Usually, self-defense is considered survival against unprovoked attacks by human attackers.

In actuality, self-defense is so much more nuanced than that. Preserving one’s life is far more complex than a few hand strikes or gunshots.

Listed below are some essential tenets of self-defense—four essential types of awareness.

1. Situational Awareness—People often create circumstances that adversely affect them. Understanding this and the hazards created by strangers is paramount when considering self-defense.
   
2. Environmental Awareness—Understanding that different environments hold different perils is crucial.
   
3. Preparational Awareness—Possession of the proper tools, training, and mindset to survive an environment or live adversary is very important.
   
4. Capability Awareness—The accurate estimation of one’s abilities is critical.