Judo or BJJ?

El Diablo 101

Hi guys,

I am looking for a grappling martial art, and I am torn between BJJ and Judo. I am leaning towards Judo to be honest, but I was looking to ask a few judoka if possible.

What does Judo consist of? Throws, chokes, joint locks?

Can Judo be implemented in MMA effectively?

Is it a legitimate self defense, as well as a sport? I mean, can it be effectively implemented in a self-defense scenario?

Thank you as always

Gorey_R

Go to a few judo clubs and take classes there, then go to a few bjj clubs and take classes.

Both are applicable to mma but, saying that, there are a lot more people in the world training judo than bjj and a lot more people in mma training bjj than judo!

arybvtcw0eolkf

El Diablo 101 wrote: »

What does Judo consist of? Throws, chokes, joint locks?

Ok, basically there are four ways of winning a Judo fight - throws, pins, chokes/strangles and joint locks. So whilst its known mainly as a throwing style, 3/4's of its winning ways are on the ground, however some clubs ignore this aspect of Judo - at their peril. A lot of Judoka are cross training in BJJ now.

El Diablo 101 wrote: »

Can Judo be implemented in MMA effectively?

If you mean can you work your throws in MMA, yes you can but it will take a lot of practice.

You can use your ground work very well in most settings.

El Diablo 101 wrote: »

Is it a legitimate self defense, as well as a sport? I mean, can it be effectively implemented in a self-defense scenario?

Ok Judoka here (you might have guessed). And I've worked the doors for longer than I can to remember right now... Yes, its a very effective form of self defence but there are better, and worse.

I'll just pick from the popular styles practiced by members of this forum..

Boxing, MMA, Judo, BJJ, Muay Thai, TKD

I'd say boxing is tops.

Followed by M.T. &/or MMA (if your competitive)

Then Judo.

TKD and last would be BJJ.

But few of us here train for self defence.

El Diablo 101

Thank you Makikomi, that was very informative. I think I will try a few classes in Wild Geese Martial Arts in Dublin city centre anyway.

Kimura

I can only give the prospective of Judo, I have never done BJJ nor do I intend too. Judo is all I do and all I want to do. No disrespect to BJJ or any other Art.

Judo is a very addictive sport/martial art. It is very simple to say,
“Yes you can win 1.throwing, 2. Hold down, 3. Arm lock, 4. Strangle” but that not getting into the grit off what you have to put into it.

It’s a game of body and mind, nobody is a great Judoka by being extremely strong or super fit or very technical or fast. You must marry all theses qualities, in saying that most of us don’t achieve this, but it’s that want for perfection that keeps us going week after week, year after year.
One thing that anybody who has ever done Judo will tell you, the buzz/feeling you get after throwing someone for a perfect Ippon(10 Point Score also know as a kill move that’s why the fight ends), who is trying there upmost to do the same thing to you.

Judo is a tough sport, both mentally as well as physically, you need to think about everything your doing, to throw you must get you partner to move in a certain way, so there momentum can be used to your favour.

I would suggest going down to you local class, give it 5 or 6 classes, to get the feel for it, Have some Randori (Open Free Sparing) relax and enjoy is the best advice I can give you.

arybvtcw0eolkf

El Diablo 101 wrote: »

Thank you Makikomi, that was very informative. I think I will try a few classes in Wild Geese Martial Arts in Dublin city centre anyway.

Donal Tannam teaches some lovely Judo down in Wild Geese, although compared to clubs like Coolmine or Portmarnock you'll do very little ground work (Newaza).

But the beauty of training in Judo is that your free to move around clubs, in fact its encouraged and you'll find your welcome to train in any Judo club (we're always looking for new cannon fodder ).

As said try both and give them a good few classes before deciding. Judo has a steeper learning curve, particularly at the beginning where you'll spend a good few hours learning how to fall over.

TrollHammaren

They teach both Judo and BJJ in Wild Geese, so you should give them both a try.

As Makikomi said, Donal Tannam teaches Judo there and he's an absolute gentleman and an excellent trainer. He teaches us across in Trinity, and I have nothing but good to say about him.

In terms of effectiveness as a self defence, I have worked as a doorman for nearly four years; I trained in Tae Kwon Do from the ages of about 7-16/17 or so, Judo from ages 18-present (22), Japanese Jiu Jitsu from 18-20, and German Jujutsu from about 20-present, and I've found that the most effective self-defence systems for me were Judo and Jujutsu.

TKD hasn't been very useful for me on the door, as it's impractical, and in many cases illegal, to clock a violent patron with a spinning back kick. Judo and Jujutsu/Jiu Jitsu have been indispensable for me in my job, as it allowed me to defend myself or restrain aggressors without causing any damage.

Do note, though, that I've never trained in BJJ, but I believe it's a good deal different from the styles of Jujutsu I've trained in, so I can't speak for it!