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Judo

What’s Better for Self Defense, Judo or BJJ?

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Which Martial Art Is Better for Self Defense… Judo or BJJ ?Which combat art is better for self defense in Texarkana, BJJ or Judo?

This question comes up so often and is very polarizing. Everyone has an opinion based on their own experiences.

I have been fortunate enough to train both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with some incredible instructors.

I don’t believe that there is a single right answer here.

Should you train BJJ or Judo?

It depends on the specific gym, the instructor, the other students, and the individual that is thinking about training.

These probably matter much more than the art itself in this case… and because a wide variety exists in all these variables and what may suit you may not be the best for many others.

It depends a lot on you because if you don’t like the training or are training at a place where you are often injured due to poor safety standards then you won’t get good enough to use the techniques in a self defense situation.

Judo for Self Defense

My Judo instructor, the late Vince Tamura, was very ‘old school’ and taught his family’s style of jujitsu as well as Judo in a pretty well rounded curriculum that still predominately focused on competitive Judo for the most part.

I don’t think the self defense techniques were all that necessary to allow any of the Judoka I trained with to defend themselves against an attack.

The throws, conditioning, and the groundwork would give you a huge advantage in a fight over an opponent that likely knows nothing in the grappling area either stand up or ground.

There is a little less variation in curriculum between Judo schools, but it’s still very variable depending on the coach.

Judo tends to really stand out in the clinch/throwing department.

There’s more to Judo than throws though as I mention below.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Self Defense

Restating the idea above, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu may be the best art for you.

It depends.

As far as self defense goes, the greatest danger is when you are in close combat – not when you’re throwing punches at each other while at a distance.

If you aren’t in the clinch already you are likely able to get away in most situations… or you can very likely get there quickly.

In close combat, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner is going to have a huge advantage over the average person.

The specific Jiu Jitsu school curriculum does matter to some degree.

If the training is too focused on competition techniques without covering basic foundational Jiu Jitsu techniques then it might not be quite as effective… even so, the average sport focused BJJ practitioner will have a big advantage in close combat over most attacks.

If there are no clinch or takedown techniques it might not be ideal for self defense.

I haven’t done a formal  survey of BJJ schools, but I would guess the vast majority teach some stand up grappling to varying degrees.

Judo or BJJ for Self Defense

The reality is that both martial arts are likely to help someone be able to defend themselves for a variety of reasons.

  • These are both grappling based martial arts that will give you skills in close range combat where the vast majority of the public have no technical skills.
  • Both martial arts are generally trained against a resisting opponent giving the practitioners a more realistic type of training where the practitioners have to develop strategies that work in a real situation.
  • These arts tend to push your fitness, conditioning, and balance which will give you an advantage over the vast majority of people that do not train and are out of shape.
  • Both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will help practitioners develop mental toughness and perseverance through constant challenges that will help you in a self defense situation when things may get tough.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu

Texarkana is a small town. We don’t have a separate Judo gym here.

My own gym, Texarkana Jiu Jitsu, trains a good amount of Judo in our Jiu Jitsu class.

At my school, Texarkana Jiu Jitsu, we spend a significant amount of time on takedowns in our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes although not as much as the average Judo school.

This time is vastly more than the individual you are likely to fight in a self defense situation has in stand up grappling… and more than the average BJJ school.

The ground matters, a lot, particularly for women’s self defense who in the worst scenario will be put on their back against likely a bigger, stronger male… but the ground matters for everyone that gets in a fight.

Mostly to be able to get up or sweep from the bottom, as well as being able to dominate in the top position.

 

Coach Marc Hagebusch

 

 

 

The Clinch Position and Judo for Self Defense

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Stand Up Grappling For Self Defense… The ClinchJudo for Self Defense in Texarkana

The Arts That Focus On This Range To Varying Degrees Includes Judo, Wrestling, Sambo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Muay Thai Kickboxing.

A recent question was asked, “Is Judo effective for self Defense?”

Of course anything can happen in a fight.

It’s best not to fight and to do your best to avoid situations where fights are more likely to occur when possible.

