what is your opinion on shito ryu karate, and can you explain some about it?

Well, with the structure thing... that really just depends on the instructor. Unfortunately, not every school is taught using the same or similar disciplinary standards, and sometimes you get flaky instruction.

Shito Ryu is an Okinawan martial art that came from Kenwa Mabuni. It is a wonderful system, that is mostly stand up and a mix of hands and feet, though primarily hands. There is a lot of Kata work and depending on the school different levels of bunkai/application and kumite/sparring.

The system uses both strikes and grappling and again, depending on the school will have the basic Okinawan core weapons as a part of its curriculum. Those weapons are the Eku (oar), Tonfa (police night stick/baton), Kama (sickle), Nunchaku, and Bo/Jo (staff/short staff), and the Sai (the thing that looks like a trident).

It is not better or worse per se than any other system. The only thing that would be better or worse is the instructor and environment. Your height and weight shouldn't be that big of an issue, if your instructor is a well qualified one.

I'd recommend googling his/her name and researching the history of the school around you, as well as sitting in on a few classes. That's really the only way to find out how the classes are run at the school in question. When you go to sit in on the classes, make sure you sit in on the more advanced ones so that you can see the skill of the students.

Good Luck with your endeavor.

Funny you should ask this question today. I made an appointment to meet a Shito Ryu Sensei tomorrow as part of building a network and contacts in the community for my business. I should be able to tell you a lot more about it tomorrow evening.

Shotokan is good for long stances and keeping a bit of distance. Goju Ryu is very, very close range and involves some grapples and such. Choose one of the 4 (i think it's 4) original styles and it'll be good either way. In terms of style, at least.

Aaron J has a great answer, as he said its had to say what classes will be like since its up to the sensei of the class. i teach shito ryu and my class is quite different them my sensei's class.

as for weapons that to will vary from one sensei to the next, i teach all the weapons Aaron mentioned, my sensei doesnt teach the jo but i do. the weapon style you mention "Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu" is an iaido style. my sensei teach Batto-jutsu, and i teach a different iaido style the him. although most of the weapon or kobudo kata that my sensei teaches i teach. there are a few i haven't learned from him yet.

but in the end its all up to the individual sensei as to what he teaches and how. a class is only as good as the instructor. and we all have different backgrounds even in the same style

My friend was in that but as far as discipline........He's one of the biggest douchebags I know.

He'd always talk about how they put a great emphasis in beating the other opponent mentally before the fights though.