I tried Tae Kwon Do, and I got too old for that. So, I went to my own methodology, which is carrying a staff.
I made walking staffs, some wooden, some metal; I have one with me right now, at a public library. It is a terror of a weapon, made from aluminum electrical conduit. I even painted a camo pattern on it.:vs_bananasplit:
I do not study any method, I take what I can use from any school of thought. If it works, I keep it, and if it is silly, I dump it.
With my staff, I can handle at least three attackers, there is no doubt in my mind. If I die in the melee, whoops, but I am ready for the melee.
So, that is my way of doing defense, and let me add, my kick is like a mules'. I will bet you that I can break a bone, or it will feel like I did.
Right now, I will tell you that Tae Kwon Do (Karate), Judo or Jeet Kune Do (Kung Fu) are good fighting techniques. Chuck Norris is mostly a Karate man, and Bruce Lee is mostly Kung Fu.
But, each man used his own methods, and Chuck Norris must have a dozen black belt belts, in as many schools. Chuck developed Chun Kuk Do as his own style, and Bruce developed Jeet Kune Do.
Pick your poison, and if you don't like the methods, try something else. When you do find what you like, stay with it for an extended period. You get out of it anything, what you put into it.
Forgive me if I rambled, I do that now-a-days.