Did Judo Come from Jiujitsu, or Jiujitsu Come from Judo?

The Grapple for Grappling Supremacy: A Historical Face-Off with Sarcasm and Throwbacks

The Evolution of Jiujitsu

Let’s get this out of the way quickly before someone tries to throw a gi at me: Judo came from Jiujitsu. There you go — mystery solved, blog over, thanks for coming.

But wait! That’d be boring, and we both know you didn’t click on this post for a quick answer. You’re here for a journey through history, a sprinkle of sarcasm, some sweaty truth bombs, and maybe even a little BJJ-fuelled smugness. So sit down, tie your belt (properly this time, not like a rookie), and let’s dive into the tangled, chokehold-laden family tree of Jiujitsu and Judo — where honour, innovation, and a fair amount of face-planting shaped the martial arts we now know and love.

Chapter 1: Feudal Japan — Where Jiujitsu Was Born and Samurai Didn’t Tap

Long before Netflix specials and UFC weigh-ins, there was feudal Japan, where things were a little more “kill or be killed” and a little less “let’s slap and bump fists first.”

Jiujitsu, or more traditionally written as Jujutsu, Jujitsu, or Yawara, dates back to the 8th century and was developed as an unarmed combat system for samurai. Picture this: you're

decked out in armour, sword's gone flying in battle, and the enemy’s got you in a death stare. You can’t exactly throw a spinning back kick in full armour. So, the solution? Grappling — locks, trips, throws, and good old-fashioned bone manipulation.

What Did Jiujitsu Look Like Back Then?

It wasn’t all omoplatas and shrimping drills. Jiujitsu was:

• Brutal

• Efficient

• Deadly

• Not designed for sport, but survival

  
  

Techniques included wrist locks, pressure points, and ways to crush a windpipe faster than you can say “tap.” This was real deal samurai business.

Chapter 2: The Jigoro Kano Plot Twist — Enter Judo, the Gentleman’s Art

Fast forward to the late 1800s. Samurai are out, western suits are in, and Japan is going through its Meiji Restoration glow-up. Along comes a guy named Jigoro Kano, a mild-mannered academic who:

• Was sick of being bullied at school (seriously)

• Studied multiple Jiujitsu styles

• Thought “this stuff is great, but maybe we should remove the maiming bits”

  
  

In 1882, Kano launched Kodokan Judo, the polite cousin of Jiujitsu. Think of it as Jiujitsu

after a few therapy sessions and some self-help books.

What Kano Did Differently:

• Removed dangerous, maiming techniques

• Standardised training

• Introduced a belt and grading system

• Made throws the centrepiece

• Added randori (free sparring)

• Focused on physical education, character development, and non-lethal self-defence

  
  

He basically rebranded death-grappling into a moral, educational, and safe martial art. Genius.

Chapter 3: So… Judo is Just Jiujitsu Lite?

Not quite. Judo is built on Jiujitsu, but it’s its own thing.

Kano cherry-picked the most effective, safe techniques from various koryu (old school) Jiujitsu styles. He streamlined them, put them into a structured curriculum, and — importantly — taught them in schools. It wasn’t about fighting to the death anymore. It was about personal development, discipline, and learning how to yeet someone across a room without breaking their neck.

In short: Judo was a modernisation of Jiujitsu, not just a watered-down version.

Chapter 4: The Global Expansion — From Japan to the World (and Brazil)

Now here’s where it gets juicy.

Kano wanted Judo to go global, and in classic visionary style, he sent out his best students.

One of those students was Mitsuyo Maeda, aka “Count Koma” — a scrappy dude who wasn’t afraid to get his gi dirty.

Maeda’s Grand Adventure:

• Travelled through Europe and the Americas

• Fought hundreds of challenge matches

• Eventually landed in Brazil in 1914

• Taught a curious young lad named Carlos Gracie

  
  

And boom — the birth of Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ).

