Webster's Dictionary defines self-defense as being: "The act of defending oneself or something that belongs or relates to oneself." Being a teacher in a junior high school, I hear students say that if someone hits me I'll hit them back and that they have a right to do that because that is self-defense. I used to believe that also. My knowledge and understanding of self-defense has changed greatly through my work in the school system and my training in the martial arts. Self-defense starts long before a person finds themselves in the middle of a physical confrontation. I believe the first step to self-defense is having awareness of who you are in a physical and mental sense and having awareness of your surroundings. With these two things in mind, using prevention will keep you safe in most situations. Simple things like locking your doors, staying with a group and not giving out personal information etc., are all things that anyone can to do keep themselves safe. If you are in a situation where you are about to be physically harmed, the International Academy of Martial Arts suggests that there are five levels of self-defense. The first level is evasion. Evasion is moving out of the way of an oncoming target. This can mean running away or simply just avoiding a strike by moving to the side without physical contact. The second level is blocking. Blocking is a movement executed to prevent a receiving strike from reaching you. If you are able to redirect the energy of the strike, this momentum can be used in your favor and send the attacker in an unwanted direction. The third level is stunning. The purpose of stunning is to use a quick, simple way to slow down the attacker. Stuns cause a short-term interruption of the attack, allowing the defender to move away or leave the scene. The fourth level is counterattacking. This is what most people believe to be as self-defense. "If he hits me, I'll hit him back." This level of self-defense involves three categories. Category one is called - Ballistic. This requires the use of a body part or weapon against the attacker's body. Ballistic techniques establish control through he use of pain, numbness, inability to move a body-part, restricted breathing or disorientation. Category two is called - Flowing. Flowing techniques rely on the use of momentum of the attack against the attacker. This may include throws or takedowns. The third one is called - Restraining. Restraining techniques involve the use of joint manipulations, holds and chokes. The purpose is to gain control over the attacker by causing pain, numbness or unconsciousness. The fifth level is - final measures. This is the last resort in a self-defense situation. Once the advantage of the attacker is taken away, final measures are used to ensure the attack does not continue when you let go and you are safe. The techniques of this level are usually continuations of the first four levels and may involve a passive-restraint hold, joint manipulation, a ground pin, a bone break or sleeper to subdue the attacker. As always, as a martial artist, you should have the knowledge to analyze an attack and the control to determine the least amount of force to use and still be effective. "The goal in self-defense is to cause as little harm as possible. Self-defense does not involve causing death or permanent traumatic damage. It is the martial artist's responsibility to know his own abilities and strength, so to prevent accidental death." "Use only the amount of force that is absolutely necessary to stop an attack. If it is convenient for you to evade an attack and then run, do so. Self preservation comes first."