Legal implications - Revision history

YellowHatGuy: /* “My Hands are Lethal Weapons…” */

2026-03-30T03:34:15Z

“My Hands are Lethal Weapons…”

YellowHatGuy at 03:24, 30 March 2026

2026-03-30T03:24:26Z

YellowHatGuy: /* Excessive Force */

2022-03-30T19:44:28Z

Excessive Force

YellowHatGuy at 19:36, 30 March 2022

2022-03-30T19:36:48Z

YellowHatGuy: /* “My Hands are Lethal Weapons…” */

2021-02-09T04:16:59Z

“My Hands are Lethal Weapons…”

YellowHatGuy at 23:01, 19 January 2021

2021-01-19T23:01:54Z

YellowHatGuy at 22:08, 19 January 2021

2021-01-19T22:08:30Z

YellowHatGuy: /* “My Hands are Lethal Weapons…” */

2020-04-17T22:51:26Z

“My Hands are Lethal Weapons…”

YellowHatGuy: /* Duty to Retreat */

2020-04-17T22:47:17Z

Duty to Retreat

YellowHatGuy: /* Excessive Force */

2020-02-09T18:03:18Z

Excessive Force

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 ==“My Hands are Lethal Weapons…”==
 Contrary to popular belief, there is no requirement for black belts to register their hands as lethal weapons. Martial artists face little to no legal restrictions, though boxers and wrestlers often do. This is unlikely to change because the many legislative attempts to regulate, license, or register martial artists throughout history have failed due to enforcement issues:
-*Martial artists trained informally in private homes, etc. would escape detection by authorities.
+*Martial artists who train informally in private homes, etc. would escape detection by authorities.
 *Prohibition would create a black market for martial arts books and educational materials.
 *The capacity to employ deadly force is not limited to martial artists, since pocket knives are also unregulated.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Self-defense ''is not'' a right; it is a privilege''' which varies between jurisdictions.  The authors are not lawyers; this article is not intended to be, and does not constitute any specific legal advice. Please consult your lawyer for the specific details of your area. The information in this article is subject to change without notice, as the legal aspects of the martial arts are constantly evolving with each legislative session and court opinion.
-The privilege of self-defense can only be invoked if all four of the following criteria are met:
+The privilege of self-defense can only be invoked if, and only if, all four of the following criteria are met:
 #You face an unprovoked attack,
 #which presents an imminent threat of injury or death,

@@ Line 201: / Line 201: @@
 A martial artist could be presumed to act maliciously if:
 *The martial artist was an expert.
-*The martial artist was he trained by other experts, and not self-taught.
+*The martial artist was trained by other experts, and was not self-taught.
 *The injury was caused by a specific martial arts technique, as opposed to “street fighting.”
 *The injury was caused by a technique which the martial artist knew, or should have known, from their training.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The privilege of self-defense can only be invoked if all four of the following criteria are met:
 #You face an unprovoked attack,
-#which presents and imminent threat of injury or death,
+#which presents an imminent threat of injury or death,
 #and you responded with an objectively reasonable degree of force,
 #to prevent an objectively reasonable apprehension of injury or death.
-Failure to meet these four criteria is generally unlawful. However, even following of these guidelines can create an argument of “imperfect self-defense,” which can mitigate your penalties.
+Failure to meet these four criteria is generally unlawful. However, following some of these guidelines can create an argument of “imperfect self-defense,” which can mitigate your penalties.
 There are other factors which you must be considered before invoking the privilege of self-defense:

@@ Line 214: / Line 214: @@
 *Martial artists trained informally in private homes, etc. would escape detection by authorities.
 *Prohibition would create a black market for martial arts books and educational materials.
-*The capacity to employ deadly force is not limited to martial artists, since pocket knives are also unregulated, and confer great advantages in altercations.
+*The capacity to employ deadly force is not limited to martial artists, since pocket knives are also unregulated.
-*Martial arts cannot be stolen like firearms can, so there is no need for their registry.
+*Unlike firearms, martial arts cannot be stolen, so there is no need for their registry.
 *How can one disarm a martial artist?
 *How can martial arts be confiscated, in accordance with existing deadly weapons laws?
-*If a karateka walked around with their hands their pockets, would that constitute carrying a concealed weapon?
+*Would a karateka with their hands their pockets be concealing a weapon?
 *Since most martial artists train barefoot, are shoe considerations still relevant in aggravated assault determinations?

