Is karate good as a self-defense mechanism?

You should try to make a mixture of both if you are not sure. Since it has the word "swords" in the title many people would expect you to be...

The most essential element in self-defense is surprise. Once you lose the element of surprise, your attacker can defend themselves well. The idea is to surprise them with your response...

Wait until the injury heals, and then continue training. Getting injured is a part of life and competing in sports, and an injury can often be a valuable learning experience.

Yes. However, most libraries will be flexible and accept self-published books that are of good quality, especially if they are of local interest. Make sure that you are speaking to...

Not very many as the schedule can be demanding and long. I would say about 5% of students go on to fully complete their black belt certification based on the...

No. Getting a higher belt after you test means you are proficient or advanced in your level, and the old level can no longer contain you. You cannot move backwards.

It depends on your preference. Taekwondo is known for having the most kicking techniques out of any martial art and it is an Olympic sport.

It depends. If you're in a situation where you need to defend yourself with a weapon, then the specific weapon you use won't really matter. If you're in a situation...

Yes. It's legal to defend yourself against anyone of any gender who is showing aggression towards you.

When you press the trigger, the back end pushes the tube with the rubber band so it slides forward really fast, firing the bullet.