What Is the Difference Between Judo and BJJ?

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(Newswire.net — August 6, 2020) — To the untrained eye of a non-practitioner, judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) can look identical. However, studying these martial arts forms a little closely will help you see discerning features that make each a separate discipline.

Let’s examine at length some of the differences and similarities between BJJ and judo so that you can appropriately choose which martial arts path to take. If not, lend your knowledge to someone who’s deciding between these two forms of combat sports.

History of BJJ and Judo

Before we begin with our list of similarities and dissimilarities, let’s first explore the origins of the two sports. Both these forms originate from the same form of combat art, Ju Jutsu. Also known as the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, it is a form of art adopted as a self-defense strategy for samurais.

It was one of the earliest forms of this discipline, which is useful if the fighter’s weapons and typical hand-to-hand combat moves were rendered ineffective. It was a tactic that involved closing the gap between you and your opponent and using strikes, throws, and locking techniques to pin them down.

Between then and now, several Ju Jutsu forms have been developed that have advanced the discipline. It slowly progressed to styles that weren’t weapon-dependent and focused more on strikes, evasions, throws, and restraining movements. It diverted from the original form’s too-aggressive path and became suitable enough to be made into a competition.

The 1800s saw a steady decline in the quality of Ju Jutsu, which resulted in the manifestation of a new style, judo. According to a Ju Jutsu specialist back then, this new and improved version of the sport is a safer form of training. For this reason, this modified variety became popular enough to reach South America.

In Brazil, judo or Kano’s Jiu-Jitsu was brought to popularity by a family who spread its founder’s teachings and evolved the sport into what the world knows today as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The Similarities

It probably isn’t surprising that since Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and judo share a past, they also have certain similar moves. Examples of these are the BJJ submission holds, like the Arm Triangle, Ezekiel, and several guard techniques, all of which originated from judo. 

The Differences

While it’s hard to say which among BJJ and judo is better since they’re both excellent in their own way, they do have some distinguishing differences that could make one lean towards one sport more than the other.

Rules

The set of rules has got to be the most crucial difference between the two combat sports. While judo focuses more on the standing-up aspect of fighting to throw an opponent to the ground, BJJ centers more on ground fighting moves to get the opposition to submit.

Judo Rules

As mentioned, judo’s primary rule is to throw an opponent to the ground. Successfully doing so will earn you an Ippon or a full point, which automatically wins you the match.

You can also claim victory via two Waza-Aris or half points. Scoring a half point will require you to deliver either a less powerful throwdown, a weaker trip, or a 10-second pindown of your opponent.

BJJ Rules

Where judo’s main goal is to throw down an opponent, BJJ aims to get the opponent to submit. A fighter’s secondary objective is to rack up more points than the opposition before the end of the allotted time.

In BJJ, you can give yourself a higher chance to score by improving your position. You can do this by sweeping your opponent, breaking through your opponent’s defenses, or getting into a position where you have the upper hand.

Strategy

Strategic approaches for judo and BJJ also differ. Since judo requires you to find the best way to throw down your opponent, you have to focus on having a firm grip, taking away balance, and throwing or tripping an individual to the floor.

On the other hand, since it mostly takes place on the ground, BJJ calls on an athlete to perfect his or her ground techniques and submissions. 

Uniform

While at a glance, BJJ and judo uniforms may look identical, they actually aren’t. Yes, they both have thicker fabric than a karate gi for better gripping, but the fabric’s “kind of gripping” differs.

A Judogi is designed with throws and grip fighting in mind, while the BJJ gi is designed with ground grappling in mind.

Summary

Although BJJ may have originated from judo, the two combat sports are actually quite different. Yes, they both come from the same ancient art form, which is Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, share certain moves, and are both excellent forms of martial arts to learn, but that’s about the extent of their similarities. Exploring their key differences and considering your personal preference is vital to helping you choose which combat sport to take on.