What’s the Difference Between Judo & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)? A Grappling Comparison Guide
For a martial arts beginner, it’s difficult to recognize the differences between disciplines, especially two grappling arts like judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which seem to exhibit many of the same characteristics and techniques. But whether you’re looking to start training for the first time or trying to become a more well-rounded practitioner, it’s important to understand what makes judo and jiu-jitsu unique so you can make a more educated decision on which style is right for you.
So, let’s start at the beginning. We’ll define exactly what “grappling” means in the context of combat sports and martial arts and then review the histories of both disciplines before diving into what sets judo and jiu-jitsu apart.
What Does ‘Grappling’ Mean?
In a nutshell, grappling is an umbrella term applied to a variety of martial arts disciplines that focus on throws, takedowns, and ground fighting. Instead of using striking techniques, like punches, kicks, elbows, or knees, these styles emphasize controlling and subduing an opponent on the ground, submitting them using joint locks and chokeholds.
Examples of Different Types of Grappling Disciplines
Judo
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
Submission Grappling (No-GI Jiu-Jitsu)
Sumo
Russian Sambo
Greco-Roman & Freestyle Wrestling
Shuai Chiao
A Brief Look Back in Time
Many of the commonalities between modern judo and jiu-jitsu stem from their shared ancestry. Both disciplines have roots in traditional martial arts, tracing back to the ancient practice of Japanese jujutsu. JuJutsu, which roughly translates to the “gentle art",” was a unique system of hand-to-hand combat that trained the samurai warriors of feudal Japan how to fight when they were fully clad in armor and had no weapon. Jujutsu focused on throws, gouges, and joint locks because these worked favorably against another armored opponent. There was also an emphasis on skill, balance, and flexibility, rather than brute strength or weapons, to overpower an adversary [1].
In the years of peace following the Japanese civil wars, heavy warfare became less frequent and unarmed combat became more customary. Jujutsu techniques were eventually adapted, shifting from warfare techniques to everyday principles that gave prominence to the spiritual side of the art. During the Meiji Restoration after 1868, many branches of martial arts changed names and orientations to reflect the needs of the common citizen as well as the new political landscape [1]. And this is where we begin the origin story of Judo.
Judo
Modern judo is often accredited to Dr. Jigoro Kano, who studied jujutsu when all of these changes were happening in Japan. In his youth, Kano studied under several different sensei, learning the varying techniques and teachings of each school. However, when the feudal system ended and many martial arts schools collapsed, Kano began developing his own brand of jujutsu that reflected his belief in martial arts as a means to live in peace with other humans instead of a way to demonstrate physical prowess or superiority.
Kano’s humanitarian philosophy, code of ethics, and concern for the wellbeing of others help to lay the foundation of his new art. However, he also studied the physiology of the human body and consulted with experts to better reform the traditions of jujutsu. As a result, Kano formulated a system founded on scientific principles, integrating combat training with mental, spiritual, and physical education, which together led to his two guiding principles:
Seiryoku Zenyo: using techniques that facilitated maximum efficiency in physical and mental energy
Nage Waza - throwing
Standing techniques (hand, hip, & foot throws)
Sacrifice techniques (full sacrifice and side sacrifice throws)
Katame Waza - groundwork
Atemi Waza - striking
Jita Kyoei: embodying the idea of mutual benefit and prosperity, where one could not progress at the expense of others
To further differentiate his system from the traditional jujutsu teachings, Kano named his newly created art “Judo,” essentially transitioning from “Jutsu” (martial art) to “Do” (way of life). In 1882, Kano founded the Kodokan, which translates to “the school to learn the way.”
Kano was so taken with the principles that made up his system that he made it his greatest mission in life to propagate Judo. In 1889, he traveled to Europe and America to promote his martial art and ended up making eight additional trips to other continents before his death in 1938 [1].
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
Although Kano traveled the world to spread his judo teachings, it was actually a judoka named Mitsuyo Maeda, a student from the Kodokan, that brought judo to Brazil. Maeda was the son of a Japanese sumo wrestler and a lifelong champion of self-defense techniques. Being well-versed in Kano’s system, especially the ground fighting aspect known as “newaza,” Maeda left Japan in 1905 to follow Kano to New York and provide judo demonstrations. Afterward, he traveled all throughout North and South America to continue to promote the teachings of judo, eventually arriving in Brazil in 1914. Maeda opened his own school in Belém, where he taught a newaza-based style of judo, and, where he met and befriended local businessman, Gastão Gracie.
