"Depends on the weapon," he said. "And what they can do with it, and your surroundings. Self-defense is a situational thing, and based on the premise you don't actually want to engage if you don't have to. All things considered, I would choose running if fighting it's an option as much as I can - zig-zag if possible. Makes you a much harder target. If they aren't attacking in the first place - all the better."