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When talking about martial arts you often hear the terms "Jiu Jitsu" and "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" being used like they're interchangeable. But while it's true these two styles share a common root, they've developed distinct personalities, philosophies and training methods over time. In this article we'll take a dive into the history of Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, highlight their similarities and then take a closer look at the key differences that set them apart. You’ll often hear BJJ quotes brought up into discussions about Jiu Jitsu vs BJJ, with phrases like “position before submission” or “leave your ego at the door” capturing how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu emphasizes patience, efficiency, and constant learning compared to more traditional styles
Whether you're thinking about getting into one of these martial arts or just curious about the difference between them, getting a handle on the Jiu Jitsu vs BJJ debate is pretty crucial to getting your head around the diversity in martial arts.
The term "Jiu Jitsu" (often written as Jujutsu or Jujitsu) refers to the martial art that got its start in Japan back in the 16th century. Jiu Jitsu was initially developed as a battlefield art by the samurai class when they were stripped of their swords and other weapons on the battlefield and needed to defend themselves. The Japanese military had a big hand in shaping the modern form of Japanese jujutsu, creating a system that would work for soldiers in real combat situations where they might not have access to their usual swords and spears. Since they couldn't always count on having these traditional samurai weapons handy when it came to a scrap, they had to rely on hand-to-hand combat skills, with a focus on throws, joint locks and strikes to take down and disable opponents.
Japanese jujutsu was a real well-rounded martial art that included both grappling and striking. It was designed to take advantage of the momentum of an opponent and turn that energy back against them. It's a system that's all about leverage, not brute strength. Over time a number of different schools developed their own unique techniques and philosophies. These schools often use Japanese terminology to keep the cultural heritage intact and to make sure techniques get described exactly right. Many of these techniques are still used today in martial arts like Judo, Aikido and Karate.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu got its start in the early 20th century as a spin-off of traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu. The style got to Brazil when Mitsuyo Maeda, a Judo master and Jiu Jitsu practitioner from Japan, came to teach the Gracie family - especially Carlos Gracie and his brother Hélio Gracie. Maeda was himself a student of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. Kano's innovations in groundwork techniques and the belt system that came with that laid the groundwork for the kind of BJJ that we know today. The Gracies took traditional Jiu Jitsu techniques and adapted them to focus more on ground fighting, submission holds and the idea that a smaller, weaker person could use technique to take down a bigger, stronger person.
BJJ made a big name for itself for its effectiveness in real-world self defence and competitions, especially after the early UFC tournaments where BJJ guys were coming out on top. That's added to the fact that BJJ's techniques have become a key part of success in MMA. Today BJJ is one of the most popular martial arts in the world and is practiced by people all over, even though it's still not an Olympic sport. People practice it for sport and for self defence
Japanese Jitsu stands out as a traditional martial art with a huge array of techniques that are all about real-world self defence and combat. It's not like many modern martial arts - Japanese Jujitsu includes not just powerful joint locks and throws but also striking techniques and on the ground work, making it a real comprehensive system. Practitioners learn to use joint manipulation to take control of or disable an opponent, with techniques like wrist locks, arm bars and even some pretty intense bone-breaking moves that most sport settings wouldn't countenance. Chokes and pressure point attacks are all part of the mix too. That's because Jujitsu has its roots in the battlefield where the most effective technique is what you need.
One of the cool things about Japanese Jujitsu is the training with traditional samurai weapons like swords (katana), staffs (bo) and smaller hand-held tools, learning how to defend against armed attackers or use them in self defence. That historical context and the focus on practical, sometimes lethal techniques is what sets Japanese Jujitsu apart from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. If you're interested in mastering a traditional martial art that covers a wide range of combat situations, Japanese Jujitsu has a deep and diverse set of techniques you can explore.
Various Martial Arts Training MethodsTraining methods in martial arts can vary a fair amount, but both Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offer structured approaches that work on developing both the body and the mind. In Japanese Jujitsu training, students start at the basics—stances, movements, and simple throws—before moving on to more advanced techniques like joint locks and chokes. A big part of this traditional training is doing kata, which are really just choreographed patterns of movement that help you internalize the techniques and build up muscle memory. You keep practicing these forms so that you can get a real feel for the art’s principles and have precision.
