20+ Differences between Jiu Jitsu vs. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Explained)

Martial arts training is an excellent method to be in shape, discipline your mind, and defend yourself. There are numerous martial arts styles to select from, each with its advantages. Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are one of them.

While they share some skills and history, they differ in many aspects. This article will explain the similarities and differences to decide which is best for you.

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Key Differences Between Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Jiu-Jitsu:

  • From a self-defense standpoint, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu mostly focuses on throwing opponents, joint manipulation, hitting and blocking, and certain chokes and strangulations. 
  • Some techniques include training with traditional Japanese weapons.
  • Jiu-Jitsu employs standing block, tackle, and wrist twist techniques for self-defense.
  • Jiu-Jitsu also emphasizes self-defense techniques that can manage several attacks and the usage of weapons, simulating a real-world scenario.
  • Jiu-Jitsu has a formal grading system whereby a student must demonstrate several techniques in front of their assessor to be considered deserving of a promotion.
  • The uniform of Jiu-Jitsu is quite lighter than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
  • During battles in Jiu-Jitsu, practitioners can freely use strikes, throws, and most of these dangerous moves.
  • Training sessions for Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, as opposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasize improving technique and precision more than speed and power. 
  • The major objective of these classes is to assist students in gradually mastering different Jiu-Jitsu techniques.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu primarily takes place on the ground and focuses solely on grappling. 
  • From a sporting perspective, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners often use chokes, strangles, and joint locks to submit their opponents.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses ground movements to control the attack while pinning the adversary to the ground.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on defending against a single attacker at a time.
  • The grading process for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu entails training under a black belt and receiving an award once they feel you are prepared.
  • The uniform is heavier than Jiu-Jitsu.
  • According to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s competition regulations, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners are prohibited from using knee reaping, most spinal locks, heel hooks, scissors takedowns, or knee twisting.
  • Every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training session begins with a brief warm-up and ends with a cool-down. 
  • The primary goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is to spar with an opponent safely and under control.

Comparison between Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 

ParametersJiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
OriginJapanBrazil
Main FocusJiu-Jitsu’s basic goal is to subdue an adversary without doing any lasting harm.It offers a powerful self-defense strategy that can be applied to a bigger and more powerful opponent.
GrapplingThe grappling technique is not thereIn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, grappling is the main move. 
UniformLighterHeavier
TrainingEmphasizes improving technique and precision more than speed and power. The training starts with a brief warm-up and ends with a cool-down
TechniqueJiu-Jitsu employs standing block, tackle, and wrist twist techniques for self-defense.It uses round movements to control the attack while pinning the adversary to the ground.
Focus onJapanese Jiu-Jitsu mostly focuses on throwing opponents, joint manipulation, hitting and blockingBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu primarily takes place on the ground and focuses solely on grappling. 
AttacksSeveral attacks A single attacker at a time
MovesStrikes and throws are used freely during the battle.Spinal locks, heel hooks, scissors takedowns, or knee twisting are used during the battle.
Self DefenceBlock, tackle, and wrist twist techniques are used for self-defense.Ground movements are used to control the attack while pinning the adversary to the ground.

Major Difference between Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

What is Jiu-Jitsu?

Jujutsu, also known as Jiu-Jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of Japanese martial arts and a form of close combat (using no weapons or a small weapon) that can be used either defensively or offensively to kill or subdue one or more opponents who are not carrying weapons or who are armed and wearing armor. 

Throws, grips, and paralyzing techniques against the opposition are all included in this martial arts style, which uses little to no weaponry. In Japan, jujutsu evolved from the warrior class in the seventeenth century. It was created to support a warrior’s sword use in battle.

Fighting Techniques: 

A wide variety of fighting methods, including offense and defense, are taught in Japanese jujutsu. The specific techniques taught in each institution vary. However, the majority of curricula contain the following.

  • Locked joints
  • Chokeholds
  • Grappling
  • Strikes
  • Takedowns
  • Throwing

What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is primarily a ground-based martial art that uses the principles of leverage, angles, pressure, timing, and knowledge of the human anatomy to force an opponent to submit without employing physical force. As a result, the best self-defense methods in the world are found in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-jitsu concentrates on close-contact “grappling” holds and techniques, as well as the use of chokes and joint manipulations, in contrast to other martial arts that emphasize blows or kicks. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s main goal is to lock and immobilize the opponent with hands and legs. 

