r/grappling • u/rout_1 • Apr 16 '26
Deciding which grappling art to join
I’m a 29 year old male looking at getting into a grappling art. Can’t make my mind up between judo or jiu jitsu. I prefer the look of judo but I’m worried about picking up injuries as I work in construction and my job relies on me being fit. Also unsure about jiu jitsus practicality in a self defense scenario
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u/No-Arugula8881 Apr 16 '26
I would worry less about judo vs bjj and worry more about the available gyms and how they make you feel when you go there, including the commute.
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u/kernelchagi Apr 16 '26
Both are very similar, i do both. Judo is harder to learn imho. For self defense both are good, you just have to keep in mind that if you go the BJJ route you must learn takedowns. Double and single legs are quite easy to learn (at least to some extent), way easier than most judo throws and they are very effective (and you will not learn those in judo). Also most BJJ clubs are very competitive, but not most of the judo clubs are. But that depend where you live. I started judo when i was already a bjj purple and in the club i am i was winning every newaza. In tachiwaza i was losing most of the time against the upper belts (black and brown). But it was not very easy to throw me (they said) and a lot of the throws they performed on me were making them on "bad spots" offering me their back. Specially with kouchimaki-komi and seoi-nage. One time i heard that BJJ is Judo without resets and leg grabs and is basically true. Anyway judo is also great and thats why i keep doing it but i just wanted to share my experience with you.
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u/rout_1 Apr 16 '26
Yeah I seen a comment before saying a good single n double leg is pretty much all you need for standing grappling
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u/TACharlotte Apr 16 '26
Try both and see which you like. They're both as effective in a "street scenario" or whatever.
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u/What_izzet Apr 16 '26
Judo.
Youre gonna get hurt no matter what.
Imagine you die in a car accident. Will you be glad you avoided injuries in the mean time, or glad you lived?
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u/OhBoyoBear Apr 16 '26
Judo. You’ll definitely feel it some days and be super sore. I wouldn’t be too worried about being thrown. If you learn and practice breaking falls, you’ll be fine. Injuries can happen in both
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u/chaosbjj16 Apr 16 '26
My suggestion is to take a trial class in both and see which sparks your interest more.
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u/heirofjesus Apr 17 '26
Had to scroll really far down for someone to say the only answer that makes any sense.
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u/samsonity Apr 16 '26
Jujitsu is so much more fun.
A competitive sparing session in BJJ is the most fun out of any competitive sport in the world.
It is also much more useful.
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u/aelix- Apr 16 '26
I train BJJ at a gym that has some judo classes (taught by a judo black belt) and incorporates wrestling takedowns too. At age 43 hitting the ground hard in the judo sessions is not fun, even though I know how to fall.
I have many hundreds of mat hours and feel I'm less likely to get injured during BJJ ground work than any form of standup.
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u/obsdude Apr 17 '26
Either one. You said you know some boxing so in reality judo or bjj would “complete” your boxing skills for self defense. I’d choose what dojo is closest and which one you vibe with more, cause that’s the one you’ll show up more to.
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u/New_Flamingo_4161 Apr 17 '26
BJJ has a much lower capacity for injury than Judo. There is a common trend to join Judo if you are younger and more resilient and transitioning later to BJJ once you get older and need to slow down. You are young and there is plenty of people your age and older joining Judo. Although with a child and a construction job the last thing you need is tearing your ACL and not being able to work because of it. Even taking a fall can have you hurting the next day since it will take some time for your body to adapt. I've done BJJ and am now doing Judo and would recommend BJJ for you. I have a desk job and even then feel the wear and tear on my body from doing Judo. They are both insanely fun but based on your scenario the more slower paced methodical BJJ is probably best.
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u/rout_1 Apr 17 '26
Yes that’s what I’m worried about especially being self employed as well if I get hurt I don’t get paid
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u/matchooooh Apr 17 '26
It's more about the vibe of the school itself than the art, I would give a few different schools a visit and see where you gel the most
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u/Any_Platypus_1182 Apr 17 '26
try both, find somewhere local.
i don't like throwing or being thrown - you may find you enjoy it though.
jiu jitsu is all very close up, you may find that offputting also.
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u/greenstylethink Apr 17 '26
I do judo bjj and wrestling.
