Berlin 1924



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.


Further information: Non-lethal weapon and Melee weapon

A wide variety of weapons can be used for self-defence. The most suitable depends on the threat presented, the victim or victims, and the experience of the defender. Legal restrictions also greatly influence self-defence options.

In many cases there are also legal restrictions. While in some jurisdictions firearms may be carried openly or concealed expressly for this purpose, there are more commonly tight restrictions on who can own firearms, and what types they can own. Knives, especially those categorized as switchblades may also be controlled, as may batons, pepper spray and personal stun guns and Tasers - although some may be legal to carry with a licence or for certain professions.

Non-injurious water-based self-defense indelible dye-marker sprays, or ID-marker or DNA-marker sprays linking a suspect to a crime scene, would in most places be legal to own and carry.[3]

Everyday objects, such as flashlights, baseball bats, newspapers, keyrings with keys, kitchen utensils and other tools, and hair spray aerosol cans in combination with a lighter, can also be used as improvised weapons for self-defense. Tie-wraps double as an effective restraint. Weapons such as the Kubotan (pocket stick) have been built for ease of carry and to resemble everyday objects.[4] Tactical flashlights and tactical pens are especially built as impact weapons that resemble everyday objects.[5] Ballpoint pen knives, swordsticks, cane guns and modified umbrellas are similar categories of concealed self-defense weapons that serve a dual purpose.

Other forms[edit]

Mercedes S-Guard armored car complete with bullet holes at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart (2007).


Being aware of and avoiding potentially dangerous situations is one useful technique of self-defense. Attackers are typically larger, stronger, and are often armed or have an accomplice. These factors make fighting to defeat the attacker unlikely to succeed. When avoidance is impossible, one often has a better chance at fighting to escape, such methods have been referred to as 'break away' techniques. Understanding the 'mindset' of a potential attacker is essential if we are to avoid or escape a potentially life-threatening situation.[6][7] [8]


Verbal Self Defense, also known as Verbal Judo[9] or Verbal Aikido,[10] is defined as using one's words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault.[11] It is a way of using words as weapons or as a shield. This kind of 'conflict management' is the use of voice, tone, and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violence actually ensues. This often involves techniques such as taking a time-out, and deflecting the conversation to individuals in the group who are less passionately involved, or simply entering into protected empathic position to understand the attacker better.

  • Author Katy Mattingly defines verbal self-defense as simply saying no to someone or repeatedly refusing a request or telling someone who has violated a boundary what you want, or it could entail a more complicated scenario in which you are called on to refuse to engage verbally with someone manipulative, to set limits, and end the conversation.[11]
  • Suzette Haden Elgin the author of The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense states that verbal self-defense defends against the eight most common types of verbal violence, and redirects and defuses potential verbal confrontations.[12]
  • Luke A. Archer, author and trainer of Verbal Aikido: the art of directing verbal attacks to a balanced outcome, proposes that most verbal attacks can be reoriented towards a balanced or positive direction, by using three steps based on the Aikido philosophy.[13]

Personal alarms[edit]

Personal alarms are a way to practice passive self-defense. A personal alarm is a small, hand-held device that emits strong, loud, high-pitched sounds to deter attackers because the noise will sometimes draw the attention of passersby. Child alarms can function as locators or device alarms such as for triggering an alert when a swimming pool is in use to help prevent dangerous situations in addition to being a deterrent against would-be aggressors.[14][unreliable source?]

