First, you must figure out what you want out of martial arts training.
Fitness, fun, social interaction, health, fantasy, exercise, self defence, self-confidence, weight control, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, protection, security, interest in tradition or culture, achievement, sport, competition, relaxation, etc?
Based on what you think you want, you then can choose a style that has characteristics that you aspire to.
Aggressive, practical, passive/defensive, hard, medium, soft, subtle, extreme, prone to injury, least injury, easy, soft, meditative, way of life, fast, slow, grappling, throwing, standing-up, falling, rolling, street-wise, competition, discipline, weapons, sharp weapons, knives, sticks, staffs, self defence, etc. ?
Then you investigate the basic features or characteristics of various styles to see whether there is a match. To do this, either research in a library, or ask some friends who have done many years of martial arts, or search the internet.
Good luck in choosing your style!
Written by John Chow, a practitioner of Chinese medicine, acupuncturist, masseur, healer and teacher of Tai Chi, Chi kung, martial arts and spiritual paths in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Copyright:- No part of this article can be used, quoted, copied in any form without the permission from the author. For further information on this article, please contact John Chow of Tao of Tai Chi Chuan Institute at vajra_master@yahoo.com. http://www.yellowbamboohk.com
Legal caveat:-
The information provided above is for general reference only. Although the author(s) has attempted to be as thorough as possible in compiling the information in this article(s), no legal responsibility nor liability is accepted for any errors or omissions. The information is presented for educational purposes only. Please refer any medical matter to your doctor before acting on any health-related information.