Street Self-Defense And The Law

Although it is advisable to be prepared with self-defense skills in order to protect yourself, your friends or your family against an unprovoked attack, this doesn't give you the right to go out and use these skills on the street unless it is purely for self-defense reasons.

If you use self-defense strategies for the wrong reasons it is a punishable offence and you could be convicted. It's not a matter of he hit me so I hit him back in self-defense, that's not how the law works. The aim of this article is to give you an understanding of self-defense and the law.

Street Self-Defense - The Retreat

The first thing that the law states is that you should retreat and avoid all means of physical confrontation if you can do. So if you can run and escape then that should be your first option for street self-defense, this shows that you have no intention of being involved in the use of violence.

This may appear to be the obvious thing to do but there are a lot of people who just abuse their self-defense skills and fight for fun, this is what gets them into trouble with the law. If there is nowhere to run, shout out and try attracting some attention from bystanders, this alone can distract your attacker and end the conflict.

We understand that the Retreat isn't always an option but if it is there for the taking then please use it as your first choice. Report the incident to the Police immediately.

Street Self-Defense - The Trap

If you are unable to retreat then you need to implement further self-defense strategies. So if for example you are walking down a dark lane and you are pushed into a corner with nowhere to run and there is nobody else nearby, what do you do? This is what I call The Trap and the retreat isn't an option, it's not possible.

Fear will ignite inside of you; your natural instinct will be to use your self-defense skills to protect yourself. If you are unable to escape and you need to fight to get away, the law permits you to do so by using reasonable force. The problem a lot of victims have at this stage is that if they are winning over their assailant, the pure adrenaline pumping through their body is uncontrollable and they then become the attacker.

As stated in the retreat, you should escape at your first opportunity and not beat your assailant unconscious. The law of street self-defense under these circumstances would be to use reasonable force, but what is reasonable force?

Street Self-Defence - Reasonable Force

There are widespread concerns regarding the interpretation of reasonable force, what is it and how much force can actually be used under the circumstances if street self-defense must be used.

It is without doubt that the court will determine if your actions are acceptable, whether or not you believe that the only way to avoid harm to yourself would be to hurt the attacker. The Jury will decide this by looking at a person's physical characteristics and qualities, size, gender, strength, age etc. They will also take into consideration the circumstances and surroundings at the scene of the attack.

You are not required by law to take unreasonable risks with your own safety, therefore if you can't escape and you feel threatened with your life, then you don't have to wait to strike. If you feel that striking is imminent to protect yourself from harm then you are permitted to do so. However you must act with reasonable force and there are two types:

Deadly Vs. Non-Deadly Force

Deadly force involves protecting yourself with the use of a weapon such as a gun, knife, metal bar, baseball bat etc. This kind of force must be avoided in all circumstances unless your attacker is using it against you, in which case you have the right to respond with the same level of aggression.

This kind of attack will almost definitely result in serious injury or death and in court you will have to prove that your assailant was going to attack you in this manner.

Non-deadly force is a level of force where in street self-defense you will only use methods such as punching, kicking and grappling to protect yourself. However, this must still be controlled and only enough force used to enable you to escape the situation. Once you are free to get away, your safest option is to stop fighting and run. Report the event to the police.

Conclusion:

1) Avoid physical confrontation by getting away if possible.

2) If you need to fight then you must take into consideration how much force you need to use to escape, don't abuse your rights to self-Defense.

3) You are allowed to strike first if you are trapped and in fear of your safety.

4) Never use deadly force unless your attacker intends to use it against you.

5) Always report the incident to the local police immediately.

The law may vary between countries and states but these basic guidelines will apply internationally. For your own safety and the safety of your family, I would strongly advise that you prepare yourself with street self-defense strategies to avoid the possibility of a traumatic experience.

About The Author:

Troy Palmer has 25 years experience in Martial Arts, Self Defense and Street Fighting. He has taught men, women and children of various different social status and physical capabilities. He strives on his success to teach others how to fight good and gain the confidence they need to survive today's streets of increasing violence. You can interact with Troy and get stacks of great advice from him at: http://www.howtofightgood.net.