Fighting Techniques:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu places a greater emphasis on movements that make your opponent harmless. The fighting techniques employed in Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu are:-

  • Locked joints
  • Chokeholds
  • Positional grappling
  • Takedowns,
  • Sweeps

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Jiu-Jitsu vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – All you need to know:

Jiu-Jitsu:

  1. Jiu-Jitsu was initially developed for use in combat situations when defeating your foe requires both assault and defense.
  2. A Japanese Jiu-Jitsu school uses formal grading, requiring students to demonstrate several techniques before their assessor is approved for promotion.
  3. A wide variety of fighting methods, including offense and defense, are taught in Japanese jujutsu.
  4. Block, tackle, and wrist twist techniques are used for self-defense in Jiu-Jitsu. 
  5. Jiu-Jitsu also emphasizes self-defense techniques that can manage several attacks and the usage of weapons, simulating a real-world scenario.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 

  1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructs students in safe self-defense techniques for themselves and their attacker.
  2. This is done in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by training under a black belt and receiving your prize when they feel you are ready. Based on observations of their trainees’ performance during training sessions, the black belt promotes them.
  3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu places a greater emphasis on movements that make your opponent harmless.
  4. Ground movements control the attack while pinning the adversary to the ground.
  5. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on defending against a single attacker at a time.

The Rules- Jiu-Jitsu vs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Jiu-Jitsu:-

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that emphasizes using technique and leverage rather than speed or pure force to defeat adversaries. The regulations of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu contests, which prioritize technical expertise and control above speed and force, mirror this strategy.

Unlike many other martial arts styles, Jiu-Jitsu contests do not use points or knockouts to choose a winner. Instead, victories are frequently achieved by submission, in which the victor forces the loser to submit by putting them in a situation they cannot escape.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

Hand-to-hand combat between two fighters on the ground is referred to as “ground fighting.” Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground fighting occurs when both fighters are on the ground reasonably close to one another. 

On the other side, grappling primarily involves grasping and holding the adversary on the ground. Instead of using strikes to hurt the opponent, this fighting method uses several techniques.

The points system that is commonly applied in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu contests is as follows:

  • 4 points for back control
  • 2 points for defeats
  • 2 points for sweeps
  • 4 points for the mount
  • 2 points for Belly and Knee position
  • 3 points for a guard pass.

Contrast Between Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The Origin:

  • Jiu-Jitsu: Jiu-jitsu, which translates approximately as “gentle art,” is derived from the Japanese terms “Ju” for “gentle” and “Jutsu” for “art.” Jiu-jitsu first appeared in Japan.

    Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, often termed “jujutsu,” has been practiced for almost 2000 years, extending back to the time of its first warrior.

    As a result, the Japanese military developed contemporary Jiu-Jitsu to enable warriors to engage in battle without the use of guns. This was developed and organized expressly for war and battle.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: In contrast to Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are well-known. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which emerged in the 1920s and is based on Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and judo, is a martial art.

    Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is essentially the evolution of judo from Jiu-Jitsu, and it is credited to Jigoro Kano and Mitsuo Maeda. Kano challenged conventional Japanese jujutsu by urging his students to engage in sparring sessions.

    Maeda was his student who pushed his ground combat lessons to the next level. After that, he relocated to Brazil and became Carlos Gracie’s instructor, who excelled in ground-based martial arts.

The primary focus:

  • Jiu-Jitsu:- The primary purpose of Jiu-Jitsu is to subdue an opponent without causing permanent harm.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: It provides a strong self-defense strategy that may be used against a larger and more powerful opponent.

Grappling

  • Jiu-Jitsu:-There is no grappling technique. From a self-defense standpoint, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu mostly focuses on throwing opponents, joint manipulation, hitting and blocking, and certain chokes and strangulations. 
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The main move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is grappling. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu primarily takes place on the ground and focuses solely on grappling.

Uniform

  • Jiu-Jitsu:- Lighter. Depending on the school, good Japanese Jiu-Jitsu gis can typically range from lighter karate-style gis to heavier judo-style gis.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Heavier. Practitioners of Japanese and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu frequently don kimonos or gis. A gi comprises a cotton jacket, pants, and a belt that displays your rank.

Training

  • Jiu-Jitsu:- Training sessions for Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, as opposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, emphasize improving technique and precision more than speed and power. The major objective of these classes is to assist students in gradually mastering different Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training session begins with a brief warm-up and ends with a cool-down. The primary goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training is to spar with an opponent safely and under control.

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Schools, gyms, and classes:

Jiu-Jitsu:- Depending on the school, you’ll learn different things in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. However, the following is an illustration of a normal class:

  • Strength training workouts and warm-up
  • Training in blocking and striking
  • Breakfall instruction
  • Training in self-defense techniques and partner application
  • Stretching

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The typical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lesson lasts between one and five hours and includes:

  • A quick warm-up (10 – 15 minutes)
  • Educating oneself in a skill or combination of skills (45 minutes)
  • Multiple rounds of fighting (30 minutes)

Technique:

  • Jiu-Jitsu:-Jiu-Jitsu uses self-defense techniques such as standing blocks, tackles, and wrist twists.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu controls the attack with round movements while pinning the opponent to the ground.