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ==Reasonable Apprehension==
-'''The privilege of self-defense is granted only when you are apprehensive about a reasonable fear of assault.''' Please note that [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/apprehension apprehension] is ''not'' [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fear fear]. You can invoke self-defense against an assailant even if you are not afraid of them, or their attempts to harm you. You only need to reasonably believe that their assault will contact your body.
+'''The privilege of self-defense is only granted when you are apprehensive about a reasonable fear of assault.''' Please note that [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/apprehension apprehension] is ''not'' [https://www.dictionary.com/browse/fear fear]. You can invoke self-defense against an assailant even if you are not afraid of them, or their attempts to harm you. You only need to reasonably believe that their assault will contact your body.
 Reasonable Apprehension ties into the notion of [[Legal_implications#Excessive_Force|excessive force]]. You must be apprehensive ''and'' fearful about incurring serious bodily harm and/or death to justify using deadly force in self-defense.  '''You cannot use deadly force unless you fear that deadly force will be used against you.'''  However, you ''do not'' need to fear your life to justify using lesser degrees of force in self-defense.
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 In general, you can claim apprehension if the assailant has all of the following:
 *'''Ability:''' The attacker has the physical and practical ability to injure, maim, cripple, or kill you.
-*'''Opportunity:''' Just because an attacker can harm you, doesn't mean that they will. Therefore, you must demonstrate that nothing is stopping them from causing harm.
+*'''Opportunity:''' Just because an attacker can harm you, doesn't mean that they will. Therefore, you must demonstrate that nothing was stopping them from causing harm.
 *'''Jeopardy:''' You must be in a truly dangerous or life-threatening situation, rather than an uncomfortable or potentially-dangerous situation.
-**Someone who shouts “I’ll kill you!” as they walk away ''is not'' putting you in jeopardy.
+**Someone who shouts “I’ll kill you!” as they walk away ''does not'' put you in jeopardy.
-**Someone who shouts “I love you!” as they lunge at you with a knife ''is'' putting you in jeopardy.
+**Someone who shouts “I love you!” as they lunge at you with a knife ''does'' put you in jeopardy.
-Be mindful that martial artists are trained to remain calm in dangerous situations, and this aspect of your training could undercut your claim of apprehension and hinder your legal defense. Martial artists are implied to need a greater apprehension before they can legally claim self-defense.
+Be mindful that martial artists are trained to remain calm in dangerous situations, and this aspect of your training could undermine your claim of apprehension, hindering your legal defense. Martial artists are implied to need a greater apprehension before they can legally claim self-defense.
-Some jurisdictions have a Doctrine of Anticipatory Attack, which allows pre-emptive striking privileges when you reasonably know that an attack is imminent. While this is usually not “reasonable” for the average person, it ''may'' be considered reasonable for a martial artist, who is presumably trained to pick up on subtle cues which indicate immanent attacks. Not all jurisdictions allow this extra privilege; please contact your lawyer for details. Like poker players, inexperienced fighters have “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UViNf1k-BE tells],” which a discerning, trained fighter will notice. The average person does not notice, does not try to notice, or misses these tells by paying attention to the wrong things. Attacks are usually preceded by one or more of the following:
+Some jurisdictions have a Doctrine of Anticipatory Attack, which allows preemptive striking privileges when you reasonably know that an attack is imminent. While this is usually not “reasonable” for the average person, it ''may'' be considered reasonable for a martial artist, who is presumably trained to pick up on subtle cues which indicate immanent attacks. Not all jurisdictions allow this extra privilege; please contact your lawyer for details. Like poker players, inexperienced fighters have “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UViNf1k-BE tells],” which a discerning, trained fighter will notice. The average person does not notice, does not try to notice, or misses these tells by paying attention to the wrong things. Attacks are usually preceded by one or more of the following:
-#Aggressive verbal behavior. The assailant is trying to anger you into throwing the first punch. This way, you become the assailant, and they can claim self-defense. Verbal aggression usually takes the form of:
+#Aggressive verbal behavior. The assailant tries to anger you into throwing the first punch. This way, ''you'' become the assailant, so ''they'' can claim self-defense. Verbal aggression usually takes the form of:
 #*Insulting, to force you into redeeming yourself.
-#*Baiting or attempting to provoke an aggressive response (e.g., “What do you want?”; “What are you looking at?”)
+#*Baiting or attempting to provoke aggressive responses (e.g., “What do you want?”; “What are you looking at?”)
 #*Making unprovoked accusations, threats, or demands.
 #*Using foul language for no reason.
 #*Taking “no” to mean “maybe.”
-#*Forced teaming, i.e., using “we” language to create an artificial sense of partnership or trust, to lull you into lowing your defense.
+#*Forced teaming, i.e., using “we” language to create an artificial sense of partnership or trust, to lull you into lowering your defenses.
-#*Using [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKiSPUc2Jck false charm]. People wrong assume that “nice” people are also “good” people.
