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Many people find Judo and BJJ so similar that they confuse them for the one and same sport. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Even practitioners of those two sports get them mixed up at the early stage too.
So what is the difference between Judo and BJJ?
Judo is focused on taking down the opponent from a standing position. You can do that by either throwing the opponent to the ground or tripping them. The rules for BJJ are a little different. Rather than tripping or throwing your opponent, much more focus is directed to ground work and submissions.
While both Judo and BJJ stem from the same self-defense sport Ju Jutsu, the fact that they share some moves shouldn’t blind us from the fact that they’re totally different sports. From different rules and strategies to special uniforms, each one is a unique sport in its own right.
In fact, the difference between those two sports couldn’t be more glaring. And what may appear to the layman as similarities have too many nuanced divergences that merit elaboration.
Here, we’ll lay out what sets each sport apart from the other and why some practitioners cross-train to get the full benefits of the other sport.
Shared Heritage
It was the Samurai who first created the art, rules, and strategies for Ju Jutsu. This ancient Japanese Jiu-Jitsu was in essence a self-defense regiment that involved among other things the use of weapons to dominate the opponent. But while the weapons part suited the sword-savvy Samurai well, it didn’t appeal to the general populace who were in it for self-defense mainly.
As the sword was replaced with guns, the Samurai went out of fashion and with them, Ju Jutsu became history to be found only in the archives of museums. But that doesn’t mean that the sport died out. It just evolved into Judo at the hands of Jigoro Kano. With Judo there were no weapons and the techniques were much safer than the more aggressive and violent Ju Jutsu.
Judo was embraced throughout Asia as an accepted form of sport not just in competitions but also for the regular person. By the time it reached Brazil, it was a well-developed sport that found fertile grounds among three brothers, Carlos, Hélio, and George Gracie. Carlos learned Judo from a Japanese traveler and he later developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This shared heritage explains why the two sports share some similarities. But a deeper look reveals the chasm of differences between BJJ and Judo.
Different Rules
No sport can exist without rules. Rules define the boundaries and the very essence of the sport. The first thing that beginners learn are the rules they need to adhere to. This goes for soccer, tennis, martial arts, and just about any other sport be it an established one or the game you create with your buddies on a lazy afternoon.
We saw how Judo evolved out of the dying Ju Jutsu and BJJ came out of the womb of Judo. But they both have different rules that give each sport its distinct character, style, and objectives. So what’s the difference between the two?
Judo
As a self-defense sport, Judo is focused on taking down the opponent from a standing position. You can do that by either throwing the opponent to the ground or tripping them. If you manage to get the adversary off their feet you score a full point (called Ippon) and win the contest.
So how do you achieve this goal? Judo rules chart two clear ways for you to do that:
- Score an Ippon which is equal to one point.
- Score more Waza-Ari (one Waza-Ari is half a point) than the rival.
Of course, you’d want to score an Ippon and win the match right then and there. Here you have three paths to getting that tall order:
- Secure the opponent on the ground for at least 20 seconds.
- Force the rival to fall on their back.
- Use either strangulation or an armlock to force the adversary to submit.
Easier said than done. And if you watch many Judo competitions, you’ll notice that not many matches end that way. Scoring an Ippon in Judo is rarer than getting a knockout in boxing. And since Judo matches have to end at some point, other ways of winning have been set in the rule books. Waza-Ari is by far an easier goal to attain than a full Ippon. Here’s how you can score a Waza-Ari:
- Use a weak trip to get the opponent to fall.
- Employ a less convincing throw to get the rival to the ground.
- Hold the opponent on the floor for 10 seconds.
BJJ
The rules for BJJ are a little different. Rather than tripping or throwing your opponent, you try to achieve submission as well as score more points in the game. There are many ways you can score points and get your opponent to submit.
- You get 3 points for Passing the Guard.
- Achieve a Full Mount to score 4 points.
- A Knee Mount gets you 2 points.
- Four points for Back Mount.
- A sweep gives you 2 points.
- A throw or takedown also puts you ahead of your opponent by 2 points.
A match in BJJ either ends immediately with a submission or the score at the end of the game determines the winner. Penalties and advantages also play a role if both participants have the same score.
Different Strategies
With different objectives, come different strategies. When you’re trying to force the opponent on their back you employ different techniques than those if you were trying to achieve a Full Mount for example. Another big difference comes with the fact that BJJ is more focused on groundwork combat and tactics.
Judo Strategy
The ultimate goal for the judo competitor is to achieve a full throw. You win an Ippon and end the match right there. Grappling in Judo is more than a technique. It’s an art. You aim to get a good grip on your opponent and use that to force them to the ground. Many factors are at play here. Your footwork, your balance, your body weight, and your own style and techniques. They all contribute to and determine the outcome of the match.
This is why there isn’t much ground strategy in Judo. Players are expected to be on their feet for the most part during the match. Besides, if the game shifts to the ground, as a player you have less than a half-minute to force your opponent into submission before you’re both asked to stand up and resume the match.
BJJ Strategy
BJJ on the other hand is more of a ground game. Players spend less time on their feet as their goal is to force submission. Since you can’t reach that outcome on your feet, the strategy in BJJ is mainly to start on the ground and employ all your skills and techniques from there.
You still start your competition on your feet but soon you’re both on the ground trying to dominate and restrict the other’s movement to get a submission.
Different Outfits
Another more subtle difference between those sports is the uniform. To the untrained eye, both Judo and BJJ gi look the same. Unlike other MMA sports, your Judo or BJJ gi is made of thick material that doesn’t tear off easily. Just think of all the grappling and gripping that takes place during the game. You need a sturdy outfit to handle this rough treatment.
That said, the BJJ gi is more in tune with that sport’s focus on grappling. The Judo gi, on the other hand, is designed to take all that gripping that goes on during a Judo match. This is why the Judo gi is longer and looser than the BJJ one. It is thicker with reinforced stitching to make it more durable.
Colors also differentiate the two uniforms. A Judo gi is either white or blue with simple and straightforward designs. BJJ, however, tends to incorporate other colors. It doesn’t go all out in the color department though. One can see uniforms in green, gray, or even black in BJJ tournaments and nobody raises an eyebrow. It probably has to do with the rich Brazilian culture that celebrates bright colors in general.
One last thing to remember, you need to stick to your sport’s uniform at least as far as competitions are concerned. You can’t wear a Judo gi to a BJJ tournament or vice versa. You’ll be asked to change your uniform before you can take part in the match.
Cross-Training
Many Judo practitioners have found it necessary for their all-round game to dapple in BJJ even a little. The same is true for BJJ players who can’t resist the benefits of improving their standing techniques through rigorous Judo training.
For a BJJ player, learning Judo enhances their ability to master the standing techniques that they can use to their advantage during a BJJ match. The grip techniques that Judo can teach a BJJ practitioner are invaluable in throwing the opponent and controlling their movement on the ground.
As for Judo players, they too can gain a lot of experience with all the groundwork that BJJ is famous for. Both tripping and forcing the rival to the ground can benefit from BJJ techniques and skills.
For long the rivalry between the two sports has been raging on. Each sport has claimed to be the original while the other is redundant. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Both Judo and BJJ have a lot to contribute to MMA and the sports world in general. They don’t have to replace each other, and can actually co-exist and even collaborate to create well-rounded practitioners.