What is the History of Self Defense(When, Where,Why) ?! and is any form of fighting considered Self Defense?

Answer 1

It's only self defense if your life is in danger, not if you're beating someone up when they're down and no longer a threat. Once they're down you should just get out of there, otherwise it's assault.

Answer 2

The History of self defense started prob with promag and neanderthal they were rivals for food etc, and needed to find a means of survival
And winning today can be putting some jerk behind bars and letting bubba give him the long arm or...... of the law
He will get the Idea real quick
Real Self Defense has nothing to do with FIGHTING
it has to do with being SAFE
That's why we have LAWS
Real Self Defense
Cameras are the most advanced form of self defense today
I have some at work and have had for sometime, we are doing some amazing splicing
You can ruin careers and more of the wrong dooers that would harm others for money gain.
The Law applies to everyone, even the rich and the tough
Feel A Change IN THE WIND
I DO ....................................
I LOVE ENEMYS AND FRIENDS

Answer 3

Let's assume that your question is not, as some have apparently done, asking when did people start fighting to defend themselves, but rather you are asking when formal systems of martial arts developed as well as where and why. From that standpoint, we can consider some answers that don't simply focus on violence. (Cain killing Abel was self defense? Ooookay.....)

There are many conflicting stories on the origins of the martial arts. If you wish, simply "google" the term 'history of martial arts' and you will find many different versions from many different people. The problem is that most martial artists wish to promote their own system or style as the original martial art in order to increase its prestige in the community. The ultimate truth is that no one can clearly state what was the true beginning of martial arts. Almost every society/culture can claim a history of both armed and unarmed combat; both formalized into a "system" that is paired with philosophical and/or religious aspects, and informal that developed from combat and military applications.

The Asian martial arts (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) are often thought to trace their roots to 500 A.D. and the Buddhist monks who were taught "kung fu" by an Indian master who despaired at their physical weakness. Others point to the Wudang Mountain and the Taoist Priests who developed "internal martial arts" from their exercises designed to increase and control the flow of natural energy within themselves. Check out Wikipedia for martial arts history and I'm sure you'll find plenty of information to begin your investigation.

As for any style being considered "self defense," there are many styles/systems that focus on non-aggressive means of defending one's self. The internal arts of Chinese Taijiquan, the Japanese systems of Judo, Juijitsu, and Aikido are all focused upon defense and not being aggressive toward others. These are also those systems that are most strongly paired with the appropriate philosophical discipline necessary for any true martial arts path.

Do some research and I'm confident that you will find answers worth considering.

Answer 4

Again, self defense is not about fighting. It is about survival. If you simply learn avoidance and awareness, chances are that you will find your self in a physical confrontation. That and if you can put your ego aside. But the chance does still exist. Yes we have laws but by definition, criminals don't obey the law. There are also situations where emotions and ego can overcome common sense in normally law abiding citizens. Learning self defense is not the same as learning to fight. If that's what you want to do go to bar and find the biggest guy in there and start saying things about his mother. Do this every night for six month and you'll be one heck of a fighter, or three months dead.

Answer 5

Ok, who has time to give you the History of Self Defense. Cain killed Able, hence the beginning of SD. too bad Able didn't learn any. And for the second part, it's only self defense if you WIN, otherwise it's just getting beat/killed.

Answer 6

Like they mentioned here. Self Defens eis whatever you do to survive. All forms of martial arts (for the most part) where design with the original purpose of surviving confrontation or war.

Answer 7

cave man style. the day the first man attacked another, and the victim attacked back. the winner would have realised that something he did worked really well, and he would do that more in future.

as for self defense, anything you do do DEFEND YOURSELF is self defense.

Answer 8

like Dharmapa… touched on, self-defence has its origins in pre-man.

However, I challenge it that it goes back far far further than that.

I know you and most people refer to self-defense in the "fighting" concept so I'll leave out the "fater rabbit" or "faster fish" as that is also a form of self-defence, literally.

however, we are talking about the "combative" self-defense where you must fight in order to protect yourself- that should answer part of your question- YOU MUST FIGHT IN ORDER TO DEFEND YOURSELF in certain situations- those situations that come up- the fighting done, is qualified as "self-defence" as it is for the purpose of proteciton- not to conquer or rob someone.

In order to determine if a specifc form of fighting is self-defence, you must look at the intentions of the parties.

Martial arts marketed as self-defence, are simply fighting techniques, taught for the purpose of "self-defence". It can be used to attack carrot-top (well that is actually self-defence and defence of others as his face and voice and jokes are annoying to the point that hearing them can threaten your well-being).

The use of fighting to protect oneself- be it sambo, karate, xingyi, boxing, muai thai, judo, a desert eagle, a knife, a louiville slugger or a nuclear missile can all be qualified as self-defence. depends on the intent of the use.

The first forms of "fighting" as self-defence can go back as far as there were creatures on this planet with tooth and claw, with anything that can be used offensively. with a moutn in early fish to settle disputes and the creatures had to defend themselves.

This may not sound as attractive as saying humans or even early hominids invented self-defence or systems of fighting techniques, they simply used what was available to them to create a defence system that worked for hominids.

Answer 9

anything,anytime,anyway you defend your self its called self defense.no fighting is not self defense.self defence has been around as long as living things roamed the earth.

Answer 10

Try wikipedia.