Jiu Jitsu vs Judo vs Taekwondo: The Differences Explained

Understanding the difference between Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo vs Taekwondo can be highly confusing for beginners deciding which martial arts to learn.

At UMF Academy, we believe in training both the body and mind and understand that all martial arts have ancient roots and modern iterations. Deciphering the difference between Jiu-Jitsu, Karate and Taekwondo, and Judo can help you choose the right one for you.

So, let’s start by breaking down these forms.

What is Jiu-Jitsu, and What Are the Benefits of Learning Jiu-Jitsu?

In a contemporary setting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art based on grounding techniques that use timing, leverage, and knowledge of human anatomy to overcome an opponent in a non-violent fashion. The martial art is “grounding”, in the sense that most moves are performed on the ground with wrestling-like takedowns and position holds featuring heavily. If used effectively, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be used to overcome a larger, more assertive, and more aggressive attacker.

The origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are thousands of years old. More than 4 000 years ago, Buddhist monks in India were worried about attackers invading their monasteries and developed the primary form of Jiu-Jitsu as a means of defence. From there, Jiu-Jitsu spread into feudal Japan, where it got its name meaning “gentle art”, then into Brazil in the early 1900s. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came into broader consciousness in the early 2000s with Ultimate Fighting Competition (UFC) ‘s growing popularity.

The benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are:

• Physical Conditioning and Fitness
• Self Defence Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Learning Discipline and Respect

At UMF Academy, we’re often asked specifically about the difference between Jiu-Jitsu vs Karate, which is perennially popular. The basic answer is that Karate focuses on punching and hand-based strikes, whereas Jiu-Jitsu is all about subduing your attacker with grounding moves. In a real-world setting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often regarded as one of the most effective martial arts for self-defence. It allows you to immobilise an attacker by perfecting techniques rather than perfecting choreographed moves.

What’s the Difference Between Karate and Taekwondo and Judo?

In Tokyo 2020, Karate joined Judo and Taekwondo as an Olympic sport for the very first time. Karate was officially first recognised in Japan in 1935. It’s a popular martial art characterised by hand-to-hand combat. There are two types of Karate – Kumite and Kata. Kumite is a series of one-on-one rounds, whereas Kata is a choreographed demonstration of techniques.

Modern Taekwondo has origins in Korea dating back 1000 years and became an official Olympic sport at the Sydney 2000 games and is characterised by punching moves, head-height kicks, spinning kicks and fast kicking techniques.

Growing in popularity during the latter stages of the 19th century, Judo was developed by Dr Jigoro Kano and has been contested at an Olympic level since Tokyo 1964. The objective of Judo is to take down or pin your opponent to the ground.

Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo vs Taekwondo: Which Should I Choose?

The fundamental difference between Jiu-Jitsu vs Judo vs Taekwondo is that Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling sport focused on grounding techniques. In contrast, Judo is based on striking and Taekwondo on crowd-pleasing kicking combinations. So, the difference between Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu is the most obvious visually to the casual observer.

Jiu-Jitsu is often regarded as a good martial art form for real-world self-defence as it has been developed with the assumption that your opponent will be bigger and stronger than you. By focusing on averting, escaping, and minimising violence, Jiu-Jitsu is an effective form of self-defence for the whole family.

At UMF Academy, our instructors are highly qualified, experienced, and ready to mentor you through your journey to a greater sense of self through the practice of martial arts. We hold true to the traditional philosophy that self-defence is about perfecting your character rather than victory or defeat.

The best way to learn more and get a real taste of how our classes will benefit you or your family is to take advantage of one of our free trial classes. There you can see the academy, meet our instructors, and experience martial arts firsthand. Simply register online to book your free trial class or contact us using the contact form below if you have further questions.