Define "self-defense" as taught in martial arts.

The definition of "self-defense" in martial arts primarily encompasses techniques designed to protect oneself from physical threats. This concept focuses on equipping individuals with the necessary skills to respond effectively in dangerous situations, enabling them to defend against attacks and ensure their personal safety. Techniques may include blocking, striking, escaping holds, and leveraging an attacker's force against them, emphasizing the importance of awareness, control, and avoidance where possible.

Understanding self-defense goes beyond merely learning physical techniques; it also involves cultivating a mindset geared toward personal safety, awareness of surroundings, and the ability to read potential threats. In martial arts training, self-defense is emphasized as a practical application that prioritizes personal safety and empowers individuals with confidence and knowledge on how to react in threatening scenarios.

The other options, while they touch on aspects related to martial arts, do not accurately encapsulate the essence of self-defense. For example, viewing self-defense solely as a form of exercise overlooks its critical purpose of personal protection. Similarly, focusing on offensive strategies or treating it as a philosophy without practical application fails to acknowledge the core intent of self-defense training, which is to prepare individuals to respond to immediate physical danger effectively.