For anyone stepping onto the mats for the first time, the world of Jiu-Jitsu can feel like a maze of terms and techniques. Two martial arts styles stand out: Japanese Jiu Jitsu (JJJ) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Both trace their roots back to the same ancient lineage, but their paths and purposes have diverged.

This article is for practitioners who respect the art and want to understand what makes each style unique. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to martial arts or deep into your BJJ journey, there’s something to gain from exploring the heritage of both.

Key Takeaways

• Samurai developed Japanese Jiu-Jitsu as a traditional martial art focused on combat and practical self-defense techniques.
  
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) evolved from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu (JJJ), emphasizing ground fighting and sport competition.
  
• JJJ incorporates strikes, throws, joint locks, and weapons defense; BJJ incorporates leverage and submission grappling.
  
• Both arts have different styles and approaches, reflecting the diversity and unique characteristics within each system.
  
• Each style offers a different philosophy, training approach, and cultural experience.
  
• Both systems promote discipline, respect, and lifelong learning.
  

A Brief History of Jiu-Jitsu

Origins in Feudal Japan

Jiu-Jitsu is steeped in samurai tradition. Its roots go back centuries to feudal Japan. Japanese Jiu Jitsu (jujutsu, or sometimes spelled jujitsu or ju jitsu) was originally developed for the battlefield. It gave samurai a way to fight effectively when disarmed. Martial artists gradually refined these techniques into systems called Koryu jujutsu. These were ancient schools that emphasized practicality, control, and survival.

These systems weren’t just for winning a fight. They aimed to preserve life and honor the warrior code of bushido. Many schools had their own interpretations and techniques, and each was passed down through generations of dedicated practitioners.

The Rise of Koryu Jujutsu

Practitioners preserved the Jiu-Jitsu system through oral teachings and hands-on instruction, making it deeply personal. Each school, such as Daito Ryu, Daito Ryu Aiki Jutsu (which had a significant influence on other martial arts such as Aikido), Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, or Shindo Yoshin Ryu, developed its own methods based on the environment and practical needs of the time. This made Japanese Jiu-Jitsu extremely rich and nuanced.

As Japanese jujutsu evolved, modern schools began to incorporate contemporary training methods and techniques. They were influenced by martial arts such as Okinawan karate and Shotokan karate. These interactions helped shape the development of Japanese jujutsu, distinguishing it from both its traditional roots and other martial disciplines.

Modern Influences and Evolution

From Japan to Brazil

Japanese Terminology in JJJ and BJJ

General Terms:

• Jiu-Jitsu / Jujutsu (柔術) – “Gentle art” or “art of softness,” referring to the core philosophy of using an opponent’s force against them.
  
• Dojo (道場) – Training hall.
  
• Gi (着) – Traditional training uniform worn in both JJJ and BJJ.
  
• Tatami (畳) – Straw mats used in traditional Japanese dojos.
  
• Sensei (先生) – Teacher or instructor.
  
• Rei (礼) – Bow; used to show respect before and after training.

Japanese Jiu Jitsu Techniques

JJJ is a complete fighting system. It includes:

• Grappling Techniques: Controlling opponents through throws, pins, and takedowns.
  
• Striking Techniques: These include punches, elbows, knees, and kicks.
  
• Joint Lock and Joint Locking Techniques: Applying pressure to joints to immobilize or force a tap.
  
• Submission Holds: Arm locks, leg locks, and techniques that employ chokes to control or submit an opponent.
  
• Leg Locks: Specialized submissions targeting the legs.
  
• Weapons Training: Both in weapon use and defense against weapons like knives and swords.

Practitioners regard Japanese Jiu-Jitsu as a comprehensive self-defense system that incorporates a wide range of techniques. It covers unarmed combat and methods, as well as striking defense, making it highly adaptable for real-world situations.

In JJJ, instructors often simulate unpredictable attack and combat scenarios, such as multiple attackers, knife defense, or defending against someone armed with a blade. This is to ensure the techniques work in real-world environments. Training also includes dangerous and lethal techniques, as well as the use of pressure points for control or incapacitation.

Instructors push practitioners to train intensely and move with precision, efficiency, and control. There’s a reason JJJ has remained relevant despite centuries of evolution in martial arts. It prepares you for the unexpected.

It also places a strong emphasis on controlling aggression. Instructors teach techniques with a strong moral code, guiding students on when to avoid conflict and how to engage in it. This sense of responsibility is a major part of JJJ’s appeal.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Techniques

While Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shares its roots with Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, it has evolved along a different path. BJJ emphasizes ground fighting, teaching practitioners how to take opponents down, pass guards, execute sweeps, and apply submission holds such as chokes, joint locks, and techniques like the Americana BJJ submission. It’s considered a ground-based fighting style, and it includes a popular variation called no-gi BJJ. No-gi BJJ teaches grappling without the traditional gi.

Practitioners train BJJ in sport settings, practising live sparring (rolling). The rulesets in BJJ competition shape how practitioners train, encouraging creativity, flow, and positional dominance. BJJ clubs serve as community hubs where practitioners gather to refine their ground fighting and submission techniques.

