The best strikes to learn/know for self-defense are:
1. Front kicks (at distance)
2. Elbows (in close)
In that order. Minimal positional commitment; minimal βtellsβ. Maximum damage potential.
Striking (Muay Thai, kickboxing, boxing) is the purest expression of physicality.
At the highest levels it is a work of art. A primal representation of athleticism in its purest form.