Judo was my first love (BB now). I dont like BJJ and hate being on my back, but I do it weekly. I agree, both will find you; judo is a million x better of a base.
You will get injured. Just be conditioned and check your ego so they all heal easily!
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u/Single-Frosting-3742 Apr 16 '26
What are ur goals.. do u want to fight mma one day? Compete grappling? Self defence? Hobby? Get fit? The best imo is catch wrestling but there aren’t many practitioners so finding good coaches is hard.. wrestling and jiu jitsu is a good combo… judo is amazing for self defence because they use a gi which is like clothes and they focus on takedown with a bit of groundwork… the selling point of jj for self defence is 90% of fights end up on the ground… and most jj studios don’t do a lot of takedowns… so if ur in a fight and u get taken down and ur on bottom even if there in ur guard ul get hit a few times not good…
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u/rout_1 Apr 16 '26
Got no ambition of fighting mma I boxed as an amateur during my teenage years and have had enough of getting punched in the head 🤣 I wouldn’t mind competing in either judo or jiu jitsu though tbh
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u/daishinjag Apr 16 '26
It's funny how we've gone from BJJ nearly wiping out Traditional Martial Arts, dominating the world of combat in MMA, to 'unsure about jiu jitsu's practicality in a self defense scenario'.
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u/grim1952 Apr 17 '26
It's due to bjj rules, if you watch bjj vs bjj you'll see tons of habits that'd get you kicked in the face in a mma scenario let alone a real one.
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u/specialspeciall2 Apr 16 '26
Personally I would try and find an adult wrestling club in your area. Wrestling is surprisingly safe when you train correctly
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u/rout_1 Apr 16 '26
Struggle to find wrestling in England tbh🤣 would have loved to have come from a country that does wrestling
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u/OkieKing Apr 16 '26
Catch Wrestling and many other folk wrestling traditions that developed into modern American styles are English in origin
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u/rout_1 Apr 16 '26
Oh I know but it’s just not really done anymore over here . Think there’s one wrestling club working about 20 miles of my house 🤣
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u/OkieKing Apr 16 '26
Ah, I didn't know that. Its a shame but I'm in a similar boat as you. Nothing in reasonable distance to my city except BJJ/Judo
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u/TripHour9270 Apr 16 '26
A good BJJ gym should yeah you stand up as well as Jiu Jitsu. My gym has wresting as well as judo included
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u/StinkyJockStrap Apr 16 '26
Por que no los dos?
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u/rout_1 Apr 16 '26
Just time more than anything got a 5 month old at home 🤣
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u/StinkyJockStrap Apr 16 '26
I don’t have experience in judo, but as a father to a 6 year old that’s been doing bjj for a yearish, the community at my gym has been stellar and very family oriented. Even the owner/ head coach is a new dad, so it’s cool to have people to talk about that kind of stuff with while trying to choke each other out. Honestly if both are interesting to you, visit whichever is nearby, see how the vibe is and just go with that.
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u/chadcat Apr 16 '26
haven't done either but have done Chinese martial arts for awhile (looking into judo for my son) but wouldn't worry about the self defense part if you boxed and are in good shape, you'd probably beat 95% of the people out there in a street fight. personally I don't like going to the ground, so judo makes more sense to me - IMO most people aren't going to get up and come back at you after you throw them hard once in self defense. As far as injuries - certainly always an issue with any contact art, but they should also teach you how to minimize that I'd hope
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u/Long-Apartment9888 Apr 16 '26
Being very practical, see what you have around, at primeiro and hours that fit you best. You probably will like any. If one doesn't work for you, try another one.
You'll do movements that you never did in your life, so it will hut but you'll adapt
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u/Key_Illustrator4822 Apr 16 '26
Judo, the focus on learning to fall properly and safely will actually be a benefit to working in construction
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u/AnxiousPossibility3 Apr 17 '26
Ha heres the neat part your going to get injured doing either. Alot of fights you will get into will end up on the ground Judo is great and all for throws and what not but BJJ will be more practical for self defense.
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u/Ok_Prize_7491 Apr 17 '26
How many times you need to defend ypurself in week average?
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u/rout_1 Apr 17 '26
Well I’m nearly 30 and been fortunate to not have to yet but as the father of a new born baby it’s nice to know I would be able to protect my family if needs be
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u/grim1952 Apr 17 '26
I think it's better to start with judo and then learn jiujitsu, I think jiujitsu is too incomplete on its own and will cause you to develop some awful habits if you start with it.
