If you play the mind game of "What if...", you are going to talk yourself out of almost everything you come across in life. There are no guarantees in life. Make up your mind and stop trying to second guess what "Might happen".

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This question does not have enough parameters.

Why are you likely to be in a situation where you will end up in hospital or dead?

At least if you are not actively putting yourself in such a position - also part of Martial Arts training (not putting yourself in danger is the best form of self-preservation) - then you are already better off.

If you are actively putting yourself into danger (not recommended) then you should already be learning a serious (not sport) martial art as fast as you can. The additional advantage being that the three or more evenings a week you will spend doing that will not be spent out on the street putting yourself in danger!

In the meantime, look up the real situation in your area for hospitalisation/death and work out the odds in your favour. If they are really bad then perhaps moving away might also be a good self-defence!

(3rd Dan - Karate assistant instructor - 17 years training - no street fights - not hospitalised or dead but definitely fitter than I would be without it. Win-win)

I want to but I ask myself "what if It ends up not working and I still lose? what if I end up dead or in the hospital anyway? Does that mean I wasted my time? I want guarantees but there are none.