Realise this was posted last year but did you find a martial art ?
If not, best thing to do is get a list of classes in your area and go along. Most instructors should allow you to watch a session, although participation might require you to sign up due to insurance issues.
It's best to go to one that is local as you are more likely to stick with it if it is convenient to get to and regular attendance is important both for your own training and for respect to your classmates and instructor.
If you go to one session of each class you should get a good feel for the 'vibe' of the class and the instructor and also you can hopefully ask the instructor some questions about the style or some of the things you've seen in the class. This should give you an idea of whether it's what you are looking for and at least allow you to reduce the list of local classes to one or two.
Some classes can be a case of just turn up, train and leave whereas others have a social side as well so people can go to the pub and talk with the other students and the instructors in a more informal setting and you get the chance to ask questions that you might not get the opportunity to in a formal class situation or might feel awkward asking if you are a beginner.
Martial arts are often classes as soft or hard styles, the former concentrating more on control whilst the latter deal more with self defence. Both can be effective martial arts so it depends on what you are looking for.
If the session splits seniors and juniors and if you are permitted to, try and watch some of both so you can see what level the seniors are at and the kind of training they are doing as if you really get into it, at some point you will be taking part in that kind of activity. Dont be put off if what they do seems impossible, everyone was a beginner once, a martial art is not easy, if it was, a black belt would have no value as everyone would have one. It takes perseverance, patience, practice and a willingness to learn to advance.
Hope that helps.
Trevor
www.tetsudo.co.uk
