Self defense is the action by which a person protects himself from bodily harm arising out of encounters or attacks. A person may defend himself by either blocking the opponents advancements or by counter attacking. Self defense justifies a preemptive action taken in the reasonable belief of immediate danger, without making any retreat, and may (especially in case of provocation), condone killing of the perpetrator of a lethal attack.
These are techniques that I find to be the most practical & simple in order to defuse an aggressive threat.