Well, being conciensious is the highest level of mastery in any martial art. Disabling the attack before the attack arises; dissipating ones vulnerability in general; keeping your senses about you.
For the purely physical combat aspects, I’d recommend southern Shao Lin. It’s a form of Kung Fu desgned specifically for multiple attackers with a focus on utility rather than the exhibition styles of the north.
Actually learning to defend oneself requires a bit of work and a well learned, detail oriented and communicative instructor.
The fundamentals of martial arts in general are summarized in the “temple bow”
First you will require tone and strengthening
-This consists of exersises and forms. Basic stuff like jump-rope and stance training develop body tone. This is charachterized by a slight bending of the knees utilized when the bow is occurring.
Second is “iron fist” or “iron palm”; this consists of callousing your body and learning how to hit as hard as you can without hurting yourself. Some people choose to straighten their knuckles; and as such develop a very good “iron fist” (this is not for the faint-hearted); most prefer to work their palms, fore-arms and shins for the most practical defense training. The highly motivated will also “iron” each finger as well; in preparation for the next phase. This will consist of techniques on all forms of breaking. You will learn the joints. Much of this training involves being whipped with bamboo and practicing your striking on a barky tree trunk.
The next phase deals with the nervous system and is referred to as “poison hand”. This where where accuracy becomes the primary focus, as anatomy is studied very closely here to determine the most efficient points for contact.
The general philosophy of Kung Fu is to break or kill. Grappling is used to break, when a kill cannot be immediate; upon which the kill is then taken. Strikes are centered on the “big 3”: eyes, throat and groin, for beginners. Kung Fu does not particularly concern itself with the art of subdueing a person; as much of this advantage is based on sheer size and years upon years of training (technique). You will learn how to completely mangle someone in a couple seconds before aquiring the capacity to determine how much damage you do or do not wish to procure.
Anything that touches you or comes at you is considered a “road” in Kung Fu; this road is travelled upon to disable an undesirable journey (being attacked).
The art prides itself on fluidity; being the most fluid of the arts and sprawling out over most of the arts without having one specific specialty. In order to recieve a Black Sash, one must show evidence that they are committed to the process. Typically, one must have the 18 basic weapons learned before a black sash is recognized by the ‘Sifu’. At this point, you are considered an instructor; and are eligable for training in esoterics. There is nothing preceeding a black sash in Kung Fu; although multiple layers of black sashes are aknowledged for exemplary devotion in schools where the ‘sky is the limit’ as far as what level of mastery exists there. These levels are charachterized by black rings that clasp the sash perpendicularly. They are very difficult to see, as much of Kung Fu itself is concerned with what may be expected, focusing on preparation rather than some sense of achievement. Southern Shao Lin ran stance training for a period of several years, iron palm for a period of several years and poison hand for the same - weapons taking another few years or so. It is aknowledged that a black sash means nothing except that you have shown evidence of devotion and listening. The ego is typically encouraged to be diffused through the understanding that even a todler old can catch you off guard, and that nothing is certain to that degree. Expect the unexpected; fluidity, creativity and a memory of forms from which to write your will.
-Justhink