Martial arts and guns can give people a false sense of security. Who wants to devote a huge portion of their life to preparing for personalize warfare? LARPers live for that crap. On the other hand, it is wise to have a method of self defense as a normal life plan.
The absolute best defense is avoidance whether getting away or even moving your place of residence. There are many places where people aren’t bat-shit crazy.
Forget martial arts if someone has deadly intentions. Get a short shot gun and learn safety and security first. Then learn your firearm very intimately, both how it works and how to use it so well that muscle memory is instinctive. Then, learn how to set a trap where you have the advantage even if you aren’t super proficient. Most of all watch this short video.