If you decide to go the self defense/street fighting route, take a Korean or Japanese style. They are less flashy and more effective than many Chinese styles.
Don’t study a style. You don’t need to learn how to dance. Just get someone who knows real combat skills to teach him self defense and how to eye gouge etc. If someone is attacking you without cause it is your right to defend your life/well being with any means necessary. Thumb in the eye…