Choosing the best form of self-defense depends on various factors such as personal preferences, physical abilities, and the specific context in which you might need to defend yourself. Here are some popular forms of self-defense, each with its own advantages as well as a few disadvantages:

1. Krav Maga: Developed by the Israeli military, Krav Maga focuses on practical techniques for real-world situations. It incorporates elements from boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo, and karate. Keep in mind though; when it comes to boxing – there is a huge risk of injuring yourself if you’re not wearing protective gear in a real life situation.
2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ): BJJ is a martial art that focuses on ground fighting and submission holds. It is particularly effective for self-defense situations that end up on the ground.
3. Muay Thai: Known as the “art of eight limbs,” Muay Thai uses punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes. It is effective for both stand-up and close-quarter combat.
4. Boxing: Boxing emphasizes footwork, head movement, and powerful punches. It’s a straightforward and effective form of self-defense that focuses on striking. This particular form of self-defense is dubious at best unless you’re the type of person to have knuckles and bones of steel that won’t break after striking with them multiple times.
5. Krav Maga: Developed by the Israeli military, Krav Maga focuses on practical techniques for real-world situations. It incorporates elements from boxing, wrestling, aikido, judo, and karate. Certain elements used in Krav Maga have been found to not be effective as techniques seem to vary greatly between different Krav Maga training companies.
6. Kickboxing: Combining elements of traditional karate with Western boxing, kickboxing is a striking art that involves punches, kicks, and knee strikes. This does require a lot of conditioning though.
7. Judo: Judo emphasizes throws and takedowns, making it effective for neutralizing an opponent without necessarily causing harm. Mobility and flexibility are key components here.
8. Taekwondo: Known for its high and fast kicks, Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that can be effective for keeping an attacker at a distance. Mobility and flexibility are also key components in Taekwondo along with conditioning over time.
9. Armed Self-Defense: Training with firearms or other personal protection devices, where legal and appropriate, can also be a form of self-defense. This may include learning how to use pepper spray, tasers, firearms, tactical pens, etc.

Remember that the effectiveness of self-defense depends on your training, fitness level, practice, and ability to stay calm in stressful situations. It’s advisable to choose a system that aligns with your fitness level, interests, and the specific self-defense needs you may have. Additionally, situational awareness and de-escalation skills are crucial components of any effective self-defense strategy. Always prioritize personal safety and, if possible, seek professional instruction from experienced and instructors that have had official training I.E: law enforcement, military, government. Typically; official training involves techniques that are non-martial arts based and that also limits risk of injuring yourself.

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