Self-defense education[edit]

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, self-defense for children and teens). Notable systems taught commercially include:

Legal aspects[edit]

Main article: Right of self-defense

The self-defense laws of modern legislation build on the Roman Law principle of dominium where any attack on the members of the family or the property it owned was a personal attack on the pater familias.[18] In Leviathan (1651), Hobbes argues that although some may be stronger or more intelligent than others in their natural state, none are so strong as to be beyond a fear of violent death, which justifies self-defense as the highest necessity. In his 1918 speech Politik als Beruf (Politics as a Vocation), Max Weber defined a state as an authority claiming the monopoly on the legitimate use of force within defined territorial boundaries. Modern libertarianism characterizes the majority of laws as intrusive to personal autonomy and, in particular, argues that the right of self-defense from coercion (including violence) is a fundamental human right. In this context, note that Article 12 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:




Similar clauses are found in the legislation throughout the western world. They derive historically from article 6 of the French Penal Code of 1791, which ruled that "manslaughter is legitimate if it is indispensably dictated by the present necessity of legitimate defense of oneself or others".[19] The modern French penal code further specifies that excessive self-defense is punishable due to "disproportion between the means of defense used and the gravity of the attack" defended against.[20]

The evaluation of whether use of force was excessive in a given case can be a difficult task. The British Law Commission Report on Partial Defenses to Murder (2004) Part 4 (pp78/86) recommends a redefinition of provocation to cover situations where a person acts lethally out of fear. This reflects the present view of psychiatrists that most people act in violent situations with a combination of fear and anger in their minds, and to separate these two types of affect is not legally constructive. In practice, self-defense laws still do make this distinction. German criminal law (§ 33) distinguishes "asthenic affect" (fear) from "sthenic affect" (anger). Excessive self-defense out of asthenic affect is not punishable.

Outside of the western world, justifiable self-defense tends to be interpreted more loosely, including the right to defend against any criminal act, without limitations to reasonable or proportionate use of force based on the magnitude of the crime. Instead, it may simply be the minimum amount of force required to stop the criminal, which may be lethal even for relatively small crimes. Thus, the Intermediate People's Court of Foshan, People's Republic of China in a 2009 case ruled as justifiable self-defense, the killing of a robber who was trying to escape, because "the robbery was still in progress" at this time.[21]

See also[edit]


  1. ^'s Definition of "Self-Defense". Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  2. ^ Kopel, David B.; Gallant, Paul and Eisen, Joanne D. (2008). "The Human Right of Self-Defense". BYU Journal of Public Law (BYU Law School) 22: 43–178. 
  3. ^ Branded a criminal - Red Offender spray is rolled out at Canterbury's nightspots (, 13 May 2010). Retrieved on 2012-08-05.
  4. ^ Kubotans offering multiple uses. (2001-09-11). Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  5. ^ Campco Uzi Tactical Pen ( Retrieved on 2012-08-05.
  6. ^
  7. ^
  8. ^ Self Defense Beginners' Handbook from Via Potentia Self Defense Center, ~300 pages (PDF) . Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  9. ^ "Urban Dictionary". Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  10. ^ "Discover Verbal Aikido". 
  11. ^ a b Mattingly, Katy (July 2007). Self-defense: steps to survival By Katy Mattingly. ISBN 978-0-7360-6689-1. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  12. ^ Elgin, Suzette Haden (1980). The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense. ISBN 978-0-88029-257-3. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  13. ^ Archer, Luke A. (2013). Verbal Aikido: The art of directing verbal attacks to a balanced outcome. ISBN 978-1-47819-807-9. Retrieved 2013-06-11. 
  14. ^ Child Safety Alarms at LoveToKnow Safety. Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  15. ^ The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense. Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  16. ^ We are AWARE. (2011-12-09). Retrieved on 2012-06-02.
  17. ^ a term coined in 1999 by Jim Wagner, taught as "Reality-Based Personal Protection" from 2003.
  18. ^ See generally, Frier & McGinn, A Casebook on Roman Family Law, Oxford University Press (2004).
  19. ^ L'homicide est commis légitimement, lorsqu'il est indispensablement commandé par la nécessité actuelle de la légitime défense de soi-même et d'autrui.
  20. ^ disproportion entre les moyens de défense employés et la gravité de l'atteinte, Article 122-5.
  21. ^ Are There Limits to Self-Defense? Beijing Review, 28 April 2009.

Goshin Jutsu Karate