There are various forms of self-defense used by individuals throughout the world. Mostly, when we hear this term we are thinking about civilian hand-to-hand defense techniques such as karate or jujutsu. These are considered unarmed forms of self defense.
There are “armed” forms as well. One would be the use of pepper spray by one individual against another for the purposes of protecting self and/or property. Pepper spray is a form of personal alarm. It’s small size makes it ideal to carry on a belt or in a pocket or purse. It is easily concealed and can be used in conjunction with less injurious forms of self-defense such as a hand-held personal alarm which emits loud, high frequency sound attracting others to it’s source and frightening away the assailant.