noun
self-defense techniques; art of self-defense
Refers to practical methods and skills for protecting oneself from physical harm, often taught in martial arts or personal safety courses.
女性向けの護身術教室が開かれた。
A self-defense class for women was held.
護身術として簡単な関節技を習った。
I learned simple joint locks as a self-defense technique.
自衛 is a more general term for self-defense, often used in legal or military contexts, whereas 護身術 focuses on personal physical defense skills.
Compound of 護身 (ごしん, 'self-protection') and 術 (じゅつ, 'technique, art'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is conventionally associated with martial arts and personal safety training.