Anyone here who tells you one particular style over another is dilusional. All martial arts have validity in what they teach and all are applicable in self defense if used properly by the practitioner. The debate rages of some styles efficiency as compared to that of others but considering this is subjective opinions it is rarely done with any real knowledge of other styles.
Ralph for example highlights that mentality that shows the watered down sport side of BJJ over its traditional origins because traditionally the style is taught to defend against multiple attackers. While i respect the point of understanding how to fight on the ground more than just about anyone, i am not silly enough to say that one style highlights its strengths more than another.
What i suggest you do is firstly to go to a self defense course and learn some real life applicable defenses and learn some real life escapes from bad scenarios and then upon the completion of this i would then look for a martial art to learn for the long haul.
To best choose a martial art you need to find all the best established arts in your area and then find the ones with the absolute best training and professional instructors. You will be left with a choice of a couple so i then suggest going home and researching them styles and seeing which one appeals to your nature more. If you cannot decide then go and do a couple of classes of each and see which one you prefer.
Then i suggest training as extensively as you can at that style to become the best you can be. Do not listen to the debate of arts because it is all biased - research the styles available to you and make your own opinion on it after studying and attending some classes
Good Luck
Your local martial arts dojo or gym.
LEGIT self defense club/teacher/etc.
Bc, I'm pretty sure, that others gave great answers before me, I'll keep this short;
By LEGIT self defense, I mean learning, like you said, self defense that is applicable for real world encounters. Fights are dirty, brutal, and ruthless. True self defense scenarios are worse. I don't know how many times on my travels, I have come across terrible "women's self defense classes".
Fighting is violent, when your life or safety is on the line you must be more violent than your attacker.
Any martial art will do you right, as long you learn from a refutable respectable teacher and not a mc dojo.
Definately Brazilian Jiu jitsu it teaches you to be strong on your back and you can control your opponent but the bad part is if there are multiple opponents your screwed
It also shows you how to take a person down and it will change your mind in aspects of toughness forever you will be fairly dangerous if you get proficient but it takes time learn both Gi and No Gi Techniques also weapons defense are in some seminars
why would u doubt if women should be defending themselves in the first place
everybody has their place in life
whats wrong is when women should be home taking care of the kids and the man of the house
working ,now women have stolen jobs and created a backwards society
sorry your on your own
For a while I have been wanting to learn how to fight, for a few reasons:
1) I think women should learn how to defend themselves.
2) I want to exercise on a regular basis, but I hate exercising unless it is an activity.
3) I am an aspiring writer, I think fight scenes are very exciting, but I feel that mine are lame because I have no experience.
I want to learn more than just self defense, I want something that I can continue extensively and become really good at. My friends tell me stuff like "you should take boxing lessons", or "you should do karate". but I don't really understand the different type of fighting lessons. all I know is that I want to learn something that is actually applicable, like hand to hand combat AND wrestling And how to handle weapons (like improve weapons). I want to be able to write from the perspective of someone who has a lot of actual, real world fighting experience (like a complete and total bada**) and actually seem like I know what I am talking about.
