BJJ vs judo: how the rules, scoring and belts really differ
By Scott Flear, founder of JitsAI. Rules from the IBJJF and from the IJF refereeing rules as published by British Judo.
Judo and BJJ share Japanese roots and both use a gi, but they reward different things. Judo is won mainly standing: a clean throw onto the back, or a 20-second pin, scores ippon and ends the match. BJJ is won mainly on the ground, by submission or on points for positions such as mount (4 points). Judo is an Olympic sport; BJJ is not.
How do BJJ and judo compare, side by side?
| Judo | BJJ (IBJJF rules) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it comes from | Founded by Jigoro Kano in Japan in 1882 (Kodokan judo) | Developed in Brazil in the 20th century, with roots in judo and Japanese jiu-jitsu |
| Olympic sport | Yes: men since Tokyo 1964, women since Barcelona 1992 | No |
| Main way to win | Ippon: a clean throw onto the back, a 20-second pin, or a submission | Submission, or the most points when time runs out |
| Scores | Ippon ends the match; two waza-ari make ippon; yuko are counted but never add up to waza-ari | Takedown, sweep or knee on belly 2; guard pass 3; mount or back control 4; then advantages |
| Match length (adults) | 4 minutes, then golden score with no time limit if level | 5 minutes at white belt up to 10 at black belt (IBJJF) |
| Pins | Held 5 to 9 seconds: yuko; 10 to 19: waza-ari; 20: ippon | Mount and back control score 4 points after 3 seconds; the match goes on |
| Groundwork | The referee restarts standing when there is no evident progress on the ground | Most of the match happens on the ground, including from your back in guard |
| Leg grabs | Grabbing the legs or trousers is penalized (shido) | Allowed; a takedown scores 2 points |
| Submissions | Chokes, and joint locks at the elbow only | Chokes and joint locks on arms and legs; some are limited by age, belt and gi or no-gi |
| Uniform | Judogi, white or blue at events | Gi in white, royal blue or black; no-gi in rash guard and shorts |
| Belts | Colored kyu grades (vary by country), then black-belt dan grades; contest results can count | Five adult belts, white to black; your professor decides, within IBJJF minimum times |
What is the main difference between BJJ and judo?
Where the match is decided. Judo is a throwing art: most contests are won or lost standing, and ground fighting gets a limited window before the referee restarts the pair on their feet. BJJ is a ground art: a takedown only scores 2 points, and the match is usually decided by what happens after it, in guard, passing, pinning and submissions.
How does scoring differ between BJJ and judo?
Judo has three scores. Ippon, for a throw with speed, force and control that lands the opponent on their back, ends the contest. Waza-ari is a lesser throw, and two of them make ippon. Yuko, brought back for the current rules cycle, is counted but never adds up to waza-ari. Level after 4 minutes, the contest goes to golden score, won by the next score or a disqualification.
BJJ under IBJJF rules adds points for positions held for 3 seconds: 2 for a takedown, a sweep or knee on belly, 3 for passing the guard, and 4 for mount or back control. A submission wins at any time. If points are level, advantages decide, then penalties, then the referee.
Which has more groundwork, BJJ or judo?
BJJ, by a distance. In judo, the referee calls mate and restarts the athletes standing when there is no evident progress on the ground, and a pin wins outright at 20 seconds. In BJJ, the ground is where most of the match happens, fighting from your back in guard is a normal way to play, and a pin earns points while the match carries on.
Takedowns differ too. Judo penalizes grabbing the legs or trousers with the hands, so throws come from upper-body grips. In BJJ, leg attacks are allowed and any takedown to a controlled position scores 2 points.
What submissions are allowed in judo and BJJ?
Judo allows chokes and joint locks, but joint locks only at the elbow: leg locks and wrist locks are prohibited. BJJ allows a wider range, including shoulder, wrist and leg locks, but the IBJJF limits some of them (wrist locks, knee bars and heel hooks among them) by age, belt and whether the event is gi or no-gi.
Is the judo gi the same as a BJJ gi?
Both are a jacket, trousers and a belt, and both are made to be gripped. At judo events one athlete wears white and the other blue. IBJJF gi events allow white, royal blue or black. BJJ also has a no-gi version, in rash guard and shorts, where grabbing clothing is a foul.
How do the belt systems of BJJ and judo compare?
Judo uses colored kyu grades, then black-belt dan grades. The colours vary by country: British Judo’s six kyu grades run red, yellow, orange, green, blue and brown. The minimum age to enter a British Judo dan grading is 15, and promotion up to 5th dan is based on skill in contest, theoretical knowledge and kata.
BJJ has five adult belts: white, blue, purple, brown and black. Your professor promotes you, with no contest requirement, and the IBJJF sets minimum ages and times: at least 4.5 years from blue belt to black. BJJ belts in order has the full system.
Should you learn BJJ or judo?
- Pick judo if you love throws, fast standing grip fights and the idea of an Olympic path.
- Pick BJJ if you want to spend most of your time on the ground, like solving problems from your back.
- Do both if you can. Judo’s throws score in BJJ, and BJJ’s groundwork helps in judo’s ground window.
New to both? Start with what is BJJ, then check BJJ weight classes if you plan to compete.
How do you know which positions really work for you?
Whichever art you train, progress shows up one position at a time. JitsAI gives your week one Focus and scores each technique by the kind of partner it worked on.
- One Focus a week, with pinned lessons from Henrique Rezende’s 74-lesson fundamentals course.
- A nine-level ladder for every technique, from partners less experienced than you to more experienced ones, each split lighter, same weight and heavier.
- Land it once and it’s a hit; 3 wins across 2 sessions and it’s proven.
$1 for 7 days, then $39 a year.
iPhone and Android.
Pick ONE thing One position for the week: an escape, a guard, a sweep.
Test it on everyone A quick check-in after class: who each round was against, and whether it worked.
Hit, then proven Land it once and it’s a HIT. Three across two sessions and it’s PROVEN.
Know what works See what holds up, against whom, then pick your next Focus.
What else do people ask about BJJ vs judo?
Is BJJ or judo better?
Neither is better overall; they reward different things. Judo is built around throws and quick pins, and is an Olympic sport. BJJ is built around groundwork and submissions, with no time limit on a pin. Pick the one whose training you enjoy, or cross-train.
Is BJJ harder than judo?
They are hard in different ways. Judo asks for explosive standing grip fights and throws. BJJ asks for long spells of groundwork. Both take years: BJJ’s IBJJF minimums put black belt at least 4.5 years after blue belt.
Can judo players do well in BJJ?
Judo throws and pins carry over, and a throw scores in BJJ as a 2-point takedown. The bigger adjustment is the guard: in BJJ, fighting from your back is normal, and groundwork isn’t cut short the way it is in judo.
Do BJJ and judo use the same gi?
Both use a jacket, trousers and a belt, but the rules differ. Judo events use white and blue judogi. IBJJF gi events allow white, royal blue or black. BJJ also has a no-gi version, in rash guard and shorts.
How long does it take to get a black belt in judo vs BJJ?
In British Judo, the minimum age to enter a dan grading (black belt) is 15, and promotion up to 5th dan is based on contest skill, theory and kata. In BJJ, IBJJF minimum times add up to 4.5 years from blue belt, with a minimum age of 19 for most people.