Agreed; the teacher and the students in the dojo are much more important than style. The things I would look for would be: - a relentless focus on safety - so

Agreed; the teacher and the students in the dojo are much more important than style. The things I would look for would be: - a relentless focus on safety - something you enjoy (weapons vs striking vs grappling, etc.) - instructor who communicates in a style you understand (I'm an engineer, so I use physics to explain concepts) - senior students who help the newer students Since effective use / sparring is really more about game theory, there really is no one "superior" art to rule them all. My personal experience: - Volunteer teacher for various youth groups - 2nd degree kendo, co-captain of varsity team, regionally ranked in Japan - 1st degree karate, varsity team - beginner aikido