What's the best kind of martial arts for a female who wants to learn self-defense?

i dont know where you live but id suggest you apply for a concealed carry permit and buy your self a decent handgun. most the time those martial arts things wont work for someone your size, im not trying to offend you but your kind of small ,a good firearms instructor would fit your needs nicely,and youll probably never need to use your gun but when you need it it will work .good luck

It varies from person to person. Which suits you. Collect info and study then decide. Do some homework will you please?

i don't know much about krav maga.....like the other answerers mentioned. i don't know much about it, but i feel that it's popularity is b/c it's the "vogue" thing right now. however, i can tell you that kickboxing is very satisfying physically and it will make you feel pretty empowered. i took up kickboxing in college and i feel pretty certain that i could hold my own in a situation. i learned the proper ways to throw punches and when to kick and when no to. practice makes perfect too. i also gained stamina b/c a round sparring with a partner is hard to do!! i felt tough and i gained a really nice cut tummy. i would leave there in dire need for a shower b/c i would sweat buckets just like my fellow classmates. check it out...it may be right for you! take care.

For someone your size the best martial art is no doubt a weapon system if your goal is truly self-defense and not to become a great "hand to hand" fighter. Depending on your age and area and other factors your best bet is in fact a CCW permit (carry permit) for a handgun. If for some reason this is not pleasing (not everyone is comfortable learning or owning a firearm) then I would suggest you learn to use a knife. Carrying any bladed weapon also brings with it legal issues however for a 5'1 inch 115lb FEMALE you have got an advantage of believability that a cop will buy if you are in the right or might be in a grey area even you will get the benefit of the doubt if you handle yourself properly. Knife fighting is very practical and not too difficult to pick up. You don't need fancy flashy crap knives like a switchblade or worse a butterfly knife (gag- they should be illegal because they are garbage knives not for the reason they are in many states), I have seen experts whip out a lockblade and flip it with thier thumb as they pull it from thier pocket or belt in one motion, and that is something you don't need a partner to practice and can do at home. Instead of that if you don't feel comfortable carrying a knife, then I would suggest a small concealable stick like a jutte (which can be substituted for any small wood or metal stick of like size). You should supplement your weapons with an unarmed MA, because the truth is that maybe you won't always be able to carry, but someone your size is definately going to have a huge disadvantage against even an average sized male or female opponent. A weapon will make things equal or in your favor.

Try Shotokan Karate.

hmmm..im only 12 and i go for taekwondo and aikido...i started taekwondo since i was 4 or 5...recently i joined aikido...of both i find that aikido is more effective for someone with a small build...taekwondo requires strength and unless you're REALLY good you might find it hard for a person with a small build as yourself to ward off an attacker who might be a lot bigger than you are...however in aikido strength and size aren't factors with the proper technique..i find aikido would be more effective in a real life situation..my aikido master holds a 3rd dan in taekwondo n he agrees aikido would be a more effective option...so far the techniques i've been taught are really useful once you can master them...furthermore,aikido is more of where exactly to place the hands,which joints to hold and which part to pull/throw or whatever...it basically can bring a big thug to his knees with the right implication of the waza...trust me,aikido is really useful..but personally i find taekwondo more fun and enjoyable...perhaps its because you get thrown down a lot in aikido..or maybe its because aikido is a very relaxed sport while taekwondo makes me move a lot and i like to be active...but trust me on this one, after learning taekwondo for so long i found it hard to learn aikido at the beggining for they are completely different...as for other martial arts,i cant offer much about them for i dont take them up...my dad used to do karate and he's pretty strong but thats coz he has a big build i guess...but for you,i think if you learn aikido properly it just might work...because as i mentioned before, size and strength aren't really important factors in aikido...

There are many good styles to choose from. Any one who says that there is 1 ultimate style is ignorant. I study & teach Tae Kwon Do. We emphasize kicking, which is frequently good for women because, on average, women have more lower body strength relative to size & greater flexibility in their hips. What's most important is to find the right instructor.

I am 5'2" and 116 lbs so we're about the same size and age. I have taken many martial arts including tae kwon do, aikido, issynryu, shotokan karate and now American freestyle karate. Out of all the martial arts, I am totally loving American freestyle karate. They don't just teach one traditional style but combine many styles including the ones I mentioned above as well as kickboxing/boxing and fitness. They also don't focus on the Japanese or Korean terminology. There is a huge emphasis on self-defense and almost every technique we learn is explained on how it will work in a street fight and how high you kick is not as important as making sure you can do the technique correctly. A kick to the groin can be as effective as a kick to the head! They do teach forms (or katas) and still have points and free sparring but usually only after you master the basics and learn control. If you are looking to learn self-defense then look for a school that teaches free sparring so you can get used to getting hit so if heaven forbid you get attacked, you're used to getting hit and don't freeze up if it happens. You can practice self-defense drills all you want but you know what to expect. In free style, you have to stay focused and keep your guard up so it's the closest and safest way to prepare for a real-life encounter at real speed on the streets.

you really should base that upon the option that's around you. just check few places out that's near your place, and see if their teaching method is good. because how they teach is going to make the difference of how much you'll learn and enjoy the classes. now few things to keep in mind is that you probably don't want a style based on strength, and with your height jump kick could be a plus. i think i got rid of most of grappling and promoted TaeKwonDo and Muay Thai with those two... ^^;; ps. sample classes are always good