All that you need to do now is to look to gain knowledge. If you want to practice with anyone, great! But realise that you must be careful. If you make contact you may well cause serious injury.
The defences deal with low key assaults to begin with, increasing to possible sexual assault and then rape.
Read progressively. Do not jump. Get the knowledge, knowledge will give skill.
To defend successfully against an impending or actual assault can to a great degree depend upon your state of mind.
Your senses tell you what is happening around you.
There is a human awareness of assaults.
There have been times in your life when you know that someone is about to grab you or accost you in some way. Not only can you feel it, you can see it. You can see it in the other person’s demeanour, the eyes, the speech, their body language. You just know something is going to happen.
This actual heightening of the senses serves to act as a catalyst for self defence, but only if you use it.
Having knowledge of self defence allows you to use these senses to your advantage. You will be calmer, more in control of your body, although an inner turmoil may be running through your brain.