Practicing a martial art can be an amazing way for a man of modest height not only to learn to defend himself, but to develop the all-important qualities of self-discipline and confidence.

But before you can really dive into choosing the best martial art for yourself and your stature, it’s important to have a brief overview of how all of these different styles developed — and what they’re best at.

Armed with knowledge of the purpose behind each particular school, you’ll be equipped to find the perfect match for your own unique strengths and weaknesses.

The Three Ranges of Fighting

Among professional martial artists, it’s well-known that there are three major areas that fighting occurs in:

1. Striking
2. Grappling
3. Ground Fighting

What’s not so commonly acknowledged is that each of these ranges favors a certain body type. Especially for men of modest height, this can be a make-or-break consideration in choosing which fighting style to train.

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Understanding each of these areas of self-defense in depth can help you decide which martial art is best for you, so let’s take a look at each of them individually…

Striking Range

Martial arts that focus on the striking range have been the darling of choreographed movies for decades: Think of Bruce Lee’s lightning fast punches, Rocky’s never-say-die stamina or Jet Li’s high-flying kicks.

But did you know that martial arts focused on the punching and kicking range may be least suitable to men of modest height? It’s true: In most striking arts, the fight favors participants with longer limbs, as well as those who are heavier.

Does that mean shorter guys should stay away from any striking art? Not quite. There are some great martial arts for short guys.