Learning how to handle a wide range of weapons is very important.
For me, it's mostly about being able to use the things I may carry with me (walking stick, umbrella, bag/rucksack), and the items that 'happen' (!) to be lying about my house (hammer, metal bar, kitchen knives etc.) and also ones that could conceivably be found 'on the street' (largely things to be used as shields, obstacles or projectile weapons- the chance of finding a nice stick or bar of the right length in a truly pressing encounter are probably fairly slim, unless we're in the woods or passing a skip or building site).

Even MORE necessary, for me, is to become familiar with the nature and employ of the types of weapons I could conceivable FACE in a criminal attack.
I am generally unarmed, and would likely be so if confronted by a criminal who wasn't.
That means that weapon sparring, drills and exercises can hopefully help me develop the skills and 'feel' to know when to move out of- or into- range, and if necessary and possible, the best ways to control the weapon and/or bring the fight to the attacker.
It goes without saying that escaping the scene entirely should be a priority, and that elements such as using the environment to our advantage and awareness of threats and weapon access cues etc., form the backbone of real weapon 'defence'.
Sparring etc. is fun, and has many benefits (not all of them anything to do with combat) but in the real world, I live by something I read in a book about bodyguarding;
'If you actually end up in a fight, something's gone wrong!'