+#*Using [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKiSPUc2Jck false charm]. People wrongly assume that “nice” people are also “good” people.
-#*Forced obligation. The assailant will try to do something “nice,” to create a debt.
+#*Forced obligation. The assailant tries to do something “nice,” just to put you in their debt.
 #**Often, this takes the form of unsolicited promises or reassurances.
-#A change in the rate, tone, pitch, or volume of someone’s voice.
+#A change in their voice rate, tone, pitch, or volume.
-#*Especially pay attention if a loud person suddenly becomes quiet, or vice-versa.
+#*It is especially dangerous when a loud person suddenly becomes quiet, or vice-versa.
-#A refusal to make eye contact, or excessive eye contact.
+#Either a refusal to make eye contact, or excessive eye contact.
-#*The opponent is trying to depersonalize you, and view you as an inanimate target.
+#*This means the opponent is depersonalizing you, to view you as an inanimate target.
 #An empty or glazed-over glare or stare, which indicates they’re “sizing you up.”
 #Sudden eye dilation.
 #A person who was looking at you suddenly looks away.
-#*This classic technique lulls you into thinking that the assailant will move on, when it really is a diversion to set up a suckerpunch.
+#*This lulls you into thinking that the assailant is moving on, which distracts you from their attack. These "suckerpunches" are classic technique which only works on the naïve, since everyone else fell for it already.
 #Pulling their head and neck back.
-#*The average assailant is a “headhunter” who relies on the law of large numbers that one of his many blows your head will result in a one-hit knock-out. This motion is their attempt to avoid the same fate by pulling their head out harm’s way. Additionally, this lowers the assailant's chin, which protects their throat.
+#*The average assailant is a “headhunter” who launches many attacks to your head in the hope of getting a one-hit knock-out. This motion is their attempt to avoid a simmilar fate by pulling their head out harm’s way. Additionally, this lowers the chin, and protects the throat.
 #[[Maai#Closing the Distance|Closing the distance]]. This could either be a lunge, or gradually inching in as they goad you.
 #Attempts to follow, herd, flank, or mirror your escape attempts.
@@ Line 92: / Line 92: @@
 #*Fist clenching.
 #*Teeth clenching.
-#*Shifting their weight forward, straightening the spine, or other steps needed to adopt a fighting stance.
+#*Shifting their weight, straightening their spine, or performing other fighting stance elements.
 #*Adrenaline tremors.
 #*Constantly fidgeting and adjusting themselves.
-#**Criminals will throw their guns away when running from the police, to appear unarmed when apprehended. This is why criminals rarely use holsters; being caught with an empty holster is still suspicious. Criminals usually opt to carry their guns in their waistbands, to minimize jostling and printing. However, the gun will constantly shift as they move, and requiring repositioning.
+#**Criminals must their guns away when running from the police, so they can appear unarmed when apprehended. This is why criminals rarely use holsters; being caught with an empty holster is still suspicious. Criminals usually opt to carry their guns in their waistbands, to minimize jostling and printing. However, the gun constantly shifts as they move, and requiring repositioning.
 #Attempts to draw a weapon.
-#*Always assume your assailant has a concealed weapon. 70% of men carry knives, and while most of those are small multi-tool blades, it's still a knife.
+#*Always assume that your assailant has a concealed weapon. 70% of men carry knives, and while most of those are small multi-tool blades, it's still a knife.
-#*Most weapons are carried on or around the waistline. Be concerned if the assailant is goes out of their way to conceal their waistline, by:
+#*Most weapons are carried on or around the waistline. Be concerned if the assailant goes out of their way to conceal their waistline, by:
 #**Wearing coats indoors, especially in warm or dry weather.
-#**Wearing an button-up shirt un-tucked, with the bottom left unbuttoned.
+#**Wearing a button-up shirt un-tucked, and the bottom unbuttoned.
 #*People typically carry their weapons on their strong side, and wristwatches on their weak side. Use their watch as a guide.
-#*Check to see if the assailant is “printing,” i.e., displaying the weapon's outline through their clothing. Often this is appears as an awkward lump.
+#*Check to see if the assailant is “printing,” i.e., displaying the weapon's outline through their clothing, usually as an awkward lump.
 #*Look for the carry clips which secure many folding knives, sheaths, and holsters.
 #*Most holsters require a sturdy belt.
@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 #*Goading or playing along with the assailant escalates the situation, making you partially responsible for the outcome.
 #The assailant repeatedly pushes you, to knock you off-balance.
-#The assailant attacks, usually with a right [[Haymaker|haymaker]] (Most assailants were once bullies, and ironically, few bullies know how to fight. That's why bullies focus on intimidation.) This attack is either:
+#The assailant attacks, usually with a right [[Haymaker|haymaker]] (Most assailants were once bullies, and ironically, most bullies don't know how to fight. That's why bullies focus on intimidation.) This attack is either:
 #*A suckerpunch.
-#*A follow-up to a left lapel or collar grab to further imbalance you.
+#*A follow-up to a left lapel or collar grab, to imbalance you.
 #**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_neSjf8QMA Hockey players] are notorious for this.
-#**Many meatheads take their shirts off when threatened to mitigate this pre-attack grab.
+#**Many meatheads remove their shirts when threatened to mitigate these pre-attack grabs.
 #A fistfight ensues.
 #The fight goes to the ground, either because someone:

