Self defence law action?

In self defence law are you aloud to take ANY action. meaning if someone attempts to stab you and you evade or what ever, are you aloud to stab him without an attempt to kill? for example, stab him in the hand. (If he attacks you first!) what i am asking is can you take ANY messure to for self defence act like stab, shoot, break there arm etc but nothing that will kill them. just use non lehal force.