[Rifleman]

The empty hand martial arts are not the answer to the self defense needs of anyone who cannot spend several hours a week at practice or anyone not young, healthy and agile. They are far from useless, but a handgun is enormously more effective for most. And with gun-fu you don't even have to muss your hair.

That said, the poise and situational awareness that the martial arts teach is very useful in a self defense situation.

[katana]

I have to agree with all of the above.

Once during the short time I took Tae Kwon Do classes with my son I was matched (as a yellow belt) against a woman black belt about fifteen years junior my age. She couldn't lay a hand or foot on me but but I staggered her once with a kick to the sternum and again when I caught her ankle during a kick and flipped her. I was anything but "trained" and out of shape to boot.

IMHO firearms and the use of tear gas and a stun gun are the best training a woman can have and effectively use.

[SauronOfMordor]

The empty hand martial arts are not the answer to the self defense needs of anyone who cannot spend several hours a week at practice or anyone not young, healthy and agile. They are far from useless, but a handgun is enormously more effective for most.

A combination of martial arts and weapons training is optimum. Martial arts will help you handle the first 3 seconds of an attack, so you can establish enough distance to GET TO your gun. It's also good for young people who are not old enough for a carry permit

[Nick Danger]

[semaj]

"And with gun-fu you don't even have to muss your hair."

You obviously need to move up to a bigger caliber. LOL.