In the previous Judo vs. Jiujitsu article I discussed some of the similarities and differences between Judo and Brazillian Jiujitsu (BJJ). I continue to ponder what makes them two separate, distinct arts, despite the similarities and history. What makes them different? In trying to discover this I thought about why it is that I study both and what it is that I enjoy and get out of them.
I often see and growing distinction between BJJ and Gracie Jiujitsu, the Gracie brand of BJJ. Grand-Master Helio Gracie in particular distinguishes his jiujitsu as a means of self-defense and not a sport. BJJ has become more and more a sport, and more techniques are integrated regularly that have very little practicl self-defense applications, but are great for sport competition. I began the study of Gracie Jiujitsu for this reason, the emphasis on self-defense. I recall using, unsuccessfully, a sport jiuijtsu technique in training once, and promising myself to not go down that path again. Sport techniques. while fun and exciting, do not support the self-defense purpose of Gracie Jiujitsu. Therein lies the difference.
Judo is an Olympic sport. Though it does have self-defense techniques and military and police forces around the world practice self-defense forms of judo, it is primarily practiced as a sport around the world. I "play" judo. I practice jiujitsu.
Judo has lots of techniques that, though I have seen them in old video footage being practiced by the Gracie brothers in the 60's and 70's, I haven't seen them or any of the original UFC era (1993 time frame) Gracie's using. Throws that involve turning the back to the opponent, sacrifice throws, and other techniques that are hallmarks of sport Judo. It's not that the Gracie's never learned them or practiced them, but apparently they just aren't part of the core curriculum of the self-defense art that Grand-Master Helio Gracie has passed down as his jiujitsu.For example, in one of the videos Carlos Gracie, Sr. executes a flying armbar. Apparently it just isn't a part of the core curriculum. I am sure lots of the Gracie's know how to execute it, but it isn't in any but one of the many Gracie Jiujitsu books and video's I've collected over the last few years. It's a sport technique that, in my opinion, just isn't practical for a street self-defense situation. Some of the many judo techniques aren't practical for self-defense either. One example that comes to mind is the "drop" ippon-seio-nage. Who is going to drop to the ground in the street to their knees to throw an attacker? Odds are you'd injure yourself, even if the technique is executed perfectly. Perhaps it has some value on soft-footed areas like sand or in the woods, but even then, what if the technique goes bad? You end up with the attacker on top of your back while you are on your knees.
That brings me to the sport of Judo. Turning your back to your opponent not only is beneficial in the sport, but is encouraged by the rules. If you ball up into a "turtle" position, you can run out the clock. In a self-defense situation, you'd just get kicked or battered some other way.
I find myself going out of my way to find self-defense techniques in Judo. I haven't found a sensei that teaches it regularly in any Judo club, even though they may teach law enforcement these techniques outside of the club. There are descriptions of katas available if you know where to look. But generally, unless you practice Gracie Jiujitsu (not necessarily BJJ), then odds are you just aren't at a club that will teach them as part of the curriculum.
One thing that Grand-Master Helio Gracie has emphasized in many interviews and in one of his books, is that he did not create a sport, he created a method of self-defense. I don't know how much he actually created, aside from a training method for Judo self-defense, but I do admire his sticking to the position that it is for self-defense and is not a sport, and hence why Gracie Jiujitsu distinguishes itself from BJJ. BJJ, though rooted in self-defense, is commonly a sport, more and more. It looks as though it is going the way of Judo which is now popularly a sport of which self-defense techniques are often confined to law enforcement and the military.
I enjoy "playing" Judo, but I practice Jiujitsu.
I often see and growing distinction between BJJ and Gracie Jiujitsu, the Gracie brand of BJJ. Grand-Master Helio Gracie in particular distinguishes his jiujitsu as a means of self-defense and not a sport. BJJ has become more and more a sport, and more techniques are integrated regularly that have very little practicl self-defense applications, but are great for sport competition. I began the study of Gracie Jiujitsu for this reason, the emphasis on self-defense. I recall using, unsuccessfully, a sport jiuijtsu technique in training once, and promising myself to not go down that path again. Sport techniques. while fun and exciting, do not support the self-defense purpose of Gracie Jiujitsu. Therein lies the difference.
Judo is an Olympic sport. Though it does have self-defense techniques and military and police forces around the world practice self-defense forms of judo, it is primarily practiced as a sport around the world. I "play" judo. I practice jiujitsu.
Judo has lots of techniques that, though I have seen them in old video footage being practiced by the Gracie brothers in the 60's and 70's, I haven't seen them or any of the original UFC era (1993 time frame) Gracie's using. Throws that involve turning the back to the opponent, sacrifice throws, and other techniques that are hallmarks of sport Judo. It's not that the Gracie's never learned them or practiced them, but apparently they just aren't part of the core curriculum of the self-defense art that Grand-Master Helio Gracie has passed down as his jiujitsu.For example, in one of the videos Carlos Gracie, Sr. executes a flying armbar. Apparently it just isn't a part of the core curriculum. I am sure lots of the Gracie's know how to execute it, but it isn't in any but one of the many Gracie Jiujitsu books and video's I've collected over the last few years. It's a sport technique that, in my opinion, just isn't practical for a street self-defense situation. Some of the many judo techniques aren't practical for self-defense either. One example that comes to mind is the "drop" ippon-seio-nage. Who is going to drop to the ground in the street to their knees to throw an attacker? Odds are you'd injure yourself, even if the technique is executed perfectly. Perhaps it has some value on soft-footed areas like sand or in the woods, but even then, what if the technique goes bad? You end up with the attacker on top of your back while you are on your knees.
That brings me to the sport of Judo. Turning your back to your opponent not only is beneficial in the sport, but is encouraged by the rules. If you ball up into a "turtle" position, you can run out the clock. In a self-defense situation, you'd just get kicked or battered some other way.
I find myself going out of my way to find self-defense techniques in Judo. I haven't found a sensei that teaches it regularly in any Judo club, even though they may teach law enforcement these techniques outside of the club. There are descriptions of katas available if you know where to look. But generally, unless you practice Gracie Jiujitsu (not necessarily BJJ), then odds are you just aren't at a club that will teach them as part of the curriculum.
One thing that Grand-Master Helio Gracie has emphasized in many interviews and in one of his books, is that he did not create a sport, he created a method of self-defense. I don't know how much he actually created, aside from a training method for Judo self-defense, but I do admire his sticking to the position that it is for self-defense and is not a sport, and hence why Gracie Jiujitsu distinguishes itself from BJJ. BJJ, though rooted in self-defense, is commonly a sport, more and more. It looks as though it is going the way of Judo which is now popularly a sport of which self-defense techniques are often confined to law enforcement and the military.
I enjoy "playing" Judo, but I practice Jiujitsu.
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