Did Jiu-Jitsu originate from Judo or does Judo stem from Jiu-Jitsu? Advocates of Judo argue that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu owes its existence to Kōdōkan Judo. Others claim that the two are essentially the same martial art. On this topic martial artists rarely agree. In truth there are both similarities and differences between the two disciplines. Moreover ground fighting plays a much greater role in BJJ than in Judo. This is a small difference that has a significant impact when it comes to self-defense.
Jigoro Kano is considered the founding father of Kōdōkan Judo while Hélio Gracie developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However opinions among practitioners of either BJJ or Judo vary widely on this point. Followers of Jigoro Kano in particular often hold the view that Hélio Gracie cannot be compared to him.
However one important argument challenges this perspective: throughout history it has always been the victors whose versions of events prevailed. For this reason statements made by Kano’s followers should be taken with caution. That said even martial artists who practice BJJ do not doubt that Kōdōkan Judo is one of the leading martial arts. BJJ practitioners respect Jigoro Kano. Furthermore Kōdōkan Judo is a style that owes its existence to Jiu-Jitsu.
Still it is worth examining the reasons that led Jigoro Kano to rename his martial art. Interestingly he did not alter the name of the well-known Jiu-Jitsu style. Instead he adopted the term “Judo” which had already existed for quite some time.
The little-known importance of Ju
Judo contains the prefix Ju, which translates from Japanese as flexible and gentle. Do stands for the way. Therefore, the literal meaning of Judo is “the gentle way.” A close analysis of the character Ju, which is written in Japanese using a Kanji symbol, serves as an important foundation for understanding the origin of Judo. The character Ju indicates that Judo is a style derived from Jiu-Jitsu.
What supports the idea that Judo originated from Jiu-Jitsu? The joint locks, throws and choke techniques clearly show a close relationship between the two martial arts. However the guard position serves as the strongest evidence that Jigoro Kano developed his techniques using elements of Jiu-Jitsu, since this position originated in Jiu-Jitsu and not in Judo.
Furthermore the main goal was to make the opponent submit using a hold or choke. Throws played a secondary role and were more of an ornamental element. During the Edo period in Japan there were numerous Jiu-Jitsu styles. These were a source of inspiration for Jigoro Kano in developing Judo using a selection of throws and joint lock techniques.
Does Kōdōkan Judo share similarities with Hélio Gracie’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The answer to this question can clearly be stated as no. Both the training and the pedagogical system developed by Hélio Gracie differ significantly from Jigoro Kano’s approach to teaching. Kōdōkan Judo resembled a university-level education, with a board displaying the techniques to be learned. Even today there are books that illustrate and describe breakfalls, throws and joint locks. The ranking system in Judo also differs from that of BJJ, and the belt colors in the two arts do not carry the same meaning.
Despite these differences there are still some similarities, although they are clearly two distinct martial arts. Not only is the self-defense training structured differently, but also the pedagogical approach taken by the instructors toward their students shows marked differences.
Compared to Judo, BJJ is less structured. It offers more freedom. What does that mean in the context of teaching? It gives instructors greater opportunity to get to know the individual side of their students. They allow them the space to act in combat according to what they feel is right. Of course a Jiu-Jitsu instructor still suggests ways to improve.
What is the difference between BJJ and Judo?
Both martial arts include throwing and grappling techniques. Judo focuses on various throwing techniques and treats ground fighting as a supplementary element. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu on the other hand emphasizes ground techniques. As a result the focus is not on throws.
Judo is clearly structured. BJJ on the other hand integrates human instinct into its training approach. In Gracie Jiu-Jitsu the instructor acts as a means to an end. Students gradually develop independence over time. When they have questions about throws, joint locks or chokes the instructor first allows them to explore the technique while considering their question before offering further guidance. This approach enables students to evolve in the art of self-defense. Nonetheless no one denies the fact that Hélio Gracie gained valuable knowledge from Judo. However in the martial arts world there is a lingering misconception that Jiu-Jitsu is simply Judo — but that is not true.
Some advocates of Judo tend to let strong emotions take over. They express hatred toward Hélio Gracie. This attitude is not supported by either Kōdōkan Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In both martial arts hatred has no place.
The unknown role of Jigoro Kano in Kōdōkan Judo
There are still Judo schools today that are connected to Shinto traditions. In these dojos a large portrait of Jigoro Kano hangs on the wall. At the beginning and end of class students bow from a kneeling position in front of his image. This practice gives him an almost saint-like status, which is why any form of criticism is strictly forbidden. Jigoro Kano always focused on throws executed from a standing position because in his view self-defense takes place while standing, not on the ground.
Why was Jigoro Kano such an influential and respected man in Japan? He came from a highly esteemed family involved in both manufacturing and trade. However his reputation was not based on his lineage but rather on his teaching, which contributed significantly to the development of martial arts.
Who would win in a fight: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Judo?
At one point a competition was held between martial artists from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and from Judo. However it was Jigoro Kano who set the rules for this match. What were the conditions under which the fighters competed? The fight took place in a standing position. Ground fighting was not allowed. Since Judo focuses exclusively on throws the Judoka emerged as the winners.
Thanks to these results Judo rose to become a leading martial art in Japan. Although the Judoka won the competition there were still some present who wanted the fight to continue on the ground — but to no avail.
The underestimated difficulties of throwing techniques
Throwing techniques such as shoulder, hip or leg throws work well in practice when the opponent is roughly the same size and weight. These two criteria form the basis of combat in Judo. However in real life this is rarely the case. A person who is smaller and physically weaker than their attacker usually has difficulty throwing the opponent to the ground. While this is not always true, real-life situations have confirmed this limitation.
In ground fighting reality tells a different story – or at the very least does not support the rules that dominate in a stand-up fight. Of course the one who feels more comfortable and skilled on the ground usually wins the ground fight. However self-defense does not follow the competition rules of a Judo match. No one dictates that a fight must begin and end in a standing position. In a real situation the fight often continues on the ground. Since Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu places strong emphasis on ground fighting it is an ideal martial art for practicing effective self-defense.