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-'''Self-defense is not a right; it is a legal privilege''' which varies between jurisdictions.  The authors are not lawyers, and this article is not intended to be, and does not constitute specific legal advice. Please consult your lawyer to find the specific details for your area. The legal aspects of the martial arts are constantly evolving, with each legislative session and with each appellate court opinion.
+'''Self-defense ''is not'' a right; it is a privilege''' which varies between jurisdictions.  The authors are not lawyers; this article is not intended to be, and does not constitute any specific legal advice. Please consult your lawyer for the specific details of your area. The information in this article is subject to change without notice, as the legal aspects of the martial arts are constantly evolving with each legislative session and court opinion.
 The privilege of self-defense can only be invoked if all four of the following criteria are met:
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 #and you responded with an objectively reasonable degree of force,
 #to prevent an objectively reasonable apprehension of injury or death.
-Failure to meet these four criteria is generally unlawful. However, this “imperfect self-defense” can be cited to mitigate the resulting penalties.
+Failure to meet these four criteria is generally unlawful. However, even following of these guidelines can create an argument of “imperfect self-defense,” which can mitigate your penalties.
-There are other factors which you must consider before invoking the privilege of self-defense:
+There are other factors which you must be considered before invoking the privilege of self-defense:
 *Using deadly force is prohibited, unless you are confronted with deadly force (e.g., they draw a weapon).
-*You cannot respond with excessive force. You can only hurt your attacker to the degree necessary to make them stop their attack.
+*You cannot respond with excessive force. You can only hurt your attacker to the degree necessary to stop their attack.
-*Some jurisdictions impose a Duty to Warn on martial artists, requiring them to inform their assailants of their skills, unless this would provoke the assailant further.
+*Some jurisdictions impose a Duty to Warn upon martial artists, requiring them to inform their assailants of their skills, unless it would provoke the assailant further.
 *Some jurisdictions impose a Duty to Retreat in deadly force situations.
-*Martial artists may have a legitimate and unique claim to a preemptive anticipatory attack due to their skill at identifying assault attempts.
+*Martial artists may have a legitimate and unique claim to a preemptive anticipatory attack, due to their skill at identifying assault attempts.
-*Beware that assailants may illegally claim that your martial arts training gives them reason to escalate force.
+*Beware that assailants may illegally claim that your martial arts training gave them reason to escalate their force.
-The fear of legal consequences should not keep you doing what you must to survive a violent encounter -- because if you don't survive, then everything else is meaningless. However, you should be mindful that every fight carries a risk of injuring, maiming or killing someone -- even if that was not your intent. If this happens, you may be seen as an aggressor in the eyes of the law, who could face jail time and/or financial crippling civil lawsuits.
+The fear of legal consequences should not keep you doing what you must to survive a violent encounter -- if you don't survive, then everything else is moot. However, you should be mindful that every fight carries a risk of injuring, maiming or killing someone -- even if that was not your intent. If this happens, you may be seen as an aggressor in the eyes of the law, who could face jail time and/or financial crippling civil lawsuits.
-You cannot engage in violence without consequences. These consequences are usually terrible and life-altering. Ask yourself, “What am I fighting over?”  Is it worth being confined to a wheelchair? Is it worth wasting years of your life in jail? Is it worth selling everything to pay legal settlements? The answer is usually “no,” which is why most martial artists strive to preemptively avoid conflict.
+You cannot engage in violence without consequences -- and these are usually terrible and life-altering. Ask yourself, “What am I fighting over?”  Is it worth being confined to a wheelchair? Is it worth wasting chapters of your life in jail? Is it worth selling everything to pay a settlement? The answer is usually “no,” which is why most martial artists  preemptively avoid conflicts.
 ==Karate ni Sente Nashi==
-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gichin_Funakoshi Gichin Funakoshi]’s favorite laconic maxim, “Karate ni sente nashi” is frequently translated as “There is no first strike in karate,” and commonly taken to mean that a karateka never throws the first attack in a confrontation. This precept is conditioned into each student’s muscle memory by beginning every [[Kata|kata]] with a [[Blocks|block]].
+[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gichin_Funakoshi Gichin Funakoshi]’s favorite laconic maxim, “Karate ni sente nashi” is frequently translated as “There is no first strike in karate,” and commonly understood to mean that a karateka never attacks first in confrontations. This precept is conditioned into every student’s muscle memory by beginning every [[Kata|kata]] with a [[Blocks|block]].
-A more literal interpretation is “there is no first ''initiative'' in karate.” That is, do not instigate. The cornerstone of any self-defense argument is innocence; you must be ''entirely'' without fault. If you escalate an avoidable situation to any degree, you then become partially responsible -- and liable -- for the outcome. Karate is for emergency use only, and it is not a go-to solution for all of life’s problems.
+A more literal interpretation is “there is no first ''initiative'' in karate.” That is, ''do not instigate.'' Innocence is the cornerstone of self-defense arguments; you must be ''entirely'' without fault. If you escalate an avoidable situation to any degree, then you become partially responsible -- and liable -- for the outcome. Karate is for emergency use only; it is not a go-to solution for all of life’s problems.
-Additionally, “karate ni sente nashi” is a reminder to prevent your assailant from attacking first. A karateka should be aware of their assailant’s bad intentions, so you can counterattack so quickly that it seems like a simultaneous clash.
+Additionally, “karate ni sente nashi” is a reminder to prevent your assailant from attacking first. A karateka should be aware of their assailant’s bad intentions, so you can counterattack so quickly that it ''seems'' like a simultaneous clash.
 ==Assault and Battery==
-Many states define “Simple Assault” as acting in a way which places another person in imminent danger of physical harm.  Please note that assault ''does not'' require physical contact; entering a karate [[Stances|stance]] to express your violent intentions constitutes an assault. Simple assault is a misdemeanor. Other states do require a physical connection, and thus consider assault and battery to be one crime.
+Many states define “Simple Assault” as acting in a way which places another person in imminent danger of physical harm. An assault ''does not'' require physical contact; entering a karate [[Stances|stance]] to express violent intentions constitutes an assault. Some states ''do'' require a physical connection, and thus consider assault and battery to be one crime. Simple Assault is a misdemeanor.
 “Aggravated Assault” is “an attempt to cause serious bodily injury to another or to cause serious bodily injury purposely, knowingly, or recklessly, with an extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Aggravated assault is a felony. Examples of aggravated assault include:
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 *Assault when the assailant conceals their identity.
 *Assault against members of protected classes (i.e., police officers, healthcare providers, social workers, the developmentally disabled, or the elderly).
-Please note that simple assaults could easily escalate into aggravated assaults in the heat of the moment.
+Please note that simple assaults can easily escalate into aggravated assaults in the heat of the moment.
 “Battery” is an unlawful application of force to another person’s body, resulting in either bodily injury or an offensive touching. By definition, battery requires physical contact. Battery can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances and the severity of the resulting injuries.
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 '''The Privilege of Self-defense is never straightforward''' because [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity_(criminal_law) necessity] exists in a legal grey area. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competing_harms The Doctrine of Competing Harms] allows people in dangerous situations to violate laws when their compliance poses a greater danger. (e.g., it is illegal for drivers to swerve into the left lane across a double-yellow line; but it is acceptable if they’re avoiding a falling tree.) To invoke the Doctrine of Competing Harms, you must prove that:
 *The harm you sought to avoid was worse than the punishment for breaking the law.
-*You was no reasonable alternative to avoid that harm, except by breaking the law.
+*You had no reasonable alternative to avoid that harm, except by breaking the law.
 *You ceased to break the law as soon as the danger passed.
 *You did not create the danger which you sought to avoid.

