Martial arts don't tend to be about fighting and you can actually be kicked out from a society if you use the training unwisely but actual self defence classes are very useful.
I think on the whole Accrington (and districts
) is very safe to walk around at night and its not too common that racial attacks like these occur.
As a victim of an attack myself I have to say that self defence might seem worthwhile but its not always useless, I got grabbed from behind and pinned down and there is nothing I could've done, as although I knew they had been following me and shouting stuff at me, I really didn't expect it to happen on a main road. I think most people tend to think the best before getting ready to have to defend themselves against an attack.
I knew the main girls name and address and everything but I was advised not to take it any further as it was likely it wouldn't be taken far enough and may have led to more trouble so I didnt bother. I see the girls on their own sometimes as I easily recognised a few of them and it is so tempting to say something to them and make them feel as small as they made me feel but I think they feel worse with the silence I give them, like I couldn't care.
Giving them recognition doesn't always make them feel sorry for what they did.