Pay attention to

  • Jiu-Jitsu:-Throwing opponents, joint manipulation, hitting, and blocking is Japanese Jiu-Jitsu’s mainstays.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is mostly a grappling sport on the ground.

Attacks:

  • Jiu-Jitsu:- Jiu-Jitsu also emphasizes self-defense techniques that can manage several attacks and the usage of weapons, simulating a real-world scenario. A wide variety of fighting methods, including offense and defense, are taught in Japanese jujutsu.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on simultaneously defending against a single attacker. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu places a greater emphasis on movements that make your opponent harmless. 

Moves:

  • Jiu-Jitsu:- During the battle, strikes and throws are freely used. During battles in Jiu-Jitsu, practitioners can freely use strikes, throws, and most of these dangerous moves.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: During the fight, spinal locks, heel hooks, scissors takedowns, and knee twists are also used. From a sporting perspective, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners often use chokes, strangles, and joint locks to submit their opponents.

Self Defence:

  • Jiu-Jitsu:-Self-defense skills include block, tackle, and wrist twists. On the other hand, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu frequently emphasizes self-defense methods.
  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Ground motions direct the attack while pinning the opponent to the ground. Few gyms teach trainees how to employ techniques in a self-defense situation, and modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often more concerned with sports than self-defense.

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Belt advancement and system:

Jiu-Jitsu:

The belt systems used by various Japanese Jiu-Jitsu schools may differ. An overview of the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu belts is provided below:

  • White
  • Yellow
  • Orange
  • Green
  • Blue
  • Purple
  • Brown
  • Black

While other schools may have “tips” between belts, some may start beginners with a red belt before the white belt.

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu schools typically ask pupils to participate in a formal grading to advance to the next belt. In addition, depending on the school, a practitioner may need to master specific techniques.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu:

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, eight types of belt systems are given according to their skills and development in the total coaching period. The types of belts which are given in this type of Jiu-Jitsu are given below:

  • White
  • Blue
  • Purple
  • Brown
  • Black
  • Red & Black belt (7th-degree black belt)
  • Red & White belt (8th-degree black belt)
  •  A red belt (9th and 10th-degree black belt)

A belt’s four stripes indicate the degree of proficiency it represents for each rank below the black belt.

An individual practitioner’s instructor awards belt and stripe promotions. Each gym may have its own rules regarding student advancement. For example, some can demand that pupils demonstrate techniques and engage in sparring to earn their stripes or belts.

Others might just look to the teacher to determine when they believe a student is prepared to go forward.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Jiu-jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are they the same?

Few schools teach students how to employ techniques in self-defense, and contemporary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is frequently centered on sports. On the other side, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu usually focuses primarily on self-defense methods.

Q2. Jiu-jitsu or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Which is superior?

Even though both martial arts can be utilized for self-defense, one unquestionably has a benefit over the other.

Unlike Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you’ll learn strikes and other fighting-related skills that work well in street fights.

However, for street fighting and self-defense, the traditional Japanese martial art of jujutsu is superior.

Q3. How many different kinds of Jiu-Jitsu exist?

You’ve certainly heard of terms like Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Gi Jiu-Jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

There are many different sorts of Jiu-Jitsu styles available. While they are all very similar in many aspects, some significant distinctions exist.

Q4. Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu useful in a fight on the street?

When there is only one attacker in a street fight, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be effective, but it is rarely useful when there are several.

However, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques are extremely useful for taking down a single opponent, dominating them, and forcing them to submit or submit to a chokehold.

Q5. Is Jiu-Jitsu effective in self-defense?

Self-defense and protection are made easy with Jiu-Jitsu. To relax and defeat opponents, Jiu-Jitsu is committed to knocking them to the ground.

This is incredibly efficient since it shields you from pointless hits and allows you to manage your opponent without hurting them.

Q6. Is Jiu-Jitsu an effective workout?

Jiu-Jitsu is a fantastic aerobic workout and cardio activity to keep your heart in good shape. Your body will receive more oxygen, which will make you feel wonderful.

Q7. Do all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts go by the name Professor?

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu indicates an advanced degree of technical and practical proficiency. Black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are frequently referred to as “professors” or “coaches” within the discipline.

At the same time, some schools and organizations reserve these titles for the more senior black belt teachers.


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