[Irishdazza]

Keith...my normal advice on this choice is...you don't have a choice - you need to check out the schools in your area and pick the one with the best instructor cause the good ones are so rare! But I'm guessing in NY you'll be spoilt for choice!

Find an art that has well structured beginners classes - not one where they delegate 100% of Newbie training to middle level students (you should get some classes from less experienced practicioners, they have to learn too, but not all of them!).

You should find one that does realistic sparring fairly early in the curriculum ( choreographed sparring is fine for building co-ordination and confidence but is extremely limited apart from that). A healthy competition side is very useful both for the fitness and motivation aspects of the learning process.

A well rounded art is a good idea....This needn't really have to be a MMA program...most traditional styles when taught correctly contain a variety of techniques - unfortunately in poorer schools they are relaged to pretty forms wothout correct emphasis on applications - I have met "Black belts" who actually think parts of kata are done to look pretty! Bunkai is the key word in Japanese arts.

It goes without saying that they should have proper insurance and certification from the relevant goverment bodies.

So, bearing those points - check out the styles that interest you first - it should be entirely possible to find an excellent school for either or both in your area.