Judo Vs. BJJ - What's The Difference & Which Is Better?

Judo was created in Japan by Jigoro Kano, and he took a unique approach to combining the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu with mental discipline.

Kano later brought Judo to Europe, and it became an official Olympic sport back in 1940.

Since then, the following has grown all over the world, and new styles and techniques have regularly appeared.

Judo practitioners are known as judoka, and they follow a strict discipline of respect for each other.

Kano brought Judo to Europe, but it was Mitsuyo Maeda who took Judo Kodokan to Brazil.

There, Kodokan evolved, emphasizing ground techniques, giving birth to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Due to their shared Kodokan roots and focus on groundwork, Judo and BJJ appear quite alike, both centering on mastering balance and using tactical moves for takedowns.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's philosophy is about using mental strength, not force, against an opponent.

Practitioners ground themselves, using mind, body, and spirit to turn an opponent's force to their advantage.

Similarly, Judo, meaning "gentle way" in Japanese, focuses on efficiency over force.

Both martial arts emphasize smart, tactical takedowns.

Their strict rules and principles not only harness power but also shape a disciplined lifestyle, appealing to aspiring martial artists.

iu-Jitsu and Judo techniques are very similar sports, but there are some notable differences.

In my experience working with fighters, I've noticed that those who train in Judo develop a remarkable sense of balance and timing, which is crucial for executing perfect throws.

In addition, Judo's influence on law enforcement and military training globally is significant, with its throws and holds adapted for practical, non-lethal restraint techniques."

Along with the takedown skills, some armbar moves and arm locks are part of standard Judo training and point-scoring.

The competitive fight is probably where the two show the biggest difference.

In a BJJ match, you’ll see much more takedown moves that are not allowed in Judo at all.

Jiu-Jitsu is also much more focused on winning a match by submission rather than scoring individual points for a specific type of takedown.

Judo is probably a more suitable sport for world-stage tournaments like the Olympics because of the strict points system and rules it follows.

BJJ and Judo are similar to each other in their clothing. However, the BJJ requirements are less strict than for Judogi.

In Jiu-Jitsu, it’s common to have different colors on the belt, indicating the skill level of a fighter.

In Judo, the suit has to be white, and it also has to be a very specific size to be competition-legal.

There’s also a form of no-gi Jiu-Jitsu, which creates a very different competition with much more attention on takedown throw techniques that grip the neck, head, arms, wrists, and ankles.

This is one area where you’ll find very few differences.

A BJJ gym will look very similar to a Judo one, with a large open area and a thick rubber floor mat.

You’ll be glad for the rubber mats when you experience your first takedowns.

Overall, there really isn’t much equipment in either martial art, as it’s a practice of physical contact without kicking or punching.

Both martial arts disciplines have a belt-level system that starts at white and goes to black. But it’s the belts in between where the difference is with both of them.

A judoka will go through a white, yellow, orange, green, blue, and then brown belt. And in BJJ, fewer belts are going through white, blue, purple, and brown.

How fast you progress in both depends on how often you go to training sessions to learn all the takedown forms. I've seen some of my clients progress at different rates in Judo and BJJ.

More exposure to a Judo or BJJ match will also help any practitioner progress.

BJJ and Judo rules are quite different, especially when it comes to match rules.

You’ll find that there’s a lot more allowed in Jiu-Jitsu rules in the way of how you can use your arms and legs during takedowns.

In a Judo match, the ultimate goal is Ippon, which is an immediate victory. I recall a match where one of my clients achieved an Ippon; the look of accomplishment and joy on their face was unforgettable. It was a testament to their hard work and the effectiveness of the techniques they had learned.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is possibly one of the fastest-growing combat sports in the world, with BJJ schools popping up in every town, as per reports by the United States Judo Federation [1].

Judo is probably a more established sport, and you’ll have no problem finding a training class to best suit any student age group.

I have a few clients who have become students in both to practice the techniques and see which fighting sessions best suit their interests.

Right now, I would say that Jiu-Jitsu is the most popular.

One reason is that it does take self-defense a step further by giving a student more techniques to deal with competitors and disable threats.

You’ll see this in a Jiu-Jitsu match, where it’s less about scoring points and more about getting rivals to the ground and stopping them from getting back on their feet.

You’ll find that both a BJJ and Judo training class will be a great cardio workout and that you’ll be seriously sweating by the end of it [2].

It’s certainly not all about standing around and waiting your turn to practice takedowns.

While pros will work in the gym as well to gain more power and higher levels of fitness, it’s not something you have to do, especially if you’re not too interested in competitive matches.

Both are great for a self-defense situation, but BJJ arguably gives you more training for dealing with a fight that goes to the ground.

In Judo, a fight tends to stop once you get to the ground and you stand up on your feet again.

Jiu-Jitsu takes it further to force submissions.

The part of the Jiu-Jitsu technique also allows for more aggressive moves that take the legs and feet from under practitioners.

Both martial arts have seen increased popularity in competitive events.

But you could argue that Judo offers better options from a competitive perspective.

Not only is it a way to have access to more events, but Judo allows people to bring their skills all the way to the Olympics.

Now, there are plenty of Jiu-Jitsu competitions that offer matches for people of all ages and size categories, but it’s not quite as well established as Judo.

If you follow mixed martial arts and the UFC, you’ll have seen some kind of BJJ ground technique in pretty much every fight.

Many UFC fighters will attend regular BJJ classes and pay a lot of attention to cross-training with Muay Thai and other disciplines.

And if you’re into MMA fighting, the question mainly comes down to what amount of groundwork you need to learn to have a strategy for when you’re not standing on two feet.