Building physical fitness is also a big part of the deal, as strength, flexibility, and endurance are all crucial for being able to execute certain techniques effectively. As students get more advanced, live sparring, or randori, gets introduced, allowing them to test their skills in a dynamic situation that’s anything but predictable. This mix of putting in solo practice, working with a partner, and sparring with someone else means that you get a pretty well-rounded martial arts education.
In contrast, the way that BJJ training works focuses pretty heavily on ground fighting and submission techniques. BJJ practitioners spend a lot of time doing live sparring, known as rolling, where they use their techniques on fully resisting opponents. This hands-on approach makes learning and adapting come pretty naturally, so BJJ training is really practical for real-world self defense and competition - and both arts share a commitment to teaching technical skill, physical fitness, and mental toughness through disciplined practice.
When it comes to practical self defense, both Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offer all sorts of valuable tools, but they approach things in slightly different ways. Japanese Jujitsu is known for its versatility, teaching techniques for both standing and ground combat, as well as defenses against multiple attackers and weapons. So it’s a pretty good choice for those looking for a broad self defense system that’s going to prepare them for all sorts of combat scenarios. Techniques like joint locks, throws and strikes are all about neutralizing a threat right away, which is exactly the kind of thing that comes from the art’s roots in real-world combat.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, on the other hand, specializes in ground fighting and submission techniques, which makes it especially effective in one-on-one situations - especially if you happen to be dealing with someone stronger than you. BJJ’s emphasis on leverage and technique lets you control and submit an attacker without needing to be able to rely on brute strength. So it’s no surprise that this is a pretty popular choice for people looking for practical self defense, especially in situations where things go to the ground in a hurry. While Japanese Jujitsu gives you a wider range of defence techniques, BJJ’s focused approach to ground combat is just unmatched in close-quarters situations.
Combat strategy is at the heart of both Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but each art takes a pretty different approach to it. Japanese Jujitsu teaches practitioners to take an opponent’s force and momentum and use it against them, employing a mix of strikes, throws and joint locks to get the upper hand. The strategy often involves quickly disabling or controlling an attacker - whether you’re standing or on the ground - and then adapting to whatever combat situation comes up.
BJJ practitioners, on the other hand, tend to focus on taking the fight to the ground, where they can use their expertise in ground fighting and submission techniques to dominate. The BJJ way is usually to get into a position where you can control your opponent, like being on top of them in a mount or back, and then apply a submission hold - like an arm bar or a choke - to end the fight there and then. This methodical approach lets BJJ practitioners systematically break down an opponent’s defenses and wrap up the fight in no time. While Japanese Jujitsu gives you a broader array of techniques for all sorts of situations, BJJ’s specialized ground strategy has proven to be pretty highly effective in both competing and self defense situations.
Jiu Jitsu and BJJ are two arts that have shared roots, but different fighting styles - each with its own unique approach to combat while still sharing core similarities.
Shared Origins: Jiu Jitsu and BJJ both come from traditional Japanese Jujitsu - and all the techniques like joint locks, chokes and grappling movements are present in both styles. Plus, both arts are all about using leverage and body mechanics to neutralize an opponent, rather than relying on strength alone.
Leverage and Technique Over Strength: The philosophy behind both Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that technique and leverage can beat size and power - which makes both martial arts pretty ideal for smaller practitioners and super valuable for self defense, since they don’t rely on brute strength.
Grappling Focus: Both Jiu Jitsu and BJJ are all about grappling, with a big chunk of their techniques being used to control and submit an opponent on the ground. As fighting styles, both emphasize grappling and submissions as core elements - joint locks, sweeps and throws are all part of both systems, making them highly effective for close-quarters combat.
Submission Techniques: The goal in both traditional Jiu Jitsu and BJJ is to submit the opponent by applying joint locks or chokeholds. Submissions like arm bars, rear-naked chokes, and triangle chokes are all part of both disciplines - and mastering these techniques is key in either art.
The main distinction between old jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is in the way they train, what they focus on and how they apply things- traditional jujitsu is a broad set of self-defence techniques whilst BJJ specialises in ground based combat and grappling stuff.
