Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu: what's the difference?
We will discuss the main similarities and differences between these two styles in this blog.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Japanese Jiu Jitsu are often confused with each other.
Although they have similarities in techniques and history, they are also different in many ways.
In this blog, I will explain the similarities and differences.
Table of contents
The differences between BJJ and Japanese Jiu Jitsu
History and origins of BJJ and Japanese Jiu Jitsu
Rules
Differences bands system and progressions
How long does it take to get a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu?
What are the differences in knowledge between a BJJ black belt and a Japanese Jiu Jitsu black belt?
Clothing and equipment
Is BJJ better than Japanese Jiu Jitsu?
What is the most effective style?
BJJ vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu: pros and cons
The main differences between BJJ and Japanese jiu jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu focuses on grappling.
The fight takes place mainly on the ground. Standing = self-defense.
BJJ'ers use strangles and clamps to submit opponents.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu focuses primarily on throwing opponents.
Joint manipulation, striking and blocking.
Some styles also incorporate traditional Japanese weapons during training. In BJJ we use takedowns to get opponents to the ground.
Then you work step by step to a dominant position.
We usually do this in four steps.
Take your opponent to the ground (if the person gets too close)
Along the legs (legs are dangerous even in an untrained person)
Control the person by pinning him down.
Negotiate, you always have the option of strangulation or clamp.
Abdel in a BJJ competition.
BJJ has plenty of competitions around the world every year.
The disadvantage of this is that many BJJ schools focus on competitions and points, thus losing the essence of the sport, being able to defend yourself on the streets.
At Amersfoort BJJ it is obligatory to be competent in both.
The great thing about BJJ is that you can test your techniques under resistance in every lesson. Which makes it realistic.
We don't hit each other during sparring.
To my knowledge, BJJ is the only martial art where you can spar with 100% intensity without hurting each other.
Of course you can get injuries in any sport.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu generally has more styles.
BJJ can usually be divided into self-defense or GI/No Gi.
The style usually depends on your teacher or the philosophy of the BJJ school.
In this video you can see what BJJ sparring looks like at the very highest level.
Jiu Jitsu
Japanese Jiu jitsu or Jujutsu targets unarmed opponents.
An opponent's own strength and momentum are used against them.
Jiujitsukas learn how to defend themselves against an attacker.
And disable someone through punches or standing submissions.
Jujutsu also focuses on disarmament techniques.
Modern BJJ focuses primarily on sports.
This largely depends on which BJJ current you follow.
Self-defense is number one at BJJ Amersfoort.
JuJutsu was a self-defense system for the unarmed samurai.
Japanese JiuJitsu is mainly trained in a Kata-like manner.
Kata literally means "form". So I call this detailed choreography.
There are modern jiu-jitsu schools that compete.
They do this at the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF).
Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is taught differently at each school.
Traditional schools adhere to the movement of Takenouchi-ryu.
Newer schools fall under the World Ju-Jitsu Federation (WJJF).
Below is an example of traditional jiu jitsu:
History and Origins Jiu jitsu
Traditional jiu jitsu is one of the oldest martial arts.
Sometime between 780AD - 1200AD it began.
In the 13th century, it was used by the Samurai to defend themselves against armored opponents.
When losing weapon, they used Jiu-Jitsu.
Around the 17th-century Edo period in Japan, unarmed combat systems such as jujutsu became increasingly popular.
Around this time, grappling began to be known as jujutsu.
In the late 19th century, Jigoro Kano adapted JuJutsu.
He began focusing on the throws and submissions of jiu jitsu.
He called his new style "Kodokan Judo."
He founded the Kodokan Institute in Tokyo.
With which he put modern judo on the world map.
BJJ
The history of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not complete without Judo, as
Japanese Judokas began traveling the world, some stranded in Brazil.
One such judoka was Mitsuyo Maeda, a judo master and prize fighter who traveled throughout Brazil in the 1910s and 1920s, challenging other martial arts in "challenge matches.''
Maeda, also known as Conde Koma, eventually crossed paths with Carlos Gracie, to whom he gave Jiujitsu lessons.
Carlos opened the world-famous Academia Gracie in the 1920s .
That was the beginning of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Helio the weaker of the family, gave it his own spin.
The weaker could survive and win through leverage techniques.
BJJ became world news after the first UFC in 1993.
Hélio's son Royce Gracie demonstrated the effectiveness of BJJ.
By defeating three opponents from different martial arts.
Boxing, wrestling and savate.
Today, BJJ is the foundation of many martial arts.
And the fastest-growing self-defense system worldwide.
Read the full history of BJJ in this blog.
Rules
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Japanese Jiu Jitsu differ greatly when it comes to rules.
Unlike BJJ, which holds many matches around the world each year, Japanese Jiu Jitsu generally does not have a strong sport component, aside from some modern forms such as German Ju-Jutsu.
BJJ
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu matches begin standing.
Then they try to work each other to the ground.
