Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo

There is and will always be debate on what the “best” or “most effective” forms of martial arts are. And honestly, it’s part of what makes martial arts and MMA so interesting. You have two completely different people with completely different backgrounds, and both are trying to impose their will onto their opponent with the particular skills that they have.

With there being such a big difference in the disciplines, it’s hard to gather the information that is actually useful for you. In this Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo post, I hope to keep it very simple.

I will lay out the rules and goals of each, run through some of the key similarities and differences, and ultimately give thoughts and guidance on what may be best for you, depending on your own goals and interests.

If there is anything I missed, send me a message using the contact form at the bottom of the post!

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Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo: What Are the Rules and Goals of Each?

Jiu-Jitsu

The basic goal of Jiu Jitsu is to control your opponent both on the feet and on the ground. In doing this, you can earn points and ultimately “submit” them, which means they give up because you have them in a choke or some kind of lock.

In competition the match starts on the feet but the majority of them tend to take place on the ground. It can also take place with a traditional “gi” (much like one used in Judo) or can be no-gi where the competitors wear simple “normal” clothing.

There is no striking of any kind and you earn points through advancing your position and taking your opponent down. Because there is a stand-up aspect, Judo can be effectively used in Jiu-Jitsu. The main difference that applies in most tournaments is that you cannot slam your opponent, which is a major part of Judo.

Judo

The basic goal of Judo is to trip or off-balance your opponent to “master” the opponent. This can mean the occasional elbow lock or “armbar” as well as takedowns.

You use your hands to get grips on your opponent and use your feet and legs to win. Interestingly, the goal of Judo is almost identical to the goal of wrestling, but they are accomplished in completely different ways.

In Judo, a traditional uniform known as a “gi” is worn. You then use the grip on that clothing to move, trip, or throw your opponent. In official Judo rules as of 2013, you may not touch the legs of your opponent with your hands. There is also no striking in Judo.

With that covered, let’s look at the similarities and differences.

Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo Key Similarities

Judo and traditional Jiu-Jitsu both wear very similar uniforms, known as a “gi”
The grips used on each others clothing are very similar
Almost all Judo moves can be used in Jiu-Jitsu
Both require you to “take down” your opponent

Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo Key Differences

Judo matches take place almost exclusively on the feet, while the majority of Jiu-Jitsu matches take place on the ground
Taking down an opponent in Judo ends the match, while taking down an opponent in Jiu-Jitsu earns points and the match continues
Judo starts a match by bowing while Jiu-Jitsu starts a match with a hand slap and fist bump
While taking down an opponent is used in both, Judo entails full body throws and slams, which aren’t allowed in most Jiu-Jitsu tournaments

Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo – Which is Better?

While “better” is always subjective, we can break this down to answer in a few different ways. Note that while I have some studies included, these are also my opinions based on my own personal experiences doing both.

Which is better for self-defense?

Ultimately, Jiu-Jitsu is better than Judo for self-defense. Jiu-Jitsu encompasses quite almost all of Judo within it and it adds a layer of ground control and submissions which are tremendously useful in self-defense situations.

Judo is great at teaching balance and tripping but because it exclusively takes place in a gi, the moves and throws won’t always translate. Whereas Jiu-Jitsu can be gi or no-gi and uses other grips and holds that can be applied anywhere.

Which is a better workout?

Honestly, the jury’s out on this one. Jiu-Jitsu will give you more general strength. It takes a lot of effort to hold off and move opponents, especially on the ground. That being said, Judo takes a tremendous amount of balance and timing, so the workout you get in Judo is more around movement, footwork, and coordination.

Both require an immense amount of grip strength so your hands and forearms will get their work in regardless. Pick which one seems right for you accordingly!

Which are you more likely to get hurt?

According to a study comparing head and neck injuries across 2,845 people and 5 martial arts disciplines, it found Judo to be the most likely to cause hospital admissions [1]. That being said, the actual hospitalization rate according to other studies I’ve seen is less than 1%, so it’s perhaps not as large of an issue as you might think.

In personal speculation, Judo is harder on your body because of how hard you can fall to the ground. Jiu-Jitsu can be kept low impact for the majority of the practice.

Which should I try?

The good news is that there are a number of gyms that have both Judo and Jiu-Jitsu classes, so there is a chance you can try both at the same place! Depending on what you are looking for, both are great disciplines to learn.

Ultimately, Judo is better for balance and coordination while Jiu-Jitsu is better for building strength and flexibility. Ultimately though, I would recommend trying both to see what you enjoy more!

Conclusion

There you have it. Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo in a nutshell. If there is anything I missed or that you want me to cover further, let me know in the form below!

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Sources:

[1] J Oral Maxillofac Surg
. 2022 Apr;80(4):682-690. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2021.12.001. Epub 2021 Dec 9 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34973164/