This is literally the case in many places that have laws about the "proportionality" of self defense. If the guy is much bigger/stronger than you, but unarmed,

This is literally the case in many places that have laws about the "proportionality" of self defense. If the guy is much bigger/stronger than you, but unarmed, if you use a knife or gun to stop him you could go to jail. But as the saying goes, better judged by 12 than carried by 6.