Judo vs. Jiujitsu: What’s the Difference? (With table)
If you’re interested in martial arts, you may have heard of both Judo and Jiujitsu. But what’s the difference between the two? In this blog post, we will discuss the history, techniques, and benefits of each martial art.
The main difference between judo and jiujitsu is that judo is a sport, while jiujitsu is a self-defense system. In judo, the goal is to either throw or takedown your opponent. Jiujitsu, on the other hand, focuses on ground fighting and submissions.
Keep reading to learn more about the differences between judo and jiujitsu!
Judo
Definition
A sport developed from jujitsu that emphasizes the use of quick movement and leverage to throw an opponent
Merriam-Webster
The big thing to remember is that in judo there is no kick.
The main goal is to put your opponent on the ground, by using many catches.
The fight doesn’t necessarily end when one or both opponents are on the ground.
Origins
Judo was created in 1882, by Jigorō Kanō in Japan.
The goal was to transform jujitsu (classical combat sport), into a new discipline, integrating a big part about mind and body education.
Judo includes many important values, whose parents like a lot.
That’s why there are so many practitioners in the world (over 50 billions, five times more than karate).
Here are the values of judo:
- Politeness
- Courage
- Sincerity
- Honor
- Modesty
- Respect
- Self control
- Friendship
These values are more important than the technique in judo.
Respect and trust in the opponent are also essential to have the best fight possible.
Important facts
Currently, Japan, France and South Korea are the best countries in the world.
Ryoko Tani (Japan), Tadahiro Nomura (Japan) and David Douillet (France) are considered as the all-time best judokas in the world.
Material
The basic material of a judoka is also simple: kimono and belt as well
The judo kimono is a bit heavier / thicker than karate.
Belts are working the same way, a different color for each level, with black belt for the highest grades (first dan or more).
As there is no kick in judo, no protection material is required.
That does not mean you will not hurt yourself, I know what I’m talking about 🙂
Fights
There are also Katas in judo.
But there is no competition with katas to my knowledge.
Competitions are only for classic fights.
As in karate, athletes are classified by age, weight and gender.
There are also many similarities in the counting of points.
Without going in too many technical details, you can win points (advantages) or lose some (penalties) following your actions on the tatami.
Points are generally marked according to the result obtained in combat when the opponent is put on the ground (more or less points depending on how he falls).
It is also possible to score points on the ground by immobilizing the opponent.
Video
As for karate, here is a video of a fight between Riner and Moura in 2017:
Jiujitsu
Definition
Jiujitsu is a family of Japanese martial arts and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdue one or more weaponless or armed and armored opponents.
Wikipedia
Origins
Jiujitsu is a Japanese martial art that dates back to the Samurai of feudal Japan. It was developed as a way for the smaller and weaker person to defeat a larger and stronger opponent without the use of weapons.
Jiujitsu techniques involve using an attacker’s own momentum and weight against them in order to take them down or submit them.
Jiujitsu became popular in the West after it was featured in early 20th century circus acts and demonstrations by Japanese expatriates. In the 1930s, jiujitsu schools (called dojo) began popping up all over Brazil, thanks to Brazilian immigrants who had been exposed to the art while living in Japan. Today, jiujitsu is practiced all over the world by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Benefits
Jiujitsu offers practitioners many benefits. In addition to getting an excellent workout, jiujitsu teaches discipline, respect, and self-control. It is also an effective form of self-defense.
Because jiujitsu relies on leverage and technique rather than size and strength, it is an ideal martial art for women and children. Jiujitsu is also a great way to meet new people and make friends. The jiujitsu community is close-knit and supportive, and practitioners often form lifelong bonds with their training partners.
If you’re looking for a challenging workout that will also teach you valuable life skills, jiujitsu is the perfect activity for you.
In short, jiujitsu offers many benefits which include:
- An excellent workout.
- Discipline.
- Respect.
- Self Control.
- An effective form of self-defense.
- Bonds with training partners.
- A challenging workout.
Material
For jiujitsu, you will need a gi (a uniform worn for training) and a belt. You may also want to purchase some rash guards, grappling shorts, and MMA gloves to wear during training. Most jiujitsu schools will have all of this equipment available for purchase.
Fights
In a jiujitsu fight, there are three ways to win:
- The first is by submission, which means forcing your opponent to tap out or submit verbally.
- The second is by points, which are awarded for taking down and controlling your opponent.
- The third is by decision, which is when the referee decides who the winner is based on who had the most dominant position or submissions attempts throughout the match.
Some common jiujitsu techniques include:
- The guard, which is a position where you are on your back and use your legs to control your opponent.
- The mount, where you are on top of your opponent.
- Side control, which is a position where you are on your side and controlling your opponent.
- The back control, same idea, but you are behind your opponent.
Video
Here is a short video to demonstrate everything we have talked about in this part:
Differences between Judo and Jiujitsu
Here is a comparison table, listing the main differences between judo and jiujitsu:
| Judo | Jiujitsu | |
|---|---|---|
| Origins | A Japanese martial art that originated in the late 19th century. | A Japanese martial art that dates back to the Samurai of feudal Japan. |
| Goal | Developed as a sport and a way to promote physical education. | Developed as a way for the weaker to defeat the stronger in combat. |
| Techniques | Uses throws and takedowns to subdue an opponent. | Uses joint locks, chokes, and strikes to subdue an opponent. |
| Kimono | Generally wear a white gi. | A gi is also required. |
| Belt | Goes from white (beginner) to black. | Also goes from white to black, with additional belts for higher levels of mastery. |
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