Quick question...

Joseph Johnson6 said:Hey gentleviper12, did our buddy show up at the gym yet?

You won't know for sure until tonight...

My bad, didn't finish reading that one 😁 I've got way too many tabs open right now, haha!

I'll definitely check out training tonight, though I'm a bit worried about who might show up. It’s always some guy acting like he owns the place, claiming "this is Judo territory" or whatever nonsense.🙂

Joseph Johnson6 👋 Are you planning on showing up for the "second training session"?

So, a buddy of mine stopped by the gym to catch a session.
To be honest, I didn't even get a chance to grab a word in with him, so I can't really tell you what he thought of the place.

To a complete novice, JUDO and BJJ might look like two sides of the same coin—but then again, a beginner might think wrestling and submission grappling are essentially the same thing, or perhaps mistake Muay Thai for full-contact kickboxing, Savate for kickboxing, JUDO for Sambo, or Kyokushinkai for Shotokan...
In all those comparisons, you’ll find certain superficial similarities, but let’s be clear: we are talking about fundamentally different martial arts and disciplines. It’s the exact same story when you compare JUDO to BJJ. I suppose it would take far too long to sit here and lecture everyone on the deep theory and historical lineage of these arts, so I’ll leave any conclusions regarding their similarities to those who have actually spent enough time on the mats to feel the difference.
I should probably emphasize, though, that JUDO and BJJ can complement one another beautifully—they are certainly related branches of the same tree—but the deeper you dive into the training, the more glaring the distinctions become. Granted, training in one can certainly give you a leg up in the other, but those nuances are only apparent to someone actually doing the work, not someone watching a few DVDs and thinking they’ve mastered the essence of the sport. I don't mean to offend anyone here—I'm really not looking for an argument with anyone—I'm simply stating my perspective after years of grinding in BJJ under a Brazilian master and training alongside various JUDO experts, including some high-level black belts. From what I've seen, that experience doesn't necessarily make it any easier for them to grasp the specific tactics and technical nuances of BJJ.
Some people mentioned similarities in earlier posts, so I think I'll pivot and highlight the differences instead:
The philosophies differ, which naturally dictates how you approach standing combat, throws, and takedowns. For instance, many JUDO throws aren't particularly advisable in a BJJ match because you end up exposing your back to your opponent; others just aren't even possible due to the different body positioning required. Then there's the guard work in BJJ—something JUDO practitioners are still essentially trying to wrap their heads around and mimic. Using your legs so actively during ground fighting was always a foreign concept to JUDO stylists. Furthermore, BJJ offers a much wider spectrum of techniques, especially when it comes to finishing holds like joint locks and chokes. There is also a much heavier emphasis on minute details; I've seen JUDO players who think they know certain BJJ moves because they've seen them once in class, yet they can't execute them successfully because they lack an understanding of the critical, subtle mechanics.
At the end of the day, JUDO is a fantastic discipline, and if you're lucky enough to find a great coach, you'll learn some incredible things. But JUDO and BJJ are definitely two distinct paths, and I don't think it's right to mislead people by claiming they are one and the same...

Not much to say, really. I spent an hour watching the session, and honestly, it was a mixed bag. Some parts clicked, others didn't. Personally, I’m not a fan of those transitions they were running, but the ground fighting portion? That was actually pretty engaging (gentleviper12 was struggling and taking quite a beating from Frank 😁 😁 😁).
I first got hooked on Jiu-Jitsu this past summer while I was vacationing in Miami; a buddy of mine showed me some techniques that really caught my eye. I haven't decided if I'll dive into JUDO yet, though I probably will if I can't find a decent BJJ academy nearby. So far, nobody has pointed me toward a gym or dropped an address or a phone number, so if anyone knows a good spot for BJJ in San Diego, please let me know. Thanks again, gentleviper12—maybe I'll see you on the mats 😎

copperbear4 said:(gentleviper12 is trash and keeps getting smoked by Frank 😁 😁 😁 )

:asshole:

Look, here's the deal. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you're actually doing Jiu-Jitsu with the other instructor—the guy who usually rolls in right at the end of the session. I tried to explain this to you, but you bailed before I could catch you. Right now, he’s out of commission because he messed up his leg pretty bad. Once he's back in action—probably in about a month—we'll go back to the old schedule with Jiu-Jitsu twice a week. Honestly, this month is the perfect time for you to just show up and work on your cardio while he's sidelined.

Make your own call.

My coach is a beast at both BJJ and JUDO, and let me tell you, they aren't even close to being the same thing—not even when you're just starting out. Like they say over at Gracia Barra, sure, there are some overlaps and they complement each other, but they aren't identical. Honestly, the more work you put in, the more you realize they're worlds apart.

I’m itching to get started because I have this nagging feeling I might be jumping in without a clue. From what I’ve gathered, there aren't really any "true" beginners at the gym—just coaches barking orders like, "Do this drill and you'll crush it." Is there actually a specific curriculum for newbies, or am I just going to be thrown into the deep end?

copperbear4 said:I'm kinda nervous about starting because I feel like I won't fit in. From what I've seen, there aren't really any beginners—it's just the instructor shouting at everyone to drill specific stuff. Is there actually anything specifically for newbies or what?

Look, we were all total rookies once. Like the instructor always says, IT’S ALL PART OF THE PROCESS. You aren't gonna master a move overnight, and there's always some tiny detail you missed. Just treat training like a way to blow off steam and have fun! Don't get discouraged if you mess up a technique right away. Also, grab yourself a gi—it makes learning way easier. Just ask the instructor where to get one. 👍

And don't sweat the repetition. Everything comes back around in cycles, so you'll definitely get another shot at those moves later on.

Are you training at the same gym as gentleviper12?

Haha, I honestly have no clue who gentleviper12 is. 😁 👍

Seriously though, it’s the same story everywhere you go—you gotta put in the work and sweat buckets if you want to see anything happen. Eventually, the results will show up.👍

Come on, give me a hint. Who are you? Maybe I'll actually remember 😁

Take a guess 😁

The guy in red? 😎

all white, haha

Yeah, sure. You and maybe twenty other people at most. 🙂

coppermarlin6 said:Just show up this Tuesday at eight for practice, and you can hash out all the details directly with the coach.

Jiu-jitsu is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (it’s essentially the same thing as Judo, though people seem determined to never grasp that distinction).

Hold on now, let's not get carried away with the "it's the same thing" argument. Have you ever actually watched a Judo match go to the ground and seen a referee allow it to continue for more than thirty seconds before stepping in? It's definitely not quite the same experience.