Those who are a bit less familiar with martial arts disciplines may not be able to tell the difference between karate and tai chi or muay thai and taekwando. When the disparities are subtle, it’s difficult to discern one type from the other. But if you’re in the process of determining which practice might be right for you, it’s essential to do your research and decide on the right fit. In today’s post, we’ll discuss the main differences between jiu jitsu vs judo in an effort to answer some of your most pertinent questions.
Jiu Jitsu Vs Judo: Key Differences
The differences between these two disciplines come down to their strategies and philosophies, their rules, and their cultures. In judo, the objective is to keep yourself balanced while throwing off your opponent’s balance and eventually throwing them to the ground. In jiu jitsu, throwing one’s opponent to the ground is actually the more immediate goal. Judo, therefore, is more of a self-defense technique that views ground grappling as the last resort; BJJ sees domination in ground fighting as the bulk of the practice. Judo’s rules are a bit more straightforward than those of BJJ, as BJJ has a “points” system. Judo has very specific methods used by opponents to win in a match. And while both BJJ and judo have ancient roots, the history of judo means these matches are often quicker and more aggressive. However, because BJJ is a more modern interpretation of more historic martial arts forms, it’s often more appealing to contemporary practitioners.
Similarities Between Jiu Jitsu and Judo
Although Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo are certainly different disciplines, they do have a few things in common. Both could be categorized as “grappling” martial arts that involve unarmed combat, meaning that they are both practiced within close range and involve performing moves with an opponent on the ground and without the use of a weapon. The two disciplines also feature similar techniques, which means you might recognize types of moves within both categories. The benefits of BJJ and of judo have some overlap as well, since they each present a great way to work out. In fact, a one-hour session of moderate intensity martial arts of any kind can burn up to 500 calories. Many experts also believe that judo is actually a modern derivative of jiu jitsu (or vice versa), meaning that the two disciplines have some kind of shared history. So while they definitely aren’t synonymous, they may be more alike than you’d think.
Because there’s only so much than can be learned about these disciplines from reading about them, one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding is to watch some actual classes or matches. Your local martial arts studio can be a great resource for further information on jiu jitsu vs judo, as well as countless other disciplines.