| Self defense comes in many different forms. From the | | | | Ultimately, pure self defense is designed to protect us |
| Karate Gi to military fatigues or biker boots, self | | | | from an attack, so it is essentially a system of |
| defense styles and philosophies wear many labels and | | | | counter-attacks or reactions to force. But if someone |
| uniforms. And depending upon the form it takes, self | | | | throws a punch and we block it with enough force, we |
| defense can be considered an art, a science, a sport, | | | | might break their arm, making self defense rather |
| or a combination of all three. | | | | violent...even in the eyes of the court. |
| In reality, self defense is a broad brush used to paint | | | | How many times do we hear about a court case |
| the connecting dots between hundreds of different | | | | involving a killing that was done in self defense? The |
| branches of fighting styles and techniques. And what | | | | legal system defines self defense with a narrow |
| distinguishes self defense from aggressive combat is | | | | interpretation, and since those who practice self |
| sometimes difficult or impossible to pinpoint, because | | | | defense are often subjected to legal scrutiny, it is a |
| within each confrontation there are many miniature | | | | good idea to study your local laws at the same time |
| battles and contests. When you're protecting | | | | that you study martial arts or another form of self |
| yourself...THAT is self defense. And sometimes | | | | defense training. |
| attacking an opponent with proactive aggressive | | | | What you learn from attorneys might save you in |
| tactics is realistic self defense, even if it takes the form | | | | court. And staying out of jail is at least as important in |
| of an offensive assault. | | | | terms of true self defense as a Bruce Lee jab. |