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 **The justification for using deadly force vanishes upon escaping, i.e., you can’t legally return to attack your would-be assailant at a more advantageous time.
 *'''[[Legal_implications#The_Doctrine_of_Competing_Harms|Competing Harms]].''' The Duty to Retreat is voided if you reasonably believe that an  escape attempt would decrease your safety. (e.g., you do not have leave cover during a shootout to run to the door.)
-*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine Castle Doctrine].''' Most states wave the Duty to Retreat for assaults which occur inside your home, because your home is assumed to be the safe place you would retreat too.
+*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine Castle Doctrine].''' Most states wave the Duty to Retreat for assaults which occur inside your home, because your home is assumed to be the safe place which you would retreat too.
-*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law Stand-Your-Ground Laws].''' Many states have “stand-your-ground” or “line-in the-sand” laws which remove the Duty to Retreat inn some or all situations. Please consult your lawyer to verify your state’s requirements and limits.
+*'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-your-ground_law Stand-Your-Ground Laws].''' Many states have “stand-your-ground” or “line-in the-sand” laws which remove the Duty to Retreat in some or all situations. Please consult your lawyer to verify your state’s requirements and limits.
 Please note that the Duty to Retreat only applies to the use of deadly force. There is no Duty to Retreat from non-deadly force situations -- even if you know you could escape with absolute certainty.