In 1917, Maeda agreed to take on Gastão’s teenage son, Carlos Gracie, as his student. Over the years, Carlos learned the concepts of his system and became a faithful disciple, so much so that he eventually shared his knowledge and infused his passion for the art with his younger brothers- Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., George, and Hélio, which would forever change the Gracie family.
Now, Hélio Gracie was different from his brothers. Not only was he the youngest of eight siblings, but he was also physically smaller, frail, and suffered from poor health. In the beginning, Hélio had difficulty executing judo’s techniques; however, he began to make adjustments, adapting the system to his characteristics using principles of physics. Specifically, Hélio discovered manners of leverage that optimized force, which he continued to refine until the techniques could be applied by anyone, regardless of size or strength.
These innovations birthed a new form of martial arts and laid the foundations for what we now know as Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).
In 1925, Carlos opened the Gracie family’s first BJJ academy. He would ultimately go on to bear 21 offspring- 13 of whom became black belts. And, with each member of the family, the martial art continued to evolve.
In the late 1970s. Hélio’s son, Rorion, immigrated to the US to spread the art of BJJ. It was this move that forever changed the way the world viewed fighting as Rorion and his business partner laid the groundwork for a martial arts tournament called the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) [2].
Similarities Between Judo & BJJ
Ancestry
As we just covered, judo and BJJ are both tied to the ancient traditions of Japanese jujutsu. Judo stemmed from traditional jujutsu practices and BJJ was derived from judo.
Philosophy
And since their roots are so closely tied, it makes sense that judo and BJJ also share common philosophies that serve as the foundation of their teachings and techniques.
Judo (“gentle way”)
Judo is more about the moral and mental aspects of training instead of hand-to-hand combat. It is about adopting a lifestyle that prioritizes the pursuit of knowledge, the training of one’s body by physical education, and honoring all human life. Kano incorporated a strict code of ethics into his system where all judokas (those who practice the art of judo) should be examples of good character and honest conduct.
BJJ (“gentle art”)
BJJ promotes much of the same ideologies of judo and other martial arts, including humility, self-confidence, discipline, and respect for others. However, the driving philosophy behind BJJ is a combination of these traditional beliefs with more modern principles of self-defense because it was designed to give smaller, weaker individuals a chance to successfully face heavier, stronger adversaries.
Techniques
Considering BJJ derived from judo, it makes sense that they share similar techniques. Both judo and BJJ revolve around manipulating an opponent’s force against themself and leveraging bodyweight to control an opponent’s movement. They both require work from a standing position and eventually go to the ground. They also both incorporate joint locks, chokeholds, and throws.
BUT…
…this is where the commonalities in techniques arrive at a fork in the road. We’ll get to that in just a moment.
Uniform
Judo and BJJ practitioners also wear similar uniforms called a “gi.” Though, like techniques, this is also a point of difference. Keep scrolling and you’ll find out why.
Differences Between Judo & BJJ
Techniques
One of the biggest differences between judo and BJJ regarding techniques is how they are executed and the subsequent stress that each style places on the body. In short, judo focuses more on the standup aspect of the sport, emphasizing throws and tosses, while BJJ focuses predominately on groundwork tactics and submissions.
Judo
Judo is about having a firm grip on your opponent; throwing them off balance; and using trips, tosses, or throws to floor them.
BJJ
BJJ is more about learning to dominate your opponent on the ground and going for a submission. Techniques involve using superior leverage and position to apply joint locks and chokes, which allow you to control, neutralize, and overcome opponents.
Competition Rules
The differences in technical approaches are further emphasized by the variances in competition rules:
Judo
Judo’s rules tend to keep the fight standing up because the main focus is on throws and takedowns. There are also several techniques that are not allowed, with grips regulated by type and location as well as prohibiting grabbing legs while standing. There are also limitations on submission holds and restrictions on ground stalling.