Focus on Ground Fighting
One of the most striking differences between Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the focus. Traditional jujitsu (as the samurai used to do it) was a full-on martial art with throws, strikes, and grappling - with less emphasis on ground fighting. On the other hand, BJJ pretty much puts all its eggs in one basket - on the ground, particularly controlling opponents in various positions and finishing them off with submissions. BJJ is renowned for its ground-based combat and grappling techniques - where practitioners spend most of their time on the ground honing their skills in guard positions, sweeps, and escapes.
Striking vs. Grappling
There's a big difference between Jiu Jitsu (especially the traditional Japanese forms) and BJJ - while Jiu Jitsu includes both grappling and striking techniques, BJJ pretty much doesn't teach striking anymore. Traditional Jiu Jitsu has strikes that are designed for self-defence situations - but BJJ focuses almost entirely on grappling, assuming that most fights will end on the ground. In BJJ competitions, you can't even throw a punch - which is a big difference from its Japanese roots. Common submission techniques in BJJ include chokes, arm locks and leg locks which are a big part of ground grappling strategies.
Sport vs. Self-Defence
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often done as a sport, with a big emphasis on competition in grappling tournaments like IBJJF events. Traditional jujitsu on the other hand stays much closer to self-defense - focusing on techniques that could be used in real life - including standing defense against weapons and multiple attackers. Defending yourself is a big aspect of traditional Jiu Jitsu - using your opponent's weight and strength against them for your own protection. BJJ is also good for self-defence, but its sport rules sometimes limit how useful it is in a real fight.
Culture and History
Traditional Jiu Jitsu is very tied to Japanese culture and history - it even includes bits from the samurai code and techniques used in war. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the other hand has sort of evolved as a modern martial art and sport. While BJJ has respect and discipline, it's a lot more focused on modern competition and has a bit less structured culture than its Japanese counterpart.
Training Methodology
In terms of training, BJJ is often taught in a more dynamic, full-intensity sparring session called "rolling" where you train against resisting opponents at full speed. This kind of training lets you learn to apply your techniques in real time, develop your timing, sensitivity and adaptability. Traditional Jiu Jitsu schools often place more emphasis on drills, kata (pre-set movements) and less on sparring - which is a big difference in the way they train. BJJ schools and gyms focus on live sparring and putting things to use in practice - while traditional jujitsu schools stick to more structured forms and controlled practice.
Training in jiu jitsu (whether it's the Japanese jiu jitsu or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) has a host of benefits that go beyond just self-defense. Physically, you develop strength, flexibility, endurance and coordination through regular practice - all of which really supports your body. The mental benefits are just as big too - jujitsu teaches you discipline, focus and resilience as you continually overcome challenges and get better with your technique.Self defense is a pretty vital thing, and the reality is that both arts teach you some pretty effective ways to look after yourself in a real life situation - which can be a big plus. On top of the physical stuff, actually training in Jiu Jitsu also has a pretty profound impact on you as a person too. The journey from white belt to black belt is full of ups and downs, but its a chance to learn heaps about yourself, figure out who you are, and build your confidence. Plus, the sense of community found in your average dojo or BJJ gym is a great place to make lifelong friends and get the support you need to keep pushing yourself. Whether you're after self defense, you want to get in shape, or you're just looking for a new challenge - Jiu Jitsu offers a pretty rewarding path that's open to anyone from any background.
So when it comes to "Jiu Jitsu vs BJJ" , its clear to see that both of these martial arts share a common history, but they've ended up going down very different paths with their own unique characteristics and focus. Traditional Jiu Jitsu is a pretty broad system that focuses on a bit of everything, from striking to grappling, whereas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has really zeroed in on ground fighting and submission grappling and has ended up becoming a sport that really thrives in competitive settings.
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In the end, whether you decide to go with traditional Jiu Jitsu or BJJ, or you end up doing a bit of both - understanding the difference between the two will help you appreciate just how deep and rich these martial arts are. And if you're looking to show off your BJJ dedication, or you're after some inspiration for your grappler - head on over to our collection of premium BJJ gear. We've got a pretty sweet range of graphic tees, cozy hoodies, and trucker hats with awesome designs - something for every single BJJ fan.
So, as you keep on going with your BJJ journey, or you dive into the world of Jiu Jitsu for the first time - just remember to gear up with the right mindset, and a bit of style. Come on over to our store for some gear that reflects your love for the gentle art.
