When we talk about self-defense in Canada, it must be justified and reasonable. The most important thing is that your use of force should not increase the danger to your life.
Imagine you confront a thief who broke into your garage. You enter, see the thief, pick up a pipe, and hit him on the head. In Canada, this would already be considered excessive self-defense. Why? Because the thief did not pose a direct threat to your life. For the strike to be justified, there must be a real danger.
Self-defense is a very thin line, especially in Canada. It's not the same as in other countries. The laws are strictly enforced, and many nuances need to be considered. I remember when my children attended self-defense courses, their instructor said a simple but very important thing: "As soon as you start practicing martial arts, your body becomes a weapon." This means you do not have the right to use it without warning.
If someone hits you, your first step should not be to attack, but to step back and warn them: "Don't touch me, I can strike back, and it will hurt. I am a professional athlete." If the person doesn’t understand the first time, repeat it again. Yes, it may be annoying, but these are the laws in Canada. You cannot simply hit back if there is no direct threat to your life and health. You are obliged to try to stop the aggressor with words first.
Those who practice martial arts know what blocking is. You put up blocks, but you don't switch to attack unless it becomes a last resort. If the aggressor continues to attack and the blocks don’t help, you may have to hit him to neutralize. But even in this case, the strike must be reasonable not to cause serious injuries. For example, if a person is drunk, unarmed, and just tries to push you, a strike that leads to their serious injury or death will not be considered self-defense.
Unlike the U.S., the laws on self-defense in Canada are much stricter. Here, if someone breaks into your home, it doesn’t give you the right to immediately use weapons or excessive force. Self-defense is allowed, but only within reasonable limits. Your actions should not escalate the danger.