Another defining trait of BJJ is its emphasis on technique over strength. Practitioners often train to defeat larger, stronger opponents using leverage, positioning, and timing. This makes it extremely appealing to people of all body types, ages, and experience levels.

BJJ and JJJ differ in their training methodologies. BJJ training often centers on live sparring and drilling, while JJJ may focus more on kata and structured routines. Both arts, however, emphasize grappling as a core component of their practice.

Live rolling sessions help students learn quickly. Mistakes become lessons, and feedback is immediate. That’s one reason why BJJ is often described as physical chess; it teaches you to think under pressure. 

There are key similarities between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and JJJ, especially in their shared focus on grappling techniques and the use of submissions such as chokes and joint locks. Still, each art offers its own philosophy and approach to training, making them distinct paths within the world of martial arts.

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Choosing the Right Gear for Your Training Journey

If you’re starting your martial arts journey, focusing on movement, mindset, and consistency on the mats matters far more than equipment. Technique development should always come first, especially in the early stages of training. Over time, however, the right gear can contribute to comfort and allow for more focused practice.

A well-fitting gi or no-gi set supports mobility and reduces distractions during drills and sparring. Many practitioners look for training apparel made with durable materials and a functional fit to withstand regular use. Options such as men's kimonos, men's no-gi, women's kimonos, and women's no-gi are commonly chosen for their balance of comfort, durability, and freedom of movement during training sessions.

Fighting Styles and Systems

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is a highly adaptable fighting style. One moment, you might be defending against a sword strike. The next, executing a wrist lock to stop an unarmed attacker. Instructors teach a training system that covers striking, grappling, and everything in between, often presenting techniques in sequences.

Students learn to respond to an attack, then transition into follow-up techniques depending on the situation. This layered system reflects the depth and diversity of JJJ, which encompasses a wide range of techniques and historical influences. This approach is ideal for building strategic thinking and quick reflexes.

By contrast, BJJ is more specialized. Its strength lies in its depth, especially when grappling on the ground. However, many modern BJJ schools have begun integrating takedown drills and stand-up grappling, recognizing the importance of complete self-defense.

Japanese Influence on BJJ

Japanese Jiu-Jitsu heavily influenced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a classical Japanese art, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu emphasized self-defense, battlefield techniques, and philosophical principles. From the terminology (“jujutsu,” “kuzushi,” “osaekomi”) to the focus on technique over strength, BJJ carries a strong Japanese legacy. The transmission of jiu-jitsu and Japanese techniques to Brazil laid the groundwork for what would become modern BJJ.

BJJ draws much of its foundational structure, including its belt ranking system, emphasis on discipline, and many submission techniques, directly from its Japanese roots. The early Gracie practitioners learned from Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese judoka, and then modified the techniques to suit their own needs. Japanese Jujitsu served as the foundation for these adaptations, providing the core principles and techniques that evolved into BJJ, including shoulder locks like the omoplata BJJ.

The influence extends even further into BJJ etiquette. Bowing on and off the mat, respect for instructors, and the use of Japanese terminology for techniques (like sankaku for triangle choke) all nod to BJJ’s heritage. The role of etiquette and respect in training is often reflected in traditions such as OSS in BJJ, which highlight discipline within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Over time, BJJ developed its own identity. Modern practitioners developed techniques like the berimbolo, de la Riva guard, and inverted guard, and systems such as K guard BJJ, innovations absent from traditional Japanese Jujitsu. The sport-oriented mindset, belt system, and training intensity also set it apart.

Key Differences in Training

• Japanese Jiu Jitsu training often includes kata (pre-arranged forms), strikes, and weapons work. It emphasizes discipline, tradition, and full-body conditioning. Instructors guide students through a structured belt progression in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, advancing them through colored belts toward the black belt, a symbol of mastery and expertise. Black belts are highly respected, and the ranking system is an important part of the class structure. Higher-ranking students grew more comfortable with Japanese terminology, finding that using the original terms made more sense than English translations.

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training includes live rolling, positional sparring, and competition prep. It’s deeply iterative, often focusing on a single position or submission for an entire session. BJJ instructors place significant importance on belt progression, with the black belt symbolizing advanced proficiency and high technical skill. The community recognizes black belts for their mastery, and they often take on key roles in teaching and promoting other students.
  

BJJ tends to offer more opportunities to live-test techniques. Rolling is central to every class, and students learn quickly from trial and error. In contrast, JJJ may include more partner drills and less resistance in early training stages, with sparring introduced gradually.

A typical JJJ class may begin with warm-ups, followed by kihon (fundamentals), kata practice, and self-defense drills. In contrast, a BJJ class may focus on a single technique or position, followed by multiple rounds of rolling to test the application.

Cultural Significance of JJJ

Global Recognition of Japanese vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Main Difference Between Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Is Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Effective for Self-Defense?

Which is Better for Beginners, BJJ or JJJ?

Can I Train Both BJJ and JJJ Styles?

Is BJJ Easier to Find Than JJJ?

Does Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Include Ground Fighting?

What Role Does Tradition Play in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu?

Is There a Fitness Difference Between JJJ and BJJ?

Conclusion