You can use your combat skill to great effect in battle, making it hard for your foes to land a solid hit on you.

<php>echo “<b>Prerequisites:</b>”;</php> Int 13, BAB +1
<php>echo “<b>Benefit:</b>”;</php> When you use the attack action or the full attack action in melee, you can take a penalty of as much as –5 on your attack roll and gain damage reduction equal to the same amount (5 or less). The damage reduction gained through this feat cannot be overcome by any kind of weapon. The penalty taken may not exceed your base attack bonus. The changes to attack rolls and damage reduction last until your next turn.
<php>echo “<b>Special:</b>”;</php> Combat Defense can be used in place of Combat Expertise to qualify for a feat, prestige class, or other special ability. You cannot use both Combat Defense and Combat Expertise in the same round.