However, what you often see is that people quickly sit down for Guard.
Once on the ground, BJJ'ers try to submit (tap) the opponent
Or get a dominant position in order to get points.
If a BJJ player submits the opponent, the match is immediately finished.
If there is no submission, the match is decided based on points.
Points in BJJ are awarded for different positions and techniques, for example:
Takedowns - 2 points
Knee on belly -2 points
Sweep- 2 points
Guard pass 3 points
Mount -4 points
Backmount - 4 points
There are plenty of organizations that host BJJ competitions every year.
The rules are generally similar.
The largest in the GI is the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).
No-Gi it is the ADCC also called the Olympic Games for Grappling.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu
Traditional Japanese Jiu jitsu has almost no competitions like BJJ.
There is one organization, the International Federation (JJIF) that organizes it.
JJIF competitions has three events:
Duo.
A pair of JiuJitsukas perform self-defense techniques called at random by a referee.
They are judged on criteria such as explosion, reality, control and more.
Fighting.
This competition is divided into three parts where punches are fought first. After that the Jiujitsukas may only throw.
When it ends on the ground the match may only be ended with a strangulation or a clamp. Points are given throughout the match.
Ne-waza.
This is closer to a BJJ competition.
The JiuJitsukas start standing.
Then they try to work each other to the ground.
The goal is a clamp or strangulation.
They also get points for throws, take downs and dominant positions.
Below are highlights from the 2018 World Championships:
Band system and progressions for BJJ
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu uses a band system with eight colors:
White
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black
Red and Black/Coral (7th degree black belt)
Red and white belt (8th degree black belt)
Red belt (9th and 10th degree black belt)
Each belt below the black belt has four stripes that indicate the progressions between belts.
You can think of it as a checklist that you complete so that you go into exams for your new belt with confidence.
Band and stripe promotions can be obtained through your instructor or the organization you are affiliated with.
Each BJJ school has its own policies regarding student progression.
You may have to take exams, spar under high resistance to "earn" your belt. (This is the case at Amersfoort BJJ)
There are instructors who decide for themselves whether students get a belt.
Generally, it doesn't hurt to get a refresh of techniques and take exams.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu
Japanese Jiu Jitsu schools have different belt systems than BJJ schools.
White
Yellow
Orange
Green
Blue
Purple
Brown
Black
There are Jiu-Jitsu schools where beginners wear the red belt before the white belt.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu schools generally have students do Kata in order to advance to the next belt.
This is a formality and almost without resistance.
The techniques they need to know depends on the school.
How long does it take to earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu?
Earning a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu generally takes between 8 and 12 years, while earning a black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu generally takes 3/5 years.
What are the differences in knowledge between a BJJ black belt and a Japanese Jiu Jitsu black belt?
A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu should be competent in self-defense.
Knowledge of positional control, body control and submissions.
A black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu should have knowledge of throws, submissions (standing) and self-defense techniques (standing).
What does a BJJ/Jiu-Jitsu class look like?
An average BJJ class is about 1 - 1.5 hours and consists of:
Warm up with technique (5- 10 minutes)
Techniques and position sparring (50 minutes)
Sparring or rolling in BJJ Jargon (30/60 minutes)
What you learn in Japanese Jiu Jitsu depends on the school.
Example:
Warming up+ strength exercises
Punch and defense training
Fall break training
Self defense with partner( Kata)
Stretches
Clothing and equipment
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Japanese Jiu Jitsu, everyone generally wears a Gi or kimono.
A Gi is a cotton jacket and pants, with a cotton belt indicating your rank.
BJJ Gi's are generally heavier than karate kimono's.
They come in different colors, weights.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu Gi's can generally range from lighter karate-style Gi's to heavy judo-style Gi's, depending on the school.
In BJJ, almost everyone wears a bit and toque while rolling.
In Japanese Jiu Jitsu it is recommended to wear a toque.
What is the most effective style?
UFC 1 and today's UFC provides the answer to that question.
If you are looking for a martial art where training is realistic and under resistance, BJJ is the choice for you.
If you are looking for a martial art that is more traditional, knows what to expect each class and is physically less demanding.
You may want to consider Japanese Jiu Jitsu.
The choice is yours or come and experience it.
BJJ vs Japanese Jiu Jitsu: Pros and cons.
BJJ
Advantages
Complete self-defense system
Applicable in sports, MMA or street confrontations
Realistic sparring under resistance
Plenty of competition opportunities
Community
Cons
It takes a long time to master it
Equipment is an investment
Japanese Jiu Jitsu
Advantages
Self-defense with weapons
Punches, throws and standing submissions
Cons
Minimal/no sprucing
Few/no competition opportunities
Choreographed (not realistic)
Conclusion
As you have read, BJJ and Japanese Jiu Jitsu have similarities and yet many differences.
When choosing a martial art, do so based on your goals and preferences.
You are always welcome to try it for free on the mat at BJJ Amersfoort!