@@ Line 189: / Line 189: @@
 You cannot escalate the situation by moving further down the force continuum unless it is in response to your opponent’s increase in force. You must stop using force once your opponent stops using force (i.e., it is generally unlawful to kick a man when he’s down). There are two exceptions to this rule:
 *'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_doctrine Castle doctrine].''' Most states allow escalated force when defending against an assault which occurs inside your home, because your home presumed to be your place of safety.
-*'''Disparity of force.'''' If you are confronted with an attacker who is significantly more able, or if faced with multiple attackers, then force escalation may be warranted to compensate for your disadvantage.
+*'''Disparity of force.''' If you are confronted by attacker who is significantly more able, or confront multiple attackers, then force escalation may be warranted to compensate for your disadvantage.
 Please note that '''it is always unlawful to use deadly force as a response to non-deadly force.'''
-The question of whether-or-not you could have stopped your assailant using less force will be an important aspect in your legal defense. Malice, or specific intent, will be presumed from the circumstances. Some jurisdictions state that martial artists, because of their special skill, will presumably inflict the specific injuries they intended to inflict. In practice, this is a grey area, as failed assailants tend to exaggerate the extent of their injuries to frame their intended victim. Martial artists have countered these frame-ups by citing the following as evidence:
+The question of whether-or-not you could have stopped your assailant using less force will be an important aspect in your legal defense. Malice, or specific intent, will be presumed from the circumstances. Some jurisdictions state that martial artists, because of their special skill, will presumably inflict the specific injuries they intended to inflict. In practice, this is a grey area, as failed assailants tend to exaggerate the extent of their injuries to frame their intended victim. Martial artists have successfully countered these frame-ups by citing the following as evidence:
 *A known personal reputation as a peaceful person.
 *Specific training to only use their skills in self-defense.
 *The intoxication of the adversary. Since an intoxicated people experience dulled sensation and slower signal processing, they will feel less pain, and it takes longer for them to feel pain. This creates a Disparity of Force, because an intoxicated person could withstand a reasonable force and still continue their assault.
-This is one reason why martial artist are implored to be humble -- because displays of bravado and machismo in your daily life could compromise your future legal defense. Besides, acting tough means that you are not tough, because otherwise you wouldn’t have to act -- everyone would just know. Therefore, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0ir6AlHM5s the truly tough can be gentle, pleasant, and joyful, because their reputation is so solid that it requires no defense]. You should strive to live in such a way that gives police investigators nothing to find (e.g., don’t buy that “I’d rather be judged by twelve than carried by six” bumper sticker).
+This is one reason why martial artist are implored to be humble -- because any displays of bravado and machismo in your daily life could compromise your future legal defense. Besides, acting tough means that you are not tough, because otherwise you wouldn’t have to act -- everyone would just know. Therefore, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0ir6AlHM5s the truly tough can be gentle, pleasant, and joyful, because their reputation is so solid that it requires no defense]. You should strive to live in such a way that gives police investigators nothing to find (e.g., don’t buy that “I’d rather be judged by twelve than carried by six” bumper sticker).
 A martial artist could be presumed to act maliciously if: