I would have to go with OBG on this. Situational awareness in most routines is going to be the best method of self defense. Channing (MacGyvering for weapons instead of tools, after Jackie Chan's use of non-standard implements in movie melee) is a good example of applying a little street skills type fighting and situational awareness, but really, we've been fighting each other with sticks and stones for a long time. It takes extraordinary skills and training for most unarmed fighters to take on anyone already armed with a modicum of how to use the weapon at hand. A good knife in an average fighter's hand is something to be respected, even by another knife wielder. There's a number of times I can imagine where a good fighting blade would be preferable over a sidearm.

However, the best way of surviving a confrontation is to avoid it in the first place.