Have you gone and spoken with the master instructors at both dojos? Knowing the style isn't half as important as knowing who your teachers will be. You've got to resonate with the instructor and he/she has to understand what your goals are for taking the art.
When I was shopping around for a martial arts school, what mattered most was that I knew what I wanted out of the art. A good instructor will tell you if his/her art is for you. Most schools will let you go for a week or a month free to try it out. They'll also let you sit in on a few classes.
Keep in mind that what you're seeing at the beginner ranks is different than what you'll be taught at the higher ranks, and many styles these days incorporate techniques from all over. My SKK training started off in karate, but now we're definitely firmly inside Shaolin, working through the animals (SO COOL!) but we also do jujitsu and akido techniques because they make sense and don't detract from the core system. TheSenator is right: you never underestimate your opponent, so training that incorporates the four ways of fighting (kicking, punching, grappling, felling) is so super important. So is not being a slave to technique. If your instructors don't encourage you to think outside the box, and your opponent does something different than "what the guy in the technique always does" - you're hosed.
So my
... try both out, see which you like better, and don't let folks tell you your style sucks ass.
~Emily
1st Degree Black Belt, SKK
