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aikido beginner

Best Martial Art for a Beginner with Small Frame?

I am 22 years old, about 5' 3", and 105 lbs. I really want to start taking martial arts to build up my confidence, and of course be able to kick some a** if necessary! But, being small, I'm not sure what the best choice of MA is for me. Should I go with a striking style, like Kung Fu or Taikwando, or a passive style, like Aikido, or does it matter?

I know several small framed women who are very dedicated to martial arts and are VERY good at it. How tall you stand has surprisingly very little to do with real martial arts if you study a traditional style.

Taekwondo is a very big risk for a bad school. There are good ones, but far too many bad ones. Plus Taekwondo is taught for sport than self defense anymore.
Aikido is very passive... I mean very, very passive. Aikido does not teach how to strike an opponent at all.
Kung Fu styles are hard to judge as there almost too many to keep tabs on. As it's traditionally taught a lot of people find it hard to learn for self defense. There's also Wushu schools only interested in the sport of it.

My biggest focus has been in Goju Ryu Karate. It's very well rounded in all styles of fighting. It focuses on teaching both strikes and joint locks as well as evasion and counter-evasion.
My other biggest influence is in Hapkido. It teaches a style of joint locks and counter-evasions that Goju Ryu doesn't focus on. Hapkido's theology is to cause as much pain as possible coupled with strikes and pressure points. Just in theory of a real fight, though. Great care's taken to teach control, first.

No matter what, you want a style you'll enjoy. What inspires you about learning how to fight? Where did your interests in martial arts begin in the first place?
The last thing you want to do is go to a bad school. Pugpaws2, a leading poster in the martial arts section, gave the best answer to spoting a bad school not that long ago: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqAt.nlXwYsy90lpIyClQv8YDX1G;_ylv=3?qid=20100722125009AAXKKqu

I hope you find the style and the school that suites you the most. Martial arts can be so personally rewarding when you find your style. Finding and realizing your limits and then blasting past them.

I wish you the best.

Aikido Beginner's Level List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $8.54 Used From: $8.53

BEGINNERS' LEVEL AIKIDO - RANDORI NO KATA Aikido is an harmonious system of defence, which blends with the movements of an attacker to bring about his downfall. This is a step by step teaching guide to the Art of Aikido. Techniques are shown at normal speed, slow motion and freeze frame so that students can see how a technique should look when it is completed. The breakfalls, footwork, knee walking and the basic 17 Randori no Kata - the counters to the basic 17, free practice, advanced balance breaking (Shichihon no Kuzushi) training with a safe rubber knife (Tanto Randori).

Aikido: A Beginner's Guide List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $9.13 Used From: $18.33

Aikido means "the way of harmony (of spirit)." Morihei Ueshiba created a martial art he believed was capable of uniting the world - the principles of non-violence, conflict resolution and harmony at its center. People of all ages, shapes and sizes can practice aikido as the techniques and movements do not rely on strength or force; the movements themselves encouraging increased flexibility and strength, as well as boosting self-confidence.