Well-rounded MA

[Cross_Trainer]

I live in a small town, and so have limited options as far as MA cross-training goes. However, I am trying to get as well-rounded martial arts experience as possible (kicks, punches, grappling, groundwork, etc.), and I have the ability to learn karate, boxing, judo, and jujitsu (regular, not Brazilian). I will probably be able to train in all four. I have already been doing karate for eight months. My questions are:

1. Are their footwork, stances, and manner of movement relatively similar or compatible with one another? If not, what alterations have to be made to them to turn them into a coherent fighting system? (to give an example of what I'm asking, I have heard that Muay Thai and boxing have some differences in the height of their stances, method of moving, etc. and so are more difficult to combine.
2. If they are not extremely similar, which would be the best to act as the base martial art?
3. How much longer should I wait before beginning to expand my learning to other martial arts (continuing in my current one)?
4. Is there any other advice that you can give me?

Thank you for your time

[Tom Yum]

Learn boxing. Keep doing it while you add judo. You'll have some fast, hard hands and good defense, good sense of mobility and balance then the ability to throw or knock your opponent off balance.

[greenfrog]

I agree with Tom Yum.

I would NOT do all 4 though as you suggest you can probably do. If you do I can guarantee you will suck at them all. Start with stand up and grappling and once you get good if you want to throw something else in go for it but dont try to learn them all at once.