SHOP AROUND: Pick an art and a location that fits what you want to do. IF you don't want to run suicides before and after every session don't join a place where you run suicides. IF there are a ton of old people, and you want to be engaged don't go there. Pick an instructer who you feel can teach you.
I would also like to present a few reasons why you may not want to train in BJJ: Alot of jiu-jitsu gyms are run by blue/purple belts in my area. If there is a qualified instructor that you feel comfortable with go for it, but consider that in my experience jiu-jitsu is very competitively/self-defense oriented. If guys are going in there every day and trying to break your arm and all you want to do is hang out and work out some time you won't get much out of an environment like this.
Muay Thai and boxing: They're both full contact sports. In amateur boxing it's more about technique but what I understand from Muay Thai it's often full contact sparring. I know I don't, and many people agree with me that getting punched in the face is not that much fun for a hobby. For self-defense it's perfectly acceptable to take some good boxing lessons. Most people on the streets think they can fight but will just throw ludicrous right hooks. Boxing lessons will teach you to avoid and counter these. Many grappling arts will teach you how to use your opponent's momentum against them and again give you an advantage in there sorts of confrontations.
TKD/Karate: I'm not an expert or at all knowledgeable about the forms of karate or TKD, but taekwondo has a pretty high emphasis on forms opposed to live sparring, or at least it did when I took it. And if you didn't like it that's that. Some forms of karate will be more contact, more will be form oriented. Pick whichever you like.
Judo: You will need one thing for judo. A gi(uniform) you can also get a mouthpiece is you want or even headgear if you fear the cauliflower. You don't have to but gloves, wraps. pads. or anything but a gi. They range from $40-$300 ones used in international competitions. A good double-woven gi will run you about eighty depending on your size. A single weave will be less. Most gi will have a white belt that will fit guys the size of the gi so you don't have to worry about that. A good uniform that is properly cared for will last you a good amount of time in judo. When you first start judo the first thing you will learn are ukemi(breakfalls) or how to get tossed without getting a concussion. The breakfalls can be applied in other aspects of your life as well, as can the unbalancing techniques. Having to unbalance your opponent will teach you to be aware of your body and how it moves and works. Another advantage of judo is that it's often easier to find a qualified instructer for judo than BJJ. My sensei is 8th dan judo, 7th dan ju-jitsu and 3rd dan Aikido. Having a guy like him is a huge advantage in learning the art. Judo will also teach you how to count up to about twenty in Japanese if you're interested. I love judo, it's a great sport and hobby and is very fulfilling.