Points are categorized as Ippon, Waza-ari, and Yuko:
Ippon (how a competitor can immediately win a match)
Throwing one’s opponent with a considerable force so that they land on their back
Forcing one’s opponent to submit by tapping out
Holding one’s opponent down for 20 seconds
Waza-ari (does not instantly end a match, but scoring two Waza-ari’s equals an Ippon)
Throwing one’s opponent, but not enough on their back or without enough force to classify as an Ippon
Holding one’s opponent down for 10 - 19 seconds
Yuko (more traditional points)
No amount of Yuko will equal an Ippon
Yuko can decide the match at the end of a round if Ippon or Waza-ari are not achieved
BJJ
BJJ competitions tend to be less strict than judo; matches will, in general, continue to flow without stoppage unless competitors have traveled out of bounds, time is reached, or a submission is achieved. Moreover, since the main objective is to successfully execute a submission, and standing submissions are exceedingly difficult, matches are often quickly forced to the ground. BJJ also allows for many more submission techniques than judo.
Unlike judo, there also isn’t one defined point system or ruleset for BJJ tournaments. There are several organizations that host BJJ grappling events and each has its own distinct set of rules that differ in terms of time limits, how points are awarded, legal positions, and legal submissions. The three biggest organizations include the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC), and Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI). We won’t get into the nuances that differentiate these rulesets here, but IBJJF (which many BJJ tournaments follow) uses points if opponent’s don’t achieve a submission during the match:
2 points awarded for a takedown
2 points awarded for sweeping (a reversal from one’s back to being on top of one’s opponent)
2 points awarded for knee on belly
3 points awarded for passing an opponent’s guard
4 points awarded for full mount control
4 points awarded for back control
Uniform
Judo
A standard judo gi is more durable than many other disciplines’ uniforms, including karate and taekwondo, because it is designed to endure more gripping and throwing movements.
BJJ
The gi worn for BJJ is heavier than a judo gi because it needs to withstand more punishment and movement. The attire is often reinforced with rip-stop stitching, which strengthens the fabric and makes it more durable.
BJJ gi’s also come in a more variety of fabrics and colors, including blue, black, white, pink, and more.
However, the most significant difference in uniform is the practice of no-gi jiu-jitsu, which is also sometimes referred to as submission grappling and not BJJ. Without the gi, practitioners must use more natural grips, like the head, neck, wrists, and ankles, instead of gripping an opponent’s attire.
As such, the lack of uniform fundamentally alters technical strategy and how you engage an opponent (an option not available in judo practice).
Belt Ranking System
Judo
Judo belt progressions vary slightly depending on your area, but in most countries, they advance from white to black with five additional belts in between:
White
Yellow
Orange
Green
Blue
Brown
Black
BJJ
BJJ follows a very similar progression, but with fewer belts:
White
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black
So, Judo or BJJ- Which One Should You Train?
Generally speaking, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are both excellent ways to develop better fitness, health, and well-being. Both disciplines demand high levels of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, flexibility, strength, power, speed, agility, balance, and coordination [3].
If you are more interested in competing in grappling tournaments, Judo and BJJ are mutually beneficial; training both styles can help you become a more well-rounded martial artist:
Improving Judo techniques will allow you to control the standup game in a BJJ or submission grappling tournament
Improving BJJ techniques will provide you an advantage during the groundwork portion of a Judo match, helping you land in dominant positions and find submissions with ease
Lastly, if your goal is to learn or improve self-defense skills, training both judo and BJJ can also prove advantageous:
Both styles help you learn to control threats of varying size and strength, thus reducing risks to yourself and those around you
Both judo and BJJ incorporate rolling sessions during training, which closely simulate real-life encounters to better prepare you to remain calm & have a plan during stressful, high-adrenaline situations
Learning how to properly leverage bodyweight to perform a judo throw can be devasting in a real-life physical encounter with an attacker
Learning BJJ and jiu-jitsu provide more offensive and defensive techniques while on the ground to help you control and submit your attacker
Knowing both judo and BJJ eliminate the need to defend yourself with a weapon, which is not always readily available in real-life situations
Still not sure which style is right for you? No problem!
Luckily for you, we offer both judo and BJJ classes here at Ronin, so you can give both a try.
References
[1] Cavalcanti, K. (n. d.). The history of Kodokan Judo. Judo Info Online Dojo. https://judoinfo.com/jhist/
[2] GracieMag. (n. d). The history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Graciemag. https://www.graciemag.com/en/the-saga-of-jiu-jitsu/
[3] Landow, L. (2016). Ultimate conditioning for martial arts. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
