If you could give one tip?

Be aware of your surroundings. That means the people, the terrain, and potential hiding spots. That is the simplest and most effective item I can think of for anyone. Many confrontations can be avoided simply by not looking like a victim, or simply by not being in the wrong spot. If you see someone suspicious following you and see a blind corner up ahead, do something unexpected like cross the street. Little things like that, that come from being aware of who is around you and what your escape options are.

There are many equally important tips, I think. Some depend on who you are: a school-aged person has different considerations than someone who walks in a business suit to work, or who owns a jewelry shop, or who is a law enforcement officer, or who drives around in an expensive car.

So one tip to cover them all, I think, is to find and train with the best instructor that can be found. Don't go on the cheap. Forget about the belts. Train with the person who will teach you the skills to save your life. If your life has less value, then train with a less valued instructor.

If you've got something to live for, then you've got something to protect, and something to train for. So find and learn the skills to protect it. Only one kind of person in the world can do that: a good instructor. Not a book. Not a DVD. Not a belt mill. Not a black belt. Not a trophy. Not a certificate. Not a place with birthday parties.

A quality instructor.

Stop with the excuses: too expensive, too far away, only mcdojos around. There is quality instruction for everyone, everywhere. Find that person, and train with that person.

I would suggest that they read ‘meditation on violence’. Is that cheating?

If I can’t do that then I would suggest ‘let them and yourself do anything that will let you live except for following them to another area’.

I realize prevention is the best thing to do, but unless there is a special practice that is done based on prevention, I feel that the advise would not change any behavior pattern. And thus the chances of their survival would be the same. But damage control advice would be specific to that situation enough to influence their decision making process. And given that the person likely not practiced in martial art, and even for martial artists, it’s a good idea to just focus on not acting up and just trying to survive.

I avoid street fights. The last time I used any martial arts skill was over 10 years ago. I assisted a security guard in his duty with a suspect at a store I used to work at.

This advice is more for older martial artists, but I guess younger martial artists will benefit from this also. The advice is, whatever your style is, train hard in it. Do your best in each workout. Be in your best shape. You never know if you may be attacked. So be physically ready for it.

There are a lot of candidates for "good" or "important" tips, but there is one that stands head and shoulders above others as the most important one to reduce the risk of death from violence:

NEVER, EVER, EVER LET THE BAD GUY TAKE YOU ANYWHERE.

Don't get in the car with someone. Don't allow anyone to move you. When a victim of violent crime is relocated to a secondary crime scene, the likelihood of extreme violence (including homicide) increases sharply. If he was going to mug you, he'd do it there. You get in the car with him, you're AT LEAST going to get raped, most likely undergo prolonged battery, maybe torture, possibly murder. He can do that stuff to you at a secondary crime scene. He has control, privacy, and time. People don't know where you are. There's no one there.

Run away. Scream for help. Be dead weight. Kick. When he lifts you up, climb up on him and tear his ears and eyes out. Just don't go with him. It doesn't matter if the guy has a knife, or a gun, or what. If he shoots at you while you're running away, the chances of him shooting are low, the chances of you being hit are lower, the chances of it being a serious, life-changing wound are miniscule. You go with the guy, and I will bet my mortgage that bad, bad, bad things are going to happen to you. That three-minute conversation in the back of a limousine after which you get your knuckles rapped and kicked out, only happens in the movies.

Like I said, there are plenty of good tips out there: "Learn to hit f***ing hard." "Carry such-and-such flashlight" or OC spray or whatever. "Take a class." "Be aware." "Exploit natural surveillance." Many of them good. None of them even close to number one. Ask the people who actually know--the ones who have developed and taught the most highly-regarded self-defence programs in the world that are widely taught at universities, like RAD. Ask Sanford Strong. Go on.

This is the one to remember, the one to tell everyone.

This is the one.

I like Karate Dave's answer. Situation awareness is crucial. Most people think of self protection as a physical thing but, there are many other aspects to it that are as or more important. Never having to get into a physical altercation is among them. I could give you lots more but, you only asked for one so, good luck and please be safe.

Other than the one the Karate Dave just said about being aware of your surroundings.

I would say and often do say. You can't hit what isn't there. In other words move. Never stand in front of a person trying to block their strikes. Move out of the way!

Learn multiple styles, then keep what works and discard the rest. To be a well rounded martial artist you need to learn different ranges of combat: kicking length, punching, grappling, and submission/ground game.

some great answers i like karate dave's that would have been my first choose of words

my second choose is use your opponents strength and weakness to your advantage. the human body is fragile when you look at it it closely. know where to strike is important as knowing how to strike.

you need to understand what hurts what doesn't hurt and what will break when you twist it just right.

Make it your mission to get home unscathed to your family.

When I think about this, it brings all the things that I need to make this happen into play.