Self-defense

Self-defense (self-defence in English spelling) is a countermeasure that involves defending the well-being of oneself or 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 widely.

Physical

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.

Unarmed

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 knife or 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.

Right of self-defense

The right of self-defense (also called, when it applies to the defense of another, alter ego defense, defense of others, defense of a third person) is the right for persons to use reasonable force or defensive force, for the purpose of defending one's own life or the lives of others, including, in certain circumstances, the use of deadly force.

Theory

The early theories make no distinction between defense of the person and defense of property. Whether consciously or not, this builds 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  the male head of the household, sole owner of all property belonging to the household, and endowed by law with dominion over all his descendants through the male line no matter their age. The right to self-defense is phrased as the principle of vim vi repellere licet ("it is permitted to repel force by force") in the Digest of Justitian (6th century).

Self-defence (Australia)

In the criminal law of Australia, self-defence is a legal defence to a charge of causing injury or death in defence of the person or, to a limited extent, property, or a partial defence to murder if the degree of force used was excessive.

Self-defence in murder

In the South Australian Court of Criminal Appeal in R v Howe (1958), Justice Mason formulated six propositions on the law of self-defence in murder trials. Thus, a full acquittal is achieved if the jury finds that an accused reasonably believed they were threatened with death or serious bodily harm and, if so, that the force used was reasonably proportionate to the perceived danger. In Zecevic v Director of Public Prosecutions the victim rented a unit from the defendant. The defendant became increasingly annoyed with the victim who kept leaving the security gates of the unit unlocked. After one heated exchange, the defendant was stabbed by the tenant. The defendant, fearing that the tenant was about to get a gun from his car, rushed off and got his shotgun. The defendant returned, and shot and killed the tenant. The majority of the High Court said at 661:

Podcasts:

PLAYLIST TIME:

Self-Defense

by: Paul Westerberg

Cheekbones and hormones
Your only self-defense
Lying through dinner
And your rock and roll teeth again
You've harbored a coward
Fed him full of broth
This nocturnal sadness
Leave you pale as this tablecloth
Careful don't you spill your dinner
That would be a good defense
Then you wouldn't have to sit here
On the fence
Cheekbones and hormones
He's the accidental man
Tell you in a stage whisper
About the boy who cried benefit
As the poet drags the darkness
Within him to the light
It's only in self-defense
That they drag you out into the night
Careful don't you spill your dinner
That would be your best defense
Careful what you wish for
An idiot and a genius
Standing up to dine
Breaking manmade laws
Cause I only follow those that are divine
And only when you're chased
Do you ever run fast
And it's wrong to commit a suicide




Latest News for: self defence

Ukraine, US end talks in Riyadh with focus on Black Sea navigation, energy facilities protection

Suryaa 26 Mar 2025
Also on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov detailed the key outputs of the latest talks with Washington in a post on social media platform X ... In response, Ukraine will exercise the right to self-defence ... ....

Chain snatching suspect gunned down during recovery�of weapons

The Hindu 26 Mar 2025
A senior police officer said the suspect opened fire at the police when being escorted for recovering weapons; the police returned fire in self-defence and he collapsed ....

Chain-snatching suspect opens fire on Chennai police, shot dead

The Hindu 26 Mar 2025
A senior police officer said the suspect opened fire on the police when he was being escorted to recover weapons; the police returned fire in self-defence, and he was killed ....

Russia, Ukraine agree to sea, energy truce

The Daily Herald - St Maarten 26 Mar 2025
The U.S ... Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said Kyiv would regard any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea as a violation and a threat, in which case Ukraine would have full right to self-defence ... .

Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea, energy truce

RTE 26 Mar 2025
Read more ... Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine would regard any movement of Russian military vessels outside the eastern part of the Black Sea as a violation and a threat, in which case Ukraine would have full right to self-defence ... .

Win tickets to the FemmeFit Fest

Independent online (SA) 25 Mar 2025
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, FemmeFit Fest offers something for everyone from heart-pumping workouts to mindful movement and self-defence training ... Self-Defence Class by Nicole from Key Chain SA.

Mega Rs 45,000 crore desi 156 combat helicopter deal likely to get Cabinet nod soon

Beijing News 25 Mar 2025
The Defence Ministry is strong ... The government has been emphasising the intention to go for self-reliance in defence manufacturing through Make in India as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

Streeting: Israel’s attacks on Gaza are ‘unjustifiable’ and ‘intolerable’

AOL 25 Mar 2025
Streeting said he found Israel’s decision to break the Gaza ceasefire “soul-destroying”, and insisted the attacks do not “serve in Israel’s self-interest and cannot be justified as self-defence”, adding.

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Western Europe now wants to become self-sufficient in defence because America has told it that it will no longer pay for ...

Ukraine and Russia agree to truce deals in first steps to end war

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He said, however, that Kyiv would regard any movement of Russian naval vessels beyond the eastern Black Sea as a violation of the spirit of the agreements and that, in such an event, it would have the right to self-defence.

‘Far from solving everything’: US peace talks end without ceasefire deal but Russia and Ukraine agree on Black Sea vessels’ safety

The Times of India 25 Mar 2025
'Moscow thinks this can only be achieved as a result of an order from Washington to Zelensky and his team,' Lavrov said.The Black Sea deal, originally brokered by the UN and Turkey in 2022, allowed ...

Why $500 Kamikaze drones are India’s secret weapon against $10 million war machines

The Economic Times 25 Mar 2025
India, keenly aware of this shift, is investing heavily in indigenous drone technology, pushing for self-reliance and ...

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'Narcissism is very much on a spectrum, ranging from being a little selfish or self-absorbed sometimes (which we can all be), through to "narcissistic defences", to a full-on personality disorder, bordering on sociopath.'.

Russia and Ukraine agree to halt Black Sea strikes, US says

Al Jazeera 25 Mar 2025
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who was a member of his country’s delegation in Riyadh, ... In such an instance, Ukraine would have the “full right to exercise right to self-defence”, he said.

'Too early to say it will work’: Zelensky lauds US deal, slams support for Russian exports

Hindustan Times 25 Mar 2025
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who ... But if Russian warships moved from the eastern part of the Black Sea, Umerov said, then "Ukraine will have full right to exercise right to self-defence.".
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