Carlos and his younger brother Helio took what Maeda taught and reworked it. Helio, being smaller and not exactly built like a judo powerhouse, adapted the techniques to focus more on leverage and ground fighting — and less on monster throws.

So, here’s the family tree so far:

Traditional Jiujitsu⬇Jigoro Kano creates Judo⬇Maeda teaches Carlos Gracie Judo/Jiujitsu⬇Gracies develop Brazilian Jiujitsu

BJJ is basically Judo’s grandchild and Jiujitsu’s great-grandchild. It’s like a family reunion where everyone’s arguing over who invented the armbar first.

Chapter 5: What’s the Difference Between Jiujitsu and Judo Today?

By now, Judo and BJJ are like brothers who’ve taken very different paths in life:

Judo	Brazilian Jiujitsu (BJJ)
Stand-up throws are the focus	Ground fighting is the main dish
Olympic sport	Not Olympic, but has the IBJJF circus
Fast-paced, explosive	Slow / fast, very technical
More rules about gripping/attacking	Uses Judo with leg grabs to take down
Uniform: gi	Gi and no-gi variations

And traditional Japanese Jiujitsu? It still exists, but it's often more kata-focused, and let’s be honest — you’re not likely to see it on the mats at Mahara Jiujitsu any time soon.

Chapter 6: Jiujitsu, Judo and the Great Martial Arts Identity Crisis

Here’s the kicker: back in the day, the term “Jiujitsu” covered everything — throws, locks, strangles, the whole buffet.

Kano didn’t initially want to call his art Judo to distinguish it. He just thought it was a better name. “Ju” = gentle, “Do” = way. It wasn’t just a method of fighting — it was a philosophy, a path to self-improvement. Fancy, right?

But as Judo rose in popularity, people started referring to traditional stuff as “old-school Jiujitsu” or koryu Jiujitsu, and new players like BJJ came along claiming the Jiujitsu label.

Confusing? Very.

Today:

• BJJ uses the term “Jiujitsu”, but it’s mostly ground game.

• Judo is still recognised as a distinct martial art with a sport and Olympic focus.

• Traditional Japanese Jiujitsu is more historical, self-defence oriented, and niche.

  
  

Chapter 7: So Who Wins the Legacy Battle?

In terms of origin, Jiujitsu is the granddaddy. No debate.

But when it comes to influence, Judo took the cake by:

• Cleaning up Jiujitsu's mess

• Making it palatable for modern times

• Spreading it worldwide

• Being the bridge to the birth of BJJ

  
  

Without Judo, there’s no Maeda in Brazil. Without Maeda, no Gracie family. Without the Gracies... well, your Instagram feed would be a lot less filled with triangle choke memes and cauliflower ear tutorials.

Chapter 8: The Modern Grappler’s Identity

At Mahara Jiujitsu and any legit BJJ academy, you’ll see remnants of all of these arts:

• Throws from Judo (hello, Seoi Nage)

• Chokes from Jiujitsu (Bow & Arrow for days)

• Ground control from BJJ (because side control is life)

  
  

Modern BJJ borrows heavily from Judo — not just technically, but philosophically too. That "leave your ego at the door" vibe? That’s a Kano special.

So whether you're pulling guard, drilling Uchi Mata, or just trying to figure out how not to gas out in the first two minutes of rolling, remember: you're part of a legacy. A messy, sweaty, honourable, and often sarcastic legacy of martial arts that evolved over centuries.

Final Thoughts: So… Who Came First?

Jiujitsu came first. Judo evolved from Jiujitsu. Brazilian Jiujitsu evolved from Judo.

It’s a grappling family tree with some tangled roots, a few thrown elbows, and a lot of philosophical debate. But at the end of the day, they’re all part of the same tribe — one that loves technique, respects tradition, and really enjoys watching people get folded like laundry.

So the next time someone asks, “Did Judo come from Jiujitsu?” — you can nod wisely and say:“Yes. And then Jiujitsu made a comeback wearing board shorts, rashguard or a Gi”

Food for thought anyway !

ADZ