self-defense

/sɛlfdɪˈfɛns/

/sɛlfdɪˈfɛns/

When you protect yourself forcefully against an attack, that's self-defense. If you kicked a dog that tried to bite you, you don't need to feel bad: it was self-defense.

The act of defending yourself, protecting yourself from being physically harmed, is self-defense. You can take a class to learn tactics of self-defense; many martial arts can be used this way, to fend off an attacker. Self-defense is also a legal right — by law, people can use "reasonable force" to defend their own lives. Self-defense was originally a sporting term, first used in fencing and then in boxing.

Definitions of self-defense

1. noun

   the act of defending yourself
   synonyms: self-defence, self-protection

   types:

   martial art

   any of several East Asian arts of weaponless self-defense; usually practiced as a sport

   aikido

   a Japanese martial art employing principles similar to judo

   judo

   a sport adapted from jujitsu (using principles of not resisting) and similar to wrestling; developed in Japan

   jiujitsu, jujitsu, jujutsu

   a method of self-defense without weapons that was developed in China and Japan; holds and blows are supplemented by clever use of the attacker's own weight and strength

   ninjitsu, ninjutsu

   the traditional Japanese method of espionage; involves stealthy movements and the use of camouflage

   karate

   a traditional Japanese system of unarmed combat; sharp blows and kicks are given to pressure-sensitive points on the body of the opponent

   kung fu

   a Chinese martial art

   tae kwon do, taekwondo

   a Korean martial art similar to karate

   t'ai chi, t'ai chi chuan, tai chi, tai chi chuan, taichi, taichichuan

   a Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation and balance and health

   type of:

   protection

   the activity of protecting someone or something