In the vast expanse of martial arts, you can have almost any flavor you want: fast or slow, hard or soft, full contact or no contact. Unfortunately, like anything else, you also can have good or bad classes.

The process of choosing a system gets even more complicated because almost all of them have subsystems and variants.

An example: Wun Hop Kuen Do, developed by Grandmaster Al Dacascos, includes elements from kung fu, karate, aikido, judo, jujitsu and escrima, a Filipino empty hand and stick fighting system.

Budding martial artists should know, for instance, that tae kwon do has two distinct styles that bear little resemblance to one another. The “new” style, developed for the 1988 Olympics, was designed for offensive, full-contact competition. The traditional style has limited contact and emphasizes form, spiritual development and self-defense, elements missing from the sport style.

Here’s a brief rundown of the most popular martial arts forms:

• Karate: a hard, linear Japanese style that emphasizes striking techniques. During its evolution, karate adopted elements of Zen Buddhism. Buddhism’s influence (whether meditation is part of the class routine) varies from school to school. Styles also vary. Karate is also a competitive sport with matches held in a format similar to boxing.
  
• Kung Fu: a Chinese system with a rounder, more fluid style than karate. It emphasizes a variety of punches, kicks, grappling techniques, throws and weapons. Physical and mental discipline are considered key elements of kung fu. There are several varieties. Kung fu became popular in the U.S. during the 1970s, thanks largely to Asian martial arts movies and the TV show Kung Fu with David Carradine.
  
• Tae Kwon Do: an extremely popular Korean martial art that relies on kicking and jumping techniques. As mentioned earlier, the traditional style emphasizes development of both character and fitness. The newer sport style is competitive full-contact.
  
• Judo: derived from jujitsu, judo was developed by Professor Jiguro Kano in the late 1880s. Jujitsu is considered a somewhat dangerous system because of the risks involved in its joint-locking and choking techniques. Judo, on the other hand, emphasizes throwing and leverage techniques intended to knock opponents off-balance, then put them on the ground.
  
• Tai Chi: another extremely popular system, tai chi is a style that focuses on inner strength, self-defense, re-directing energy and defensive blocks. Tai chi, like many other systems, has a variety of styles. Chen tai chi is a harder style emphasizing low postures. Yang tai chi is a softer, flowing style that some might think resembles ballet (minus the tutus and pointy shoes). There are many other forms. A word of caution: tai chi looks easy because it is practiced very slowly, a moving meditation, if you will. It isn’t easy.

These are among the better known forms, but many more exist.

Krav Maga, a Czechoslovakian system adopted by the Israeli military and police, is gaining popularity. Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, has both a slow style and a fast, extremely acrobatic style. The list goes on.

Picking the Right School

We asked martial arts experts, each with years of teaching experience, for advice on how to pick a good school.

“It’s not necessarily the best martial artist who makes the best instructor,” said Grandmaster Dacascos, who teaches a small group of students at his home in Honolulu. “It’s the way the person gets the message across, how well they communicate.

“Also, look at the students. Are they respectful? Does it look like they’re learning?”

He knows what he’s talking about. Grandmaster Dacascos was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1977. A champion many times over, he’s regularly on the covers of national and international martial arts magazines. His students range from kids to cops.

Master Steven Bettencourt, a seventh-degree tae kwon do black belt with 35 years of teaching experience, said he first tries to find out what a prospective student wants from martial arts.

“People usually say they don’t know what they want. I ask if they’re looking for fitness, self-defense, centering and balance, or if they want something highly competitive with full contact,” he said.

He teaches traditional tae kwon do and hapkido in Portland, Oregon, which emphasizes the more spiritual elements of inner peace and self-esteem.

And, just as you wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test drive, try out a class or two before making a decision. Many schools offer complimentary or low-cost introductory classes.

Next question: Are you up for the physical demands of martial arts? Experts agree it isn’t necessary to bulk up in the gym for a year before beginning a martial arts program.

“Your physical condition, it doesn’t really matter. Martial arts will get you in shape—if you have the staying power to stick with it,” said Grandmaster Dacascos. Plus, he said, kung fu and karate practice burn about 750 calories per hour, about the same as an hour of jumping rope or moderate jogging.

In the end, the style you choose probably matters less than how well you click with the instructor and the class—and what you expect to get out of it.