If you are new to the world of martial arts, it is really easy to confuse them. They all look the same, and we often find ourselves in embarrassing situations where we can’t tell what technique is being used in the fight we are watching on TV.
Two forms of martial art that can be tricky to tell apart are Karate And Jiu-Jutsu. They may look similar and have specific similar techniques, but there are several differences between the two. For starters, the origins are different. Jiu-Jutsu originated from Brazil and not East Asia.
The techniques used in both arts also vary; Jiu-jitsu is more aggressive and focuses more on grappling. Of the two, only Karate is an Olympic sport, and the competition rules for both these sports are also different. So they may look alike, but the similarities end there.
So far, we have only given you a brief overview of where these sports differ; if you want to learn about the distinctions in greater detail, keep reading.
What Makes Jiu Jutsu Different From Karate?
These two martial arts have very little in common once you start learning about them. To learn more about their differences in detail and before reading ahead, watch this video.
Let’s explore in greater detail how exactly they differ.
They Have Different Origins
Jiu-Jutsu began in Brazil back in the 1920s. It is fairly more recent than Karate, which has been around for centuries now. It was pioneered by two brothers, Carlos and Helio, who used Judo as the basis and focused on the ground fighting techniques they had learned from their master, Mitsuyo Maeda.
Karate, on the other hand, originated in the 17th century in East Asia. Its roots lay in the Ryu Kingdom, which was annexed by Japan in the 1870s. The prisoners and migrants were skilled in Karate, and they bought this culture to Japan.
The Techniques Are Only Similar In Appearance
When you really study the techniques of both these arts, you will realize that there is a lot of difference between the two, and they only appear to be the same.
Karate consists primarily of striking techniques since karate is a martial art that is designed for self-defence purposes. There is very little focus on attack and aggression. Kumite karate focuses solely on defence and evasion techniques.
Jiu-Jutsu is a grappling martial art that focuses a lot on the offensive. It uses various throws, sweeps, locks, and chokes to attack and tackle the opponent. These are absent from Karate. Specific forms of Jiu-Jutsu teach striking techniques, too, but that is just one small aspect of the art, not its core.
The Styles And Forms Are Different
All forms of martial arts have specific rules and regulations. These rules are very different for both these arts. Karate has dozens of different styles and forms like: Shotokan, Shito-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu. For Jiu-Jutsu, the variety in the styles is a little less.
Jiu-Jutsu has two main styles, the Gi and the no-Gi. The Gi style is a style in which the fighters must wear a white cotton uniform with which they can strangle their opponent. The No-Gi style does not involve a uniform. You can wear simple sports gear.
Jiu-Jutsu Is Not An Olympic Sport
Now, this may seem like a small distinction, but it is a big deal in the world of sports. Karate only recently qualified to be considered an Olympic sport. This happened in 2021. Jiu-Jutsu has so far not made it to the list, even though the Olympics has as many as 30 different forms of martial art. Maybe in the future, Jiu-Jutsu would be included too, but this is a major distinction for the time being.
Jiu-Jutsu Is Used in MMA
Even when you are being taught MMA in the gym, Jiu-Jutsu forms a core aspect of it. Karate is barely ever taught as part of mixed martial art. The simple reason behind this is that Karate is not as aggressive and intense as a mixed martial art. MMA requires a lot of aggressive and combat fighting techniques, and Karate has a lot of very traditional rules that do not adapt to the MMA format.
This problem does not arise with Jiu-Jutsu since it involves a lot of grappling and is a fairly modern way of fighting.
They Have Different Belt Ranking Systems
There are five belts in Jiu Jutsu: white, blue, purple, brown, and black. While some levels may be completed within a year of dedicated training, most students will take about ten years to reach the highest level.
Karate has six belt colours: white belt, orange belt, blue belt, yellow belt, green belt, brown belt, and black belt. Reaching the black belt traditionally takes about five years, but it depends on the student’s commitment and skill.
Which Of The Two Is Harder To Learn?
Jiu-Jutsu generally takes longer and is harder to learn than Karate. Moving from one belt to another also takes a longer time. This is because Jiu-Jutsu involves a large variety of techniques. The training is also more intense and aggressive; Karate, on the other hand, is relatively friendly and easy for beginners.
Which Is The Better Form Of MMA?
This depends on the student and what they are looking for, but generally, Jiu-Jutsu is considered better and more challenging since it equips you with a larger variety of techniques than Karate. An additional advantage of Jiu-Jutsu is that it can also be used in real-life contexts and has more practical benefits than Karate.
The Bottom Line
In short, Karate and Jiu-Jutsu belong to two very different worlds. They have different origins, stories, techniques, and practices. The difficulty level for both these arts is also different. Jiu-Jutsu is harder and more time-consuming than Karate, but Karate also teaches you certain vital self-defence skills. The martial art you prefer depends on what you are looking for. In the end, the decision is in your hands.
