I made a post in the MAT forum, about having a few local choices. Aikido, Jeet Kune Do, Kung Fu, Krav Maga (although it's not offered anymore).

I'm seriously thinking about Aikido now as a replacement to Krav Maga. I wanted to learn self defense from the start. Best of all, the dojo is right around the corner from my house.

Here are some info from their website.

"Welcome to the study of Aikido. Aikido training offers you many benefits such as learning self-defense skills, improving physical fitness, confidence, and health of mind, body and spirit. As a new student, you will have exposure to much knowledge soon. We encourage you to cultivate a beginner's mind: open mindedness, sincerity and attentiveness. This will make your initial months of Aikido training most beneficial."

"Shoshinkan Dojo provides quality and professional instruction using traditional Japanese and modern methods of teaching Aikido. We are a professionally accredited dojo affiliated with the Aikido Association of America (AAA)."

Robert Boehm Sensei holds the rank of Sandan. In addition to Aikido, he has trained in a variety of martial arts and has over 20 years of experience. Boehm Sensei is a sergeant with the Providence, RI, Police Department, chief firearms and defensive tactics instructor, and bomb technician. He is also a member of the department’s SWAT team. Boehm Sensei is a recognized police use of force expert.

Frank Gallo Sensei holds the rank of Sandan. In addition to Aikido, he has trained in a variety of martial arts and has over 20 years of experience. Gallo Sensei is a retired police officer from the Cranston, RI, Police Department. His experience with the department included chief defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor and training coordinator, training officer, and member of the department’s SWAT team. Gallo Sensei has written several law enforcement books on “Police Force”, has taught law enforcement officers from around the world, and is a recognized police use of force expert. Gallo Sensei is a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. His research work includes the application of social and cognitive theories to law enforcement settings and problems.

The main website can be found here. RI Aikido, there is also an old article from the Providence Journal here.

If I learn, I want to learn it right.

In my year and a half of Aikido study I have found it to be as much as a way of life as it is self defense. This being said I think if you're looking for self defense right off the bat Aikido is the wrong choice. I'm sure everyone here will agree with me when I say that it takes a much longer time to be able to use Aikido in a self defense situation rather than a hard style, such as Krav. Don't get me wrong though, Aikido is extremely effective but it's all about the practitioner not the style plus Aikidokas usually are some of the nicest people you'll meet in the MA community.

Just my 2 cents.
-Frank

This is a no brainer.

1. dojo close to home (how convenient!)
2. combined 40 years experience sandan instructors with police experience

Choosing a MA is as much about choosing your teacher than it is about style. As for self-defense ability, well, that depends on the student.

Whats Sandan instructors?

See I'm totally new to this. I should've clarafied better about self defense from the start. When I took Kenpo, all I remember was learning a hand full punches, kicks, blocks, and pinions. It was after a few belt levels that we started learning animal forms. Back then they seemed "cool", but from what I remember, I couldn't picture myself using any of them in a street fight to immediately defend myself.

I'm not knocking Kenpo, I'm just trying to remember as much as I can to give you an idea of where I'm coming from.

Sandan means 3rd dan.

If you're looking for "immediate" results, aikido is not for you. Anticipate spending anywhere from 6-10 years in serious aikido study before any of the self-defense applications become apparent. So don't go looking to get into any street fights until then.

Everything you thought you knew about martial arts, would be best forgotten when you do aikido. Be prepared to unlearn every single bad habit you've ever learnt, and be prepared to learn some new habits (bad and good).

Good luck.

So then what would be a good option?

Don't take this the wrong way. It's $70 a month for unlimited classes. That's saying $5,040-$8,400/6-10 years later I know how to defend myself from some punk running his mouth off that decides to swing at me?

I'm not looking to fight sleezy Spanish drug dealers in white suits with jerry curls. But as of now I'm 22. I see how some guys get when they think their ego is at risk when I'm out at sports bars. Most situations you can walk away. Some you can't. It's those situations that I want to know how to fight back and defend myself.

if you would like to learn how to hit people, go for boxing or whatever. there a bigger, stronger guy would beat you up in a seconds. if you would like to get a chance againt a bigger guy, please do not mind spending whatever amount of time/money to learn internal MA, such as aikido.

What's a good option? I suppose any martial art will do if you're not particular about what you want to learn.

Perhaps it would be best if you went and had a talk with the instructors at the dojo and decide if you want to do aikido and to learn from them.

...Rather than ask a public forum of people you don't know.