This is why I don't spend good money on training that will be deemed terrible by the next trainer.
I'm sorry, but that's my take on things.
It is your money after all. It is up to you to decide how to spend it. Keep in mind most trainers are out to get your/our money, it is how they make a living. Some have better morals than others, some have better methods than others.
I have a very high regard for MA instructors, tactical firearms trainers not so much. See it is much easier to become a firearms trainer than it is a MA trainer.
Most of the training I received was not from commercial firearms trainers but police officers, and military paid by the state, or federal government. Most of those were outstanding, and dedicated to saving the lives of police officers with practical methods that officers would actually use. Included in that training was always classroom, studies of actual incidents. We had specific training on SA techniques to avoid injury, or death due to a violent encounter.
When asked I suggest people check with their local law enforcement who to get training from. Most of them know a BS artist, and who is not. It is hard to do specific training on SA because there is so many factors of what to look for. Most importantly is to look, pay attention.
You see very few people will be a victim of a violent attack, and those odds are lower than statistics. There are certain people who always manage to find themselves in the deep end of the pool. There chances are higher, so stay out of the deep end.
As I have shown with one video that deadly attacks, especially with a knife come very quick, and close, without any warning. Distance is your friend, unless you know the person close to you is safe.
You also have to study why people commit crimes. Usually you can take a class on this at your community college. This will help you avoid getting into deep water.
To make it simple there are crimes of opportunity, which usually are not fatal. A armed robber wants your property, once they get it statistics tell us they will leave you alone. They don't want to get caught. Then there are those that plan a crime, sometimes a very violent crime. There are multiple reasons that they do this, revenge, mental illness, and many more. People that are doing it for revenge are unlikely to give any warning before an attack. They have planned it, and will execute it when they are very close. They are not going to tell you like some people see in the movies. Get close, and attack without warning.
I prefer to see people take classes that are practical to the statistics, and reality of actual incidents. I myself am not a trainer, but I know a good teacher when I see one, every student does. I am also not a tough guy, I am far from it. I will avoid trouble every time.
I also believe in using tools of life for safety, that is why I asked about the shopping cart. It is a barrier to a potential bad guy. Canned foods are a dangerous weapon by even sissies like me when thrown at an attacker. Bet not many tactical instructor, or even MA instructor teaches that. There are hundreds of items around you that can be used immediately to get to safety if possible. Though it still comes back to SA to recognize when to use them.
Hope I haven't bored you, I have thought about starting a SA thread. There are probably some on here, but then most probably would consider them boring.