Anyone who thinks Martial arts will save them in a street fight has been mislead. Martial arts are attributes which give you an edge in a fight IF you adapt your art for the street and you know what will work and what won't. Anyone who has been in a real blood and snot encounter knows that it isn't just technical ability that counts (as a matter of fact it counts for very little) but ones ability to deal with adrenaline and a whole host of other factors.

If you train Flashy high kicks all the time and you spar with high kicks in a situation where adrenaline is a factor ie competition karate,TKD then because of muscle memory you will attempt this as your primary strike when under duress because muscle memory has conditioned you to do so.This can get you badly hurt. To cover all overlapping ranges in a street fight then you need one striking technique (preferably hands...most altercations take place in a br etc so no time to get off kicks) and Judo IMO is the best bet (ok so i am biased ) To cover in close and clinch work.

Ive done a few martial arts but now train specifically gross motor techniques that are not hard to learn and can be applied with devastating power. Judo is my backup system.

Not to be too bigheaded but i reckon i could train someone and have them hitting hard and accurate on the pads and bags, enough to KO an opponent, in less than half a day. Using only gross motor strikes such as hammerfist and palm strikes. I would also add in some pain and adrenal stress training by placing a kubotan (small wooden/metal bar) across their radial bone whilst they tried to still hit the pads with focus and power.Thus teaching them to hit through pain. I would also cover situationl awareness, body language, posturing and target hardening. I would also ensure they knew the value of pre-emptive shots and the law surrounding them. Also a small bit on the general MO of a would be attacker.

Now this half a days training in my mind would prepare them better for the street than someone who had done 10 years karate training and is a black belt in their art.