Many of the guys who would jump in and fight are pretty big fellas yourselves, over 6 feet tall and more than 200 pounds, and apparently in good shape.
For smaller people about 1/2 to 2/3 the power of the attacker, optimum defense would seem to be:
1. killer training like judo or some other lethal self-defense
(most people don't have this and it may not work anyway if the attacker is better at it than you are)
2. using a gun or other lethal weapon
(literally overkill in most courts of law)
3. skunk defense
(vomiting or crapping all over yourself, usually last resort in isolated area, not so effective in fighting off attacks on others)
4. crazed assault
(go nuts, get that Jack Nicholson deranged stare, claw kick pummel gouge bite scream use any weapon within reach and aim to inflict as much painful damage as possible no matter what the consequences; sometimes this works simply because of the unknown and surprise factor plus nobody, even the worst villain, wants to sustain permanent damage like poked eyes, chewed ears, deep lacerations, mangled limbs)
5. dial 911
Depends on who is involved, doesn't it?
Wife, mother, or child -- easy to go insane in total focused defense no matter what the odds or how poor your chances of success.
Stranger or someone you don't care much about -- please pass the cell phone.
