When seeking out martial arts training, always find a reputable instructor in your area. Books, videos, and online forums are NOT a substitute for actual hands-on professionally guided training and development.
I've witnessed an increase in backyard martial arts clubs, usually a group of young bucks with a lot of testosterone and not enough caution, and have seen first hand the unfortunate results. Lack of safety, ignorance of proper training methods, crappy diets, over-use of weight gain and other "nutritional" supplements.. All lead to injuries, ridiculous self-confidence in worthless techniques, and time-wasting mental masturbation. None of this is suitable or realistic for someone interested in developing actual street capable protective abilities.
It doesn't do any good to ask what martial art you should train in if you only have access to a boxing gym. Boxing becomes the obvious choice. You gain firsthand experience, exercise training, and knowledgeable guidance. No matter where you go from there, you've developed a realistic base to help springboard you on to other pursuits.
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About: Silver Sentinel is a security professional, licensed through the State of New York, and has received training in PPCT, Defensive Tactics, First Aid, I.C. Response, Haz-Mat Responder, Search & Rescue, MERT, CERT, Counter-Terrorism (not as fancy or cool as it sounds), and other skills through his job and activities as a community volunteer.