Self Defense does not start and end at the gun...It does not start and end at the knife...the stick...the fist or foot...self defense starts with the mind. Every situation does not call for pulling your gun and shooting. Or you will in all likely hood have to fight someone off to access your gun when you need it. You need to train in order to use your presence...to have situational awareness...your hand to hand as well as your weapon...and you need to train in a way that all are integrated into one system that works for you. There are many great arts out there find one that fits with you and stick to it don't just stay in a year or two and think your an expert. Devote your self to the art and really get something out of it. Don't change to another art until you have about 10 years in one system.
And yes, you have to continuously evaluate your system and refine it...you have to constantly train.
You can break Martial arts into two categories I like to call Martial Sport and Martial Defense. Many arts will exclusively train for competitions and exhibitions but somewhere in there they loose the savagery of the art and trade if for commercialism, flash, smoke and mirrors under the guise of Martial defense when it is not. Then there are other arts that still teach the way it has been for thousands of years...Kali, Kenpo, Jujitsu, Kickboxing and others.
When it comes to Martial Defense I think the best thing you can do is use the KISS method...Keep It Simple Stupid. Hit them hard, Hit them first, Hit them more often and repeat... any art that is so complicated should be avoided at all costs...chances are it is just for show and flash.
