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Writer's pictureKing Calisthenics

Is Judo Better Than BJJ?

BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) is a grappling and ground combat martial art with the goal of choking or joint manipulation to bring down an opponent.

 

BJJ practitioners use submissions like chokeholds and joint locks to force opponents to submit after they are immobilized.


Judo is a combat art that focuses on “throwing” or using your opponent as leverage to bring them to the ground.


It’s comparable to Jiu Jitsu in several ways, but Judokas focus on throws instead of grapples and submissions, which are considered secondary choices.


Since 1964, judo has been an Olympic sport, and it is still one of the most famous martial arts today.


Jiu Jitsu has exploded in popularity in Brazil during the last forty years, with no indications of slowing down in the near future. 


Since the two sports are comparable, they are unique disciplines that necessitate the mastery of distinct skill sets in order to achieve long-term success.


This article will discuss the differences between judo and BJJ to help you decide which martial art is right for you.


The History Of Judo And BJJ


Both disciplines have been established for nearly a century, with judo being around 40 years older than BJJ.


Kano Jigoro () invented Judo in 1882 while teaching the form of art at Tokyo University. 

Judo is derived from the Japanese words ju, which means gentleness, and do, which means route or path; when combined, ju-do means gentle way. 


Jiu Jitsu, on the other hand, was used to define Kito-Ryu Kempo, a martial art performed by Japanese landowners for centuries and translated as “the martial arts of farmer’s hands” in English. 


The Gracie family adopted Judo when it arrived in Brazil in 1914 and wanted to adapt the techniques they learnt into their combat style.


Since then, BJJ has grown exponentially, with thousands of practitioners practicing and perfecting the art for self-defense, sport, and competition all over the world. 


With an approximate 20 million practitioners worldwide, Brazilian jiu jitsu is among the most prominent martial arts today.


The Rules Of Judo And BJJ

 

Although the rules of the two sports are identical, there are minor scoring variances.

The ultimate goal of Jiu Jitsu is to defeat your opponent. 


The goal of judo is to throw your opponent so hard that they fall flat on their back, or hold them to the ground so they can’t defend themselves.


In judo, one could also submit the opponent, however most battles swiftly recover to the feet after an executed throw.


There are three major ways to score points in judo: ippon (complete point), waza-ari (half point), and yuko (half point) (quarter point). 


The highest kind of scoring is ippon, which occurs if you toss your opponent hard enough that they land plainly and obviously on their back.


Waza-ari is a half-point bonus provided when your opponent is flung to the ground and falls on either side or front. 


Yuko is identical to waza-ari, with the exception that rather than falling on the side or front, the opponent’s arms do not touch the ground, causing them to fall over fully.


Knockdowns, sweeping, passing a guard, mounting position, knees on belly actions, and other techniques can all be used to win points in Jiu Jitsu. 


Points are won in a variety of ways, including keeping advantageous positions in mount over an extended period of time.


There are also submission-only rulesets in Jiu Jitsu, where the only way to win is to submit.


Uniforms For Judo And BJJ


Practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu don a BJJ uniform with belt to symbolize their rank.

The uniform in Judo varies based on your level (dan).


There are seven levels of difficulty, varying between beginner (kyu) and advanced (kyu) (dan).

Judo gis should be blue or white with no patchwork, however jiu jitsu gis could be any colour as long as it supports IBJJF guidelines.


Patches on gis are worn by several jiu jitsu practitioners to symbolize their schools, sponsors, or teachers.


This is permitted in BJJ provided the patching is IBJJF-approved, while many other events have more permissive restrictions.


Which Is The Best Option For Me?


BJJ and judo have their own set of strengths and flaws, but they are both excellent for self-defense.


These activities prepare students for high-octane situations and help them to surrender, control, and defeat their opponents.


However, if you’re looking for something expressly for self-defense, BJJ is the way to go.

In real battle, Judo is very reliant on regulations and has constraints, but BJJ is more liberating.


Judo practitioners train completely in kimono, making the transition to street clothes more difficult than for a BJJ expert who also practices no-gi.


Furthermore, from the top and bottom positions, a BJJ expert has more offence and defense techniques.


Judo and BJJ have a significant advantage over striking arts in that they can spar 100 times more frequently, bringing training closer to actual life.


Is It Possible To Learn Both BJJ And Judo Simultaneously?


Yes, because Judo and BJJ share common ancestors, you can study both at the same time.

Tosses are learned at an intermediate level in BJJ, so you can practice them in Judo and apply them in BJJ, impressing your opponent.


However, mastering both disciplines at the same pace would necessitate a full-time training program. BJJ is the greatest choice if you want to compete frequently or study martial arts for self-defense.


Judo will be your only option if you are totally focused on competing in the Olympics.


Conclusion


So, which martial art is better for you? Judo or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?


If you’re not sure how to answer that question because you like the idea of both, there’s a simple answer: learn both martial arts!


To strengthen their takedown skills, some Jiu Jitsu experts also study Judo.

Similarly, judo players can strengthen their grappling skills by studying Jiu-Jitsu, as they will surely have to use their ground combat and submitting skills.


Now that you’ve learned the fundamentals of both trades, it’s time to embark on your adventure.


BJJ and judo are both wonderful places to start if you’re interested in competing or simply learning martial arts for self-defense.


Knowing the fundamentals of self-defense makes sense in today’s world.

 

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