Martial arts- what comes to your mind when you come across these names? The first thing that will most likely hit you is karate or Jiu Jitsu. For the longest time now, people have been confusing these two. Some even think that they are the same thing.
Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and karate have some basic similarities such as respect, discipline, and honor and require participants to have a good work ethic. Beyond these similarities, the two types of martial arts start branching out in their unique ways, and for sure that’s where the differences come in.
While there are lots of aspects that differentiate these martial arts all from the kicking style to the position, let’s have a look at the main differences between Jiu Jitsu and karate.
Ground in Jiu Jitsu vs. standing defense in Karate
The main difference is the ground defense for Jiu Jitsu and standing defense for karate. Generally, Jiu Jitsu is characterized more by take-downs, it features devastating throws joint locks, sweeps, chokes, take-downs, and limb manipulation.
This is the main reason it is best preferred for knockouts or taking the other participant out of the domain. Jiu-Jitsu is the only martial art that gives away the unique advantage of using punches and kicks, but only the skills used on the ground position will count.
Karate, on the other hand, is more of a self-defense mechanism from a standing position. It is also the best defense mechanism for single strong attackers, unlike Jiu Jitsu, which mainly focuses on teaching small and weak opponents to beat the stronger ones. Simply put, while karate focuses more on striking, BJJ is more of grappling.
Mobility and body control
The other difference to note between the two is how learners control their bodies and movements. While physical fitness, body control and mobility are all essential in both martial arts, karate requires more kicks, punches, elbow striking, and knee kicks as you try to bring the opponent own.
Obviously, Karate demands more power and strength for better defense and to help you take the opponent down.
Jiu-Jitsu, on the other hand, utilizes ore of submission and take-down tactics like sweeps, joint locks, and choking to take the opponent down from standing to tapping out. Indeed, Jiu-jitsu is very physically demanding compared to karate, which blends both anaerobic and aerobic fitness, thus enhancing your overall personal well-being.
These are the main differentiating aspects between these martial arts. But we can all agree that they are amazing sports choices both for adults and kids. Definitely, they are an excellent hobby choice, and the best part is that they go beyond fun; they are excellent defense mechanism.
In addition, they are also excellent for self-improvement as you get to acquire discipline, self-esteem, and body awareness.
Selecting the right martial art to take part in requires thorough research. Please, take your time and understand the requirements before determining if you are fit to take part in it.
Based on the mentioned differences, it is clear that there is something for everyone. You only need to figure out which one is best for you.
