Since the very inception of judo it has had to defend itself from the skeptics of whether or not it could hold its own against jujitsu. Judo, created by Dr. Jigoro Kano in 1882, was conceived from jujitsu originally, but with many of the more dangerous techniques removed and with an emphasis on sportsmanship and personal development rather than purely a combative art. Among judo's first tests again jujitsu was with the Tokyo Police in 1886. The police department was searching for a fighting method for its officers. 15 judo players versus 15 jujitsu players from a rival school. Judo won 13 of the 15 matches.
The rivalry moved forward when years later in 1951 Brazilian jiujitsu (note spelling), founded by the Gracie family of Brazil, took on Japans judo masters in competition. Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ), however, is not the jujitsu of old from Japan. BJJ is a derivative of the original form of judo brought to Brazil by a judo master. At that time judo was often called jujitsu or jiujitsu popularly, but was a separate distinct style of its own. What separated BJJ from judo was that BJJ had an emphasis on ground techniques and testing on street combat, whereas judo the emphasis was on throwing techniques and sport competition. The tenancy is that judoka control the standing game, but once the fight goes to the ground the BJJ player tends to control the fight. Fights typically ended in draws, with one major win to BJJ and another to judo.
The rivalry continued into the 1990's with the Gracie's and others taking on judoka from Japan and other countries. Judoka enter BJJ competitions and win, and BJJ players enter judo competitions and win.
The question always lingers, "Which style is better?" More and more the schools seem to be merging as more athletes and recreational players supplement their training with the other. Rhadi Ferguson, 2004 Judo Olympian, has black belts in both styles, for example. So do Dave and Dan Camarillo, who were originally judo players. The two styles complement one another, and I'd argue, are two side of the same coin. BJJ originated from judo and possesses some of the philosophy and technique that was lost to the competition rules of judo. The Gracie's took that philosophy and technique and expounded upon it with their own training philosophy of realistic fighting and training and developed their own style of "judo" from it.
The rivalry moved forward when years later in 1951 Brazilian jiujitsu (note spelling), founded by the Gracie family of Brazil, took on Japans judo masters in competition. Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ), however, is not the jujitsu of old from Japan. BJJ is a derivative of the original form of judo brought to Brazil by a judo master. At that time judo was often called jujitsu or jiujitsu popularly, but was a separate distinct style of its own. What separated BJJ from judo was that BJJ had an emphasis on ground techniques and testing on street combat, whereas judo the emphasis was on throwing techniques and sport competition. The tenancy is that judoka control the standing game, but once the fight goes to the ground the BJJ player tends to control the fight. Fights typically ended in draws, with one major win to BJJ and another to judo.
The rivalry continued into the 1990's with the Gracie's and others taking on judoka from Japan and other countries. Judoka enter BJJ competitions and win, and BJJ players enter judo competitions and win.
The question always lingers, "Which style is better?" More and more the schools seem to be merging as more athletes and recreational players supplement their training with the other. Rhadi Ferguson, 2004 Judo Olympian, has black belts in both styles, for example. So do Dave and Dan Camarillo, who were originally judo players. The two styles complement one another, and I'd argue, are two side of the same coin. BJJ originated from judo and possesses some of the philosophy and technique that was lost to the competition rules of judo. The Gracie's took that philosophy and technique and expounded upon it with their own training philosophy of realistic fighting and training and developed their own style of "judo" from it.
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