So, I want to do some martial arts, for self defense. Ideally one that will be useful without giving me CTE, or any long term bad stuff, even though I feel this is already asking for too much 
I don't live in the U𐓏𐓏 so gun related stuff isn't really an option.
I'm somewhat heavy, with a year of experience in lifting, and my cardio is not the best, but I can do long walks (of 1 or 2 hours) before getting tired.
I'm going to move to a bigger city in September, and there's a lot of stuff available, so you can comment on the more niche options.
So yeah, any advice from your experiences is welcome lol
If I had known people started arguing over my post I wouldn't have made it.
I don't think the reply was irrelevant. It’s good advice. Every time this thread comes up (which is more frequently over time) the same answer has to be given, that martial arts are not an effective use of your energy and time if you are worried about your safety. At worst it gives someone the illusion of safety and an unrealistic confidence.
Force multipliers are approx 1 million times more effective than years of hand-to-hand combat training.
If you are worried about getting jumped, then start carrying tools that will help you when you get jumped. Learn how to use them, but you don’t need to spend years.
Better yet, build community defense so that your safety isn’t individualized. Not possible in every situation but I want to emphasize that this is the better starting point of the conversation.
If you are worried about the rise of fascism, don’t worry, you won’t be facing hand-to-hand combat. Your enemy will have flashbangs and teargas at the absolute minimum, plus body armor. It is asymmetrical warfare.
The idea of martial arts as self-defense is something that should be criticized. Go ahead and do it as a hobby, but it’s unlikely to be anything more than that.