se7en
IF you’re willing to work hard, and everyday, and IF they have something in your area, I’d go for a MA style that fits your body type.
In my opinion, you will be sorely tried to compete against long legged ppl at range, therefore your best bet is to get into a close ranged/hand oriented style that helps with your mobility.
Use your body type for what you can. Make your disadvantages your advantages, and learn to get mobile and agile.
Working hard and smart is everything.
BRUCELEEWANNABE
Find Bruce Lee’s “The Tao of Gung Fu”
Read Bruce Lee’s “The Tao of Gung Fu”
Then decide from there. Same as what I said to se7en: use your body as best you can.
In my opinion, kung fu is the most scientific and well thought out of all the general categories of art. Yes, I’m aware the kung fu is not one “style”, but a general category encompassing many, many styles.
Here’s where I get this notion: the Chinese developed and tested MA for thousands of years. Other cultures in the Asian regions picked up parts of it from them and started to develop on their own (whether they want to believe they got it from the Chinese is another thing entirely), or added and modified their systems accordingly. This is of course my highly biased opinion.
MMA is good. However, in my humble opinion, it lacks the philosophical elements, which, when properly understood, are absolutely critical to performing the art to the fullest potential. I also do not like the attitudes I see in most MMA ppl, but that is a different matter.
Of course, as Bruce says “believe only half of what you see and nothing of what you hear”. Common sense and critical thinking help when picking up an art and/or a teacher. I searched for about a year.
There is no ultimate style
Good luck. Work hard, work smart, and keep learning.