What is the Difference Between Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu? | Explained
There are so many Martial Arts that are out there, and it can become overwhelming to remember which one is which.
In this page, we will explain what is the difference between Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu.
What is the Difference Between Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu?
Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu could not be more different. Taekwondo is a striking-based martial art that focuses on leg kicks for fights that remain standing.
Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art, that mostly takes place on the ground and uses submissions (rather than strikes) to control the opponent.
Taekwondo uses the traditional uniform (Gi) to practice, and they use sparring gear when they compete and/or spar against other opponents.
Jiu Jitsu has Gi and No Gi Jiu Jitsu, where practitioners can practice with or without a uniform.
Even though it's the same sport, grappling in the Gi and grappling without the Gi are completely different.
Do Taekwondo Skills Translate to Jiu Jitsu?
I learned Taekwondo at an extremely young age and then practiced for decades before I jumped into Jiu Jitsu.
From my experience, only two skills that I developed from Taekwondo translated over to Jiu Jitsu.
The only skills that I noticed that were beneficial were being able to maintain my balance on one leg, when an opponent grabbed hold of my leg, and having very good flexibility.
Dealing with balancing on one leg occurs very rarely, but on the other hand, being flexible allowed me to get into advantageous positions that not everyone can get into.
After getting the back of my opponents, having the flexibility to lock them into a body triangle has helped my confidence, and in my earlier days allowed me to slow down the session while I figured out what to do next.
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a Korean-based martial art that emphasizes a variety of kicks, including head kicks, fast kicking techniques, and even spinning kicks.
It's commonly referred to as the Best Kicking Martial Art.
This martial art has one of the most diverse skill sets, as far as kicks go, as every class focuses on unique ways for students to work on their kicks.
The focused areas can include kicks focused on speed, power, and equilibrium.
Students will learn every different kick as they progress through the ranks, and the higher the rank, the tougher the curriculum.
What is Jiu-Jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu is fighting that takes place on the ground, where students will use grappling to neutralize their opponents using submissions.
Jiu Jitsu prioritizes technique over everything else, and regardless of your strength and/or athleticism, technique evens out the playing field.
Royce Gracie is the best example of this as he elevated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the national spotlight, where Gracie would go on to dominate the early UFC events, tapping out all of his opponents, despite giving up a significant amount of weight vs larger opponents.
Many people consider this the best martial art for all ages.