Frequently Asked Questions
What is Judo?
What is the difference between Judo and Jujitsu, Jiu Jitsu, and Jujutsu?
Is Judo a martial art or martial sport?
Is it better to practice a martial art or martial sport for self-defense?
What is the difference between Judo and Karate?
What is a hard art verses a soft art?
What is the difference between Judo and wrestling?
Is Judo effective in MMA
Which is the best martial art?
Judo is a martial art and sport derived from various schools or ryu of Jujutsu and new techniques created by it founder Jigoro Kano. All of the techniques selected to be in the Judo had to use maximum efficiency with minimum effort. In other words, strength could not be a primary factor in the successful application of a technique. The techniques are therefore based on timing balance and leverage.
What is the difference between Judo and Jujitsu, Jiu Jitsu, and Jujutsu?From 1882 till 1925 Judo was often referred to both as Jujitsu and Judo in Japan. In western cultures it was known as Jujitsu, Jiu Jitsu, Jiudo, Judo, and sometimes incorrectly as Jujutsu. In 1925 the Japanese Government declared that the proper name was Judo, which was the prefered name of it's founder Jigoro Kano.
Generally when this question is asked, people are referring to Brazilian or Gracie Jiu Jitsu. In 1914 Sensei Mitsuyo Maeda (also known as Conde Koma or Count Combat) arrived in Brazil to spread Kodokan Jiu Jitsu (Judo). He was challenging fighters of all styles to demonstrate the efficiency of Judo and spread the popularity of Judo. Sensei Maeda taught Gastão Gracie's son Carlos Kodokan Judo who in turn taught it to his brothers. The Gracie's continued training in Judo, using it in prize fights and refining strategies for using it in Mixed Martial Arts competition. Today Jiu Jitsu is generally considered to focus more on the ground techniques while Judo is generally considered to focus more on the standing or throwing techniques.
Many of the techniques that have been deemed too dangerous for live competition in Judo are still used in Jiu Jitsu competitions such as leg and spinal locks. The rules governing the sport aspects of the arts are also quite different. Judo awards a full point for an action that would end the fight on the field of battle such as a throw with speed, force, and control that lands the opponent mostly on their back, chokes, and joint locks; as well as demonstrating superior control by pinning ones opponent to the mat for 25 seconds. When a full point is reached the match is over. In Jiu Jitsu a point system for throws, take downs, and positions of advantage is used to break a draw at the end of a match. The match can only be won instantly via submissions like chokes and joint locks.
Jujutsu on the other hand properly refers to the ancient forms of hand to hand combat of feudal Japan. There were many ryu or schools of Jujutsu each having its one syllabus of techniques. Some of the ryu were well known for striking techniques, while others for throws, and some for submission techniques. Today schools teaching Jujutsu tend to put a much greater emphasis on self-defense and practicing using kata or pre-arranged forms. While Judo tends to place more emphasis on techniques that can be practice live against an unwilling opponent. However, these are generalizations, and each dojo or martial arts school will be a little bit different.
Is Judo a martial art or Martial sport?Judo is both a martial art and a martial sport. There are a number of martial sports: Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Wrestling just to name a few. Martial sports use martial arts in a sporting environment to test the skill of the fighters. Rules are set forth that generally limit the techniques that a fighter may employ and allow for a winner of the competition. Therefore, the sports side of a martial art may be a subset of that martial art. In Judo for instance, certain techniques deemed more dangerous are only practice in kata or pre-arranged forms where both participants know what is going to happen, and are not allowed to be executed in competition.
Is it better to practice a martial art or martial sport for self-defense?The answer to this ultimately comes down to you as an individual, and what your goals are. First, if you do not
enjoy practicing the style, you will most likely never become proficient in it. So, find a martial style and school
that you enjoy. Second, what are you going to use the techniques for? A soldier has vastly different "self-defense"
needs on the field of battle then a child being bullied on the playground.
With that said, here are some things for you to consider.
The greatest advantage to the practice of a martial sport is being able to test your skill at full speed with an unwilling opponent, before you find yourself in a real self-defense situation. Competition allows you to find were your weak point are, and fix them. Many people also find the competition to be exhilarating, while others practice the martial sports, and chose not to compete.
The greatest advantage to the practice of a martial art is the ability to practice more dangerous and lethal techniques.
I believe it best to do both, but ultimately, you must decide:
- What you will enjoy practicing
- What your goals are, and what situations you need to be training for.
In general, Judo is focuses on controlling techniques such as throws, pins, and submissions while Karate focuses on striking techniques such as punches and kicks.
What is a hard art verses a soft art?Martial Arts can be generally grouped into two categories, soft arts and hard arts. Soft arts include Judo, Jujutsu, Jiu Jutsu, Aikido, etc. Hard arts include Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Boxing, etc. The soft arts focus more on control, avoidance, and giving way or yielding to defeat an opponent's attack. While the hard arts tend to prefer direct attacks using striking techniques such as punches and kicks.
What is the difference between Judo and wrestling?While at first Judo may look like wrestling with clothes on, the application of the techniques is very different. When Judo techniques are properly applied, they take advantage of the opponents force and focus on leverage and timing. While wrestling techniques generally focus on explosive power. Most forms of wrestling do not employ submission techniques such as chokes and joint locks as Judo does.
While wrestling can be used in self-defense, it is usually not taught with self-defense in mind. Therefore, wrestling is usually played from a lower more bent over posture, and Judo is generally practice from a full upright posture where striking techniques can be defended.
Is Judo effective in MMASensei Mitsuyo Maeda, who taught Judo to the Gracie's, used Judo to great effect in Mixed Martial Arts competitions in Brazil. Before MMA was popular in the US, Sensei Gene LaBell used Judo to subdue fighters from many disciplines including submission wrestling and boxing. Today, while MMA has not attracted a great number of Judo practitioners the few who have chosen to enter MMA and use Judo to their advantage such as Kazuhiro Nakamura, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Hidehiko Yoshida, and Karo Parisyan have done well.
Which is the best martial art?The opinions on this subject are endless. If the answer were simple, there would be only one martial art. There are many techniques and philosophies that are similar across many martial arts. And, there are just as many that are vastly different. In 1886 in Japan they held a tournament to see which was superior, Judo or Jujutsu. Each style was able to pick it's 15 best fighters. the Judo practitioners one 13 of the matches, and the other two matches were draws. Judo was the decisive winner. Today, some people look to sporting events like the UFC for clarity on the matter, but some fighters are losing to strikes, and some to submissions. In the end, while there seem to be styles that stand out such as Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and Muay Thai; it is fighters beating fighters, not styles beating styles. Find the martial art that is right for you, something that you will enjoy practicing. Take some time and speak with the sensei or instructors at the schools that you are considering joining. Again, find what the best martial art for you is.