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The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu versus Judo debate is one that pops up all the time in martial arts circles. Despite sharing some pretty deep roots, the two styles have evolved into distinct disciplines over time. Both are heavily focussed on grappling, throws and submission holds - but they both approach these things in very different ways. Judo, the brainchild of Jigoro Kano, is a martial art that's been streamlined to leave out the rougher, more dangerous techniques of traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu. It's a fighting style that's all about standing throws and using the momentum of an opponent to your advantage. And yet Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which also has its roots in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, couldn't be more different - it's an exercise in control and submission on the ground, where strength and aggression count for little.
The story of BJJ and Judo is one of shared ancestry, way back in the late 19th century. Jigoro Kano was a Japanese martial artist with a mission: to pull Jiu Jitsu out of the dark ages and make it something a bit more practical and safe to practice. He created Judo, with the aim of making a martial art that was both effective and injury-free. And it worked - Judo quickly spread across the globe, including to Brazil, where it caught the eye of the Gracie family.
Carlos Gracie, who'd had a chance to learn Judo from one of its gurus, Mitsuyo Maeda, took the basics and turned them on their head. He developed a style that was more focused on ground fighting and submission holds, rather than taking it to the air. That style became Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a martial art that's all about control, leverage and outsmarting your opponent. So, while Judo is an art that's all about using your power and momentum to take down your opponent, BJJ is all about their control and pinning them down.
So what's the big difference between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo? It's not just a matter of kick and punch versus grappling, as people often think. Both are grappling arts that rely on throws, pins and submissions - but the way they approach these things is all different. Judo is built around throws, and the power to take an opponent down and control their movements. It's a brutal, physical business that requires a lot of power and co-ordination. And yet Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is all about finesse - using your opponent's power against them, and outsmarting them on the ground.
While Judo throws are famous for their power - think O-goshi (hip throw), Uchi-mata (inner thigh throw) and Seoi-nage (shoulder throw) - the truth is that a big part of the art is just about pinning down your opponent and then getting them to submit. But for BJJ, the game is all about getting to the ground, and then out-grappling your opponent - often using guard positions, sweeps and passes to outmaneuver them.One of the most critical aspects of BJJ is the guard position - being on your back using your legs to control or neutralize an opponent who's got the upper hand. A lot of practitioners use the tactic of pulling guard - basically, you deliberately move to the guard position from standing - to bring the fight to the ground and take advantage of ground-based strategies. From the guard position, you can work in a whole range of techniques like the triangle choke, armbar, and Kimura lock, which makes BJJ's ground game particularly versatile. It's the emphasis on the ground game that's often cited as the main difference when you're comparing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Judo.
When it comes to training methods in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo, the two arts reflect their differing focuses pretty well. Judo practitioners spend a lot of time practicing uchi-komi - basically, repetitive throwing drills - randori - live sparring - and ne-waza - that's ground techniques. The sport of Judo, as governed by orgs like the IJF, has rules that really favor throwing techniques. A match can be won instantly with an ippon, which is a clean, forceful throw that puts your opponent flat on their back. While ground techniques are allowed, the referee will get the competitors back up on their feet if there's not a lot of progress on the ground after a short while of grappling. In competitive judo, contests are structured around dynamic throws and quick transitions, and sport judo puts an emphasis on stand-up grappling, foot sweeps, and clinch techniques that are useful for tournament settings.
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, most of the training time is focused on positional control, submissions and live rolling - that's sparring. While throws and takedowns are part of the curriculum, a BJJ school will typically spend more time doing ground-based drills and positional sparring, often prioritizing hands-on, sparring-based training that doesn't involve katas. Matches in BJJ competitions - they're just called BJJ matches - are won via points or submission, with points awarded for getting into dominant positions like mount, back control, or passing the guard. BJJ rules really emphasize ground fighting, awarding points for control and submissions, and they don't allow for any strikes. Unlike Judo, where a match might go back to the starting position after a few seconds of nothing happening on the ground, BJJ competitions let you have a good long while of grappling on the ground. That's why the saying "position before submission" is such a central philosophy in BJJ.
Another difference between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo is the uniform. Both arts use a gi, but the Judo gi is a lot heavier and more durable, designed to withstand the grips and forceful throws that are part of Judo. BJJ gis are lighter and more fitted, designed for all that close combat grappling on the ground. Plus, BJJ has a no-gi variant, where you train without a gi on, relying more on body control and leverage than on gi grips. No gi judo is also practiced as a secondary training method, allowing you to do different grips and techniques by removing the traditional uniform.
Both BJJ and Judo practitioners often train at grappling tournaments, which are pretty helpful for developing ground fighting skills and testing techniques in a competitive setting. These tournaments, organized by groups like NAGA, really highlight the importance of grappling in both arts.
Getting a black belt is one of the highest honors in martial arts - it's not just about the technical skills you have, but also the years of dedication, discipline and growth you've put in. In both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, reaching black belt status shows you've got a deep understanding of the art and a commitment to mastering its principles.