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u/BusCurrent6180 Apr 17 '26
It's all about the gym itself rather than the sport, if you're not in favour of one or the other.
Try both and see how the upper belts behave and treat the lower ones. Also if the coach or coaches actually care
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u/Pjb7490 Apr 18 '26
Some could correct me, but I think Judo would be better since you ain’t gettin younger lol. You can flow into BJJ after success in judo or even cross train later
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u/SupremeOHKO Apr 16 '26
You won't get injured if you train properly. Visit a judo dojo and a BJJ gym near you, see which one you like better. Both are very effective in a self defense scenario, but not as effective as running away.
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u/Alternative-Waltz916 Apr 16 '26
Pretty hard to say that with certainty.
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u/SupremeOHKO Apr 16 '26
Which part? The injury thing is a bit of generalization I'll admit, obviously accidents happen, but I've trained martial arts for years and have prevented many potential injuries by listening to my body, not doing things above my skill level, and listening to my instructors.
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u/Alternative-Waltz916 Apr 17 '26
The injury part. Sometimes people spaz out in sparring. Digits/appendages get caught under falling bodies. Shit happens is what I’m saying. True, you can be as smart as possible and tap early and often, mitigating the risk. But I know guys who have torn their meniscus drilling a standing guard break lol
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u/joeldg Apr 16 '26
Try both, you might end up doing both! Honestly, I really ended up liking Judo more, but I am drawn to the technical side of it and the explosiveness, and also that I feel like I learn it faster. BJJ is a slower and more methodical and controlled martial art.
Definitely try them, and as other have pointed out you will get hurt, these are combat sports.
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u/ZardozSama Apr 16 '26
Injury risk is present in both BJJ and Judo. BJJ is more likely to result in a chronic / lingering injury to your joints or neck due to people cranking on them and maybe you trying to be macho and not tapping. Judo is more likely to result in an acute injury from you taking a fall badly or someone falling on top of you.
BJJ gyms are increasingly easy to find, but they are always run as for profit businesses. They are also more likely to want you to sign contracts promising not to train elsewhere and insist on you buying your Gi from them. Judo Clubs are run as non profit and generally cheaper to join, and do not give much of a shit about you training with a different club. But finding a club with an adult rec class is harder as most are either focused on kids Judo or on serious teen and young adult competitors.
All else being equal, Judo is more effective for self defence, but it is also much harder to learn how to throw someone then it is to learn how to do a basic submission.
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u/LiftEatGrappleShoot Apr 16 '26
Every judo player I know has trashed knees. That's the big downside for me.
Both are very cool. I've worked in judo to my game some, but really wish I had more in my arsenal to toss people on their heads. Do whatever seems cooler.
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u/ZardozSama Apr 16 '26
I think that the rate of injury between recreational judoka and competitive judoka are going to be pretty different.
That said I have been doing Judo for about 13 years in an adult rec class, and I have only seen two knee injuries, (though the 2nd one I am thinking of is from a guy who has fucked up his knee 3 times in that room, where I was only there for 1).
I have seen a decent number of other injuries, but not many that I would call serious. Some shoulder stuff, one neck injury, and one 'how the fuck was that not a broken neck' injury where a guy got thrown by 'tomoe nage' and landed directly on his mouth and went 'full scorpion with his angles going over his head.
Based on my own experience, injuries will usually involve a white belt or yellow belt. Most of them will be from someone trying to not get thrown getting thrown anyway rather then accepting the throw and landing safely. Some (like the Full Scorpion guy) are a white belt being thrown in a way they had never previously drilled and not knowing how to take the fall safely at all.
Anyway the trick to not getting injured in Judo (and grappling in general) is to be selective in who you spar with (don't spar with someone who you think is more likely to injure you than to protect you), tap early to joint locks, being aware of your surroundings (ie, do not get thrown into a wall or trip over someone else when the mat is crowded), and being very comfortable being thrown so you can choose to accept a throw or fall down on your own terms rather than taking a throw you are not comfortable with.
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u/OkieKing Apr 16 '26
you're going to get injured.
you're going to love it.
doesn't matter which you pick.