At your level, I don't recommend learning the King's Indian Defense. It's really quite complex.
In general, I would say it's best to avoid defenses with modern structures until you're a more capable player.
These more "difficult" defenses include: the King's Indian, the Benoni, the Queen's Indian, the Pirc, the Modern, and many variations of the Sicilian.
At your level, I'd recommend learning the Queen's Gambit Declined, against d4, and either the French or the Caro-Kann, against e4. These are all d5-central defenses, which is a more classical approach toward chess. And the classical approach is much more instructive, at lower levels, than hypermodern defenses, which revolve around unusual pawn structures and sharp tactical motifs.
Great observation that I hadn't thought of before: classical approach for beginners, and then learn into hypermodern school.
So, let me ask you this: my wife has expressed interest in chess, and we're going through some opening theory (by reading John Emms' book). While we're going through the book, she wants to play some, to help put into practice some of this theory.
For black, I thought it'd make sense for her to learn 1. e4 e5 first (rather than Sicilian). And I'll take your advice and show her QGD to play against d4
For white: I'd love to show her Italian Game, or Ruy Lopez -- which seem so much more simple than learning 1 d4 responses (a QG game, or KID might get played against her). But if she tried Italian or Ruy Lopez, the opponent might play Sicilian.
Thoughts?
At your level, I don't recommend learning the King's Indian Defense. It's really quite complex.
In general, I would say it's best to avoid defenses with modern structures until you're a more capable player.
These more "difficult" defenses include: the King's Indian, the Benoni, the Queen's Indian, the Pirc, the Modern, and many variations of the Sicilian.
At your level, I'd recommend learning the Queen's Gambit Declined, against d4, and either the French or the Caro-Kann, against e4. These are all d5-central defenses, which is a more classical approach toward chess. And the classical approach is much more instructive, at lower levels, than hypermodern defenses, which revolve around unusual pawn structures and sharp tactical motifs.