| Whether viewing websites or MMA, Judo, and BJJ | | | | Ha, that's another story and I'll be shot if I go there!!) |
| forums, the subject of Judo vs. BJJ has become yet | | | | will have a far higher degree of skill on the ground. |
| another classic debate, akin to that of the old | | | | Assuming that the respective coaching levels are held |
| "Gi vs. No Gi" debate. However, the | | | | constant then anyone wishing to balance their skills |
| question of Judo vs. BJJ is much simpler to answer | | | | would surely want to practise stand-up at the Judo |
| because it is simply the wrong question in almost | | | | club and BJJ at the BJJ club. And this is why |
| every applicable context. In short, an Olympic level | | | | comments such as "I've never seen anyone in |
| Judoka would benefit from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as much | | | | BJJ show me a move that didn't exist in Judo" |
| as a world-class BJJ player would benefit from Judo. | | | | are so unhelpful and completely miss the point. |
| And at the top level, there are multiple examples of | | | | Neither art is really about knowing the greatest |
| this beginning to happen. GB's Winston Gordon trains | | | | number of "moves" and anyone who has |
| with Gracie Barra and holds a purple belt in Brazilian | | | | trained in the competitive environment knows this is |
| Jiu-Jitsu. Ray Stevens, former Olympic silver medallist, | | | | the case. However, such comments promote |
| has been known to train with Roger Gracie. Dave | | | | ignorance and division rather than learning and |
| Camarillo, Rhadi Ferguson, and Lloyd Irvin have | | | | integration. |
| become vocal advocates of cross-training these arts | | | | There are a multitude of benefits to training both |
| and have all enjoyed considerable success in both | | | | Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo, from greater all-round skills, |
| sports. Therefore the answer is Judo AND BJJ. Most | | | | to the cross-over benefits of learning different |
| top level players are starting to know this fact and | | | | approaches to training (e.g. speed and power to slow |
| rarely ever involve themselves in the nonsense of | | | | and technical). There are simply too many to list here. |
| the forums. | | | | However, anyone in doubt or uncertain should |
| However, trawl the forums and you will frequently | | | | consider this: the learning curve in both arts is |
| see this very discussion taking place. Comments | | | | greatest at the beginning and therefore you stand |
| range from the petty such as a "judoka" | | | | the most to gain from the early days. When I first |
| commenting about BJJ players wearing too many | | | | began Judo, I found that it was much easier to |
| patches on their Gi's to the erroneous "BJJ | | | | throw non-Judo players at BJJ. However, some |
| player" commenting that "judoka's are | | | | months after, my BJJ friends began training Judo and |
| easy to double leg". I also recently read from | | | | learned to stiff-arm. All of sudden, I couldn't throw |
| one judoka that "either never seen anyone in | | | | them as often (until I overcame the stiff-arm). |
| BJJ show me a move that didn't exist in Judo". | | | | Therefore, forget the ancient texts, the "who |
| Such comments are harmful because they slow our | | | | tapped who" in the 1920s, the lineage charts, |
| progression to be the best that we can be. It is a | | | | and the other nonsense. To compete optimally in |
| fact that within the "Gi sports" that the | | | | either sport, you need BOTH Judo and BJJ and some |
| average Judo club will have a far higher degree of | | | | wrestling as well won't harm. My website is seeking |
| stand-up skill per person, and the average BJJ club | | | | to promote the integration of these sports for the |
| (who out there thinks they are in an average club - | | | | benefit of Judo AND BJJ alike. |