In Judo, the black belt is part of the Dan ranking system, which starts at 1st Dan (Shodan) and goes all the way up to 10th Dan (Judan) for the top guys. Reaching black belt in Judo usually takes a few years of consistent training, with a strong focus on mastering standing techniques like judo throws and takedowns, as well as effective grappling and submission holds. Judo black belts are expected to show proper technique, physical fitness and mental discipline, as well as a respect for the traditions of the art. In judo competitions, you'll often see black belt holders as technical leaders, showing off speed, power and strategic mastery in both standing and ground exchanges.Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts are held in very high regard, but the road to earning one in BJJ is famously long and arduous - often taking an outright astonishing 8 to 10 years or even longer. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts are granted in degrees, ranging from 1st to 6th, with each step up marking significant increases in skill and contribution to the art. BJJ practitioners have to demonstrate truly exceptional skill in ground fighting, including slick joint locks, intricate chokeholds & solidifying dominant positions. The path to black belt in BJJ is about relentless focus on proper technique, adaptability and a deep understanding of the art's philosophy - it's not a journey to be taken lightly. In BJJ competitions Black belt matches are notable for their extremely high level of technical proficiency, great strategic depth and serious endurance. Fighters so often display an absolute mastery of both offense & defence in the ground game.
Both judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt holders are expected to serve as role models in their respective dojos or academies - embodying the values that help make their martial arts tick. They are not only good at self defense and competing but also help others develop their own technique, get in shape and find their mental discipline. Whether you find yourself drawn to the explosive standing moves of judo or the intricate ground fighting of BJJ - the journey to black belt is life changing. It builds your confidence, your resilience & gives you a lifelong passion for martial arts.
Achieving a black belt in judo or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is way more than just getting hold of a new belt color - its a testament to your commitment, skill level and deep understanding of the art. Whether you're training for self defense, competition or personal growth, the path to a black belt in judo and BJJ is a rewarding journey that shapes not only your abilities on the mat but also your character off the mat.
You also have to consider the cultural distinctions when comparing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Judo. Judo is an Olympic sport which has been part of the games since 1964 and is a very highly structured & effective martial art, with formal bowing and etiquette to match, and it still retains many of its Japanese roots in terms of philosophy and discipline. The ranking system in judo is very structured too, with white belt for beginners and colored belts all the way up to the highly prized black belt. Judo competitions are held all around the world with the IJF setting the strict rules & judo players get recognized for their expertise in throws, trips & foot sweeps, often winning matches through perfect execution of these techniques.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, on the other hand, has grown massively in popularity over the last few decades, largely thanks to its reputation as an effective martial art in mixed martial arts (MMA) & self defense. BJJ's philosophy is generally more relaxed and adaptable, and while bowing and formalities exist the culture is generally a lot more laid back than judo. The ranking system in BJJ is notoriously slow, with white belt as the starting point for all practitioners, & it can take over a decade to get your black belt - but the art's practicality in the real world of self defense and combat sports like MMA has helped to fuel its global growth. Many practitioners turn to BJJ both as a sport & as a means of developing self-defense skills, finding the emphasis on technique over brute strength very effective indeed. To be fair both judo and BJJ offer unique approaches to grappling & self-protection making them valuable choices for those looking for effective martial arts for sport and personal safety.
If you're trying to decide between Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo its worth taking some time to think about your personal goals. If you are more into a sport that centers around dynamic throws and traditional martial arts values, Judo might just be the perfect fit. The emphasis on standing techniques, explosive movements and Olympic competition gives Judo its very distinct flavor.
On the other hand, if you find yourself drawn to ground fighting, submissions and positional control, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is probably more your cup of tea. BJJ's focus on technique over strength makes it accessible to people of all shapes & skill levels, & the practical applications for self defense or MMA can be really appealing. BJJ also offers the flexibility of training with or without a gi, catering to different preferences.
For many practitioners, of course, the answer is to train in both arts to become well-rounded grapplers. Understanding the ins and outs of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Judo will help you make a more informed decision, whether you are pursuing martial arts for sport, self defense or fitness.
In the debate over Brazilian Jiu Jitsu versus Judo - and let me tell you, it's a contentious one - there's no clear 'winner', in the sense that one is definitively better than the other. Both offer unique techniques, strategies and, of course, their own distinct cultural flavors. On the one hand, Judo is all about using your power to launch a big, explosive throw - it's a real rush - whereas BJJ puts its focus squarely on getting the fight to the ground & holding on tight until your opponent taps out. Similarly, both martial arts have incredibly rich histories & many practitioners like to mix things up, cross-training to tap into the strengths of each discipline. Whether your main interest is keeping yourself fit, competing at the highest level or just staying safe on the streets - BJJ & Judo both offer a real pathway to achieving your martial arts goals. If you're curious about how Jiu Jitsu stacks up against other martial arts you might want to check out our articles on how it compares to Muay Thai , Wrestling or Karate.
