There is only one way – come down and take part!
It is always worth getting the best overview of a style before committing to it. Reading up on a style is one thing, but there is nothing like getting out there and experiencing it to know whether it is effective and right for you.
NOTE: Be aware of the advice given on Martial Arts web forums. Although these sites do contain many impartial, experienced and knowledgable martial artists, they also attract a large amount of inexperienced armchair pundits with unfounded, irrelevant opinions expressed as fact.