| In general, to defend yourself against a physical | | | | extra punishing blows to the groin to teach him a |
| attack, you must do whatever it takes to free | | | | lesson or two. However, those extra finishing |
| yourself from the assailant and run to safety. Ideally, | | | | maneuvers against the assailant leaves the victim |
| your defense will be swift and effective thus | | | | within close proximity of the attacker thus leaving |
| minimizing the time you are wrestling or grappling with | | | | the victim at risk of his own safety longer than |
| the perpetrator. In essence, you must use the | | | | necessary. By repeatedly attacking the attacker, you |
| minimum amount of force necessary to prevent an | | | | run the risk of making him meaner such that he will |
| assault from escalating any further to ensure your | | | | react against you with greater violence. |
| own wellbeing. According to Joan M. Nelson in her | | | | Regardless of legal or ethical considerations, for |
| book Self-Defense: Steps to Success, this concept | | | | practicality it simply makes sense to exert the |
| describes the ethic of least harm. The ethic of least | | | | minimum amount of force needed to obliterate a |
| harm is defined by the commitment to using the | | | | confrontation and retreat as quickly as possible to call |
| least damaging or punishing techniques necessary to | | | | police. This includes choosing the least minimum lethal |
| deter an attacker while still doing whatever is | | | | response. |
| required to ensure your own safety. | | | | Once you choose a method necessary to use on |
| Some people believe that the ethic of least harm | | | | your attacker, react quickly and efficiently. Defend |
| unfairly holds the victim to a higher moral and ethical | | | | yourself with whatever means is reasonable and |
| standard than the perpetrator and that the perps | | | | necessary. Do so in order to stop the assault and not |
| should "deserve whatever they get." Those same | | | | to kill the attacker. |
| people believe that the aggressor should get a few | | | | |