Jujutsu vs Judo: What’s the Difference?

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People mix up jujutsu vs judo because the two arts share a history, a Japanese origin and many techniques. Judo grew directly out of jujutsu, so they look similar to beginners. The differences lie in scope, goals and rules, and they matter when you pick a class.

What is jujutsu?

Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art that uses throws, joint locks, holds and, in many styles, strikes to control an opponent.

The name is usually translated as “gentle art” or “yielding art,” because it emphasizes using an opponent’s force against them rather than meeting it head on. Jujutsu developed across Japan’s feudal period as a family of separate schools, each with its own techniques, and some also teach weapons. Because there are so many schools, what one dojo calls jujutsu can differ a lot from another.

What is judo?

Judo is a martial art and combat sport created in 1882 by Jigoro Kano, who built it from older jujutsu schools.

The name means “the gentle way.” Kano wanted a method that was safer to practice at full effort and that also trained character, so he kept throws, pins, chokes and certain joint locks and removed the most dangerous techniques. Judo uses a ranking system of belts, and it has become one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world. It has been an Olympic sport since the 1964 Tokyo Games.

What is the difference between jujutsu vs judo?

The main differences are age, scope and purpose: jujutsu is older and broader, while judo is a focused sport and way of training built from it.

• Origin: Jujutsu is the older, feudal-era art. Judo was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882.
• Techniques: Jujutsu is broad, often including strikes and a wider range of locks. Judo focuses on throws, pins and chokes, with limited joint locks, and competition judo does not allow striking.
• Purpose: Judo is organized as a sport with set rules and competitions. Jujutsu is more varied, and many schools focus on traditional or self-defense training.
• Olympics: Judo is an Olympic sport; jujutsu is not.

Is judo the same as jujutsu?

No. Judo evolved from jujutsu, but it is a distinct art with its own rules, goals and philosophy.

The easiest way to think of it is as a parent and child. Jujutsu is the parent, a large family of older techniques and schools. Judo is the child, a streamlined system that kept the throws and grappling and added a sporting and educational framework.

How is Brazilian jiu-jitsu different?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or BJJ, is a separate art that focuses mostly on ground grappling and submissions.

It developed in Brazil in the early 20th century from judo techniques taught by Japanese judoka, and it was later refined by the Gracie family and others. Its spelling, “jiu-jitsu,” is another romanization of the same Japanese word as jujutsu, which is why the names look so similar. BJJ is not the same as traditional Japanese jujutsu.

Jujutsu, jiu-jitsu or ju-jitsu: which spelling is correct?

All three are accepted romanizations of the same Japanese word. Jujutsu is the most common form in modern dictionaries and for the Japanese art, while jiu-jitsu is widely used for the Brazilian style.

How can you remember which one to use?

Think “parent and child”: jujutsu is the parent art, and judo is the child that became an Olympic sport. The memory tricks below add two more shortcuts.

Common mistakes with jujutsu vs judo

• ✗ Judo and jujutsu are exactly the same thing.
  ✓ Judo evolved from jujutsu, but it is a distinct art and sport.
• ✗ Jujutsu is a modern Olympic sport.
  ✓ Judo is the Olympic sport; jujutsu is the older, broader art.
• ✗ Competition judo includes punching and kicking.
  ✓ Competition judo focuses on throws, pins, chokes and limited joint locks, without strikes.
• ✗ Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the original Japanese jujutsu.
  ✓ Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a separate art that developed in Brazil from judo.
• ✗ Jujutsu and jiu-jitsu are different words with different meanings.
  ✓ They are different spellings of the same Japanese word, though Brazilian jiu-jitsu is its own art.

Memory tricks for jujutsu vs judo

• Do means way; jutsu means technique. Judo is a “way” of training, and jujutsu is an “art” or “technique.” The same pattern appears in kendo and kenjutsu.
• Judo is the Olympic one. If you are thinking about medals and tournaments, you are thinking about judo.
• Parent and child. Jujutsu is the older parent art, and judo is the child that was built from it in 1882.

Jujutsu vs judo FAQ

Is judo the same as jujutsu?

No. Judo developed from jujutsu, but it is a separate martial art and sport with its own rules, techniques and philosophy.

Who founded judo?

Judo was founded by Jigoro Kano in 1882. He created it from older jujutsu schools.

Is judo an Olympic sport?

Yes. Judo has been an Olympic sport since the 1964 Tokyo Games. Jujutsu is not an Olympic sport.

Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu the same as jujutsu?

No. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a separate art that focuses on ground grappling and developed in Brazil from judo techniques.

Which is better, judo or jujutsu?

Neither is automatically better. Judo is a focused sport built around throws, pins and chokes, while jujutsu is broader. The quality of the school and instructor matters more, so visit a class before you commit.

Conclusion

The jujutsu vs judo difference comes down to age and scope: jujutsu is the older, broader art, and judo is the focused sport and way of training that Jigoro Kano created from it. Choose judo for throws and competition, and ask any jujutsu school what style it teaches. Share this with someone who mixes these up.