One of the greatest benefits of judo as a sport and for self-defence is that it has very little physical limitations in terms of technique; judo incorporates techniques that can be performed by an average person. Due to the lack of kicks, punches and other kinds of strikes, almost anyone can learn and apply judo techniques, be it a man, woman, old, young, non-athletic or superior athlete. Even physically impaired people can learn judo and take part in the Paralympics. The lack of punches and kicks can be overcome by cross-training in some other martial arts such as karate.
What makes judo effective for self-defence is its ability to redirect energy; this allows you to take down much larger opponents. Also, the minimal output of energy leads to longer periods of fighting before fatigue sets in, which is a crucial factor in determining the outcome of a street fight.