An unarmed fight can be broken down into 3 ranges…

  1. Unattached stand up where striking, takedown shots, and running away can be used.
  2. Attached stand up where grappling and striking can occur. This is the clinch range.
  3.  The ground where an opponent can better be immobilized and submitted.

Judo can be exceptionally effective in a street fight.

Judo is generally best in the clinch range.

Judo is excellent for developing good throws from the clinch position. Some of the grips are clothing based, but most are easily adapted for less clothing self defense situations.

The average person in a fight knows nothing about this range. They will not understand control positions or balance.

Judo practitioners develop some skills on the ground, some develop more than others.

Regardless, Judo practitioners will generally know much more than what the average person knows on the ground (which is basically nothing).

Throws for Self Defense.

A good throw will generally end a fight and could possibly cause very serious injury to the person thrown depending on the throw, it’s execution, and how/what they land on.

Throws are often very fast as well. This means that the fight can end quickly with a throw.

The Judo practitioner can use a throw and remain standing if they choose where they can strike, negotiate with the person (if they are still conscious), or leave .

The thrower can also choose/may land on the opponent adding to the force of the throw.

Spending time learning the clinch range is a critical part of self defense and Judo is very good for this range.

At Texarkana Jiu Jitsu, we spend a considerable amount of time on developing the clinch range, takedowns, and throws because they are very important for any martial artist and especially useful in a fight.

Coach Marc started training in Judo in 1993 under the late 9th degree Judo black belt Vince Tamura in Dallas. He has continued training over the years and incorporates Judo into his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Program.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts and Fitness Classes for Kids (Age 4 and Up), Teens, Men and Women. We Help Texarkana Area Kids, Men, and Women Live Healthier, More Active Lives.

Martial Arts Classes for Fitness, Self Defense, Confidence, Competition, and a More Active, Positive Lifestyle!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kids Martial Arts. Cardio Kickboxing. Yoga. Beginners and All Fitness Levels Are Always Welcome!

Want To Try A FREE First Class In One Of Our Programs?

Contact Us and We’ll Set It Up For You.

Call Us or Email Us

A Parent’s Guide To Martial Arts In Texarkana

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Parents Have Several Different Options For Kids Martial Arts Classes In Texarkana.

Martial arts can definitely be confusing to parents that haven’t been involved in an art before!​

This post is meant to help parents learn a little more about the martial arts so they can make the best decision for their family.

This post covers a lot of things a parent who is unfamiliar with the martial arts should know before choosing a Texarkana martial arts school for their child.

We talk about traditional martial arts versus combat sports martial arts programs in this previous post.

So many different martial arts exist… Judo? Kickboxing? MMA? Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)? Wrestling? Karate? Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu?? Krav Maga? Boxing? Self Defense?

Parents put their kids into a martial arts program for many different reasons.

The parent might be concerned about their child being bullied or want them to get more active to get in shape, learn to focus better (many parents that have kids with ADD and ADHD put their kids in our program), discipline, self defense, develop mental toughness, help them develop better social skills or a better positive mindset.

There are many different martial arts styles that emphasize very different techniques.

Some martial arts focus on teaching a child how to punch and kick to defend themselves.

Examples of these types of martial arts are karate, tae kwon do (TKD), boxing, kickboxing, and to varying degrees mixed martial arts (MMA).

Other martial arts focus on techniques that allow someone to control a larger, more aggressive opponent and put them in a position where they are unable to harm the person.

The attacked can then determine the appropriate response whether it’s controlling the person, getting away, or using additional force.

Examples of these arts include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling.

This is primarily what we teach the kids at Texarkana Jiu Jitsu… Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (with self defense application), Judo, and Wrestling.

We do this because we want the kids to be able to control the situation and not just get in a punching and kicking contest with another kids.

This reduces the chances that your child will get hit and also prevents the other child from having to be hurt as well.

The next big thing to consider has to do with who is teaching your child.

It’s important that the school instructors have good character and a positive attitude.

This is much more important than even the style.

It really matters who your child spends time with because it has a big impact on them.

The instructors also create the culture in the class.

How the class is ran and how the kids behave in class.

kids brazilian jiu jitsu best class in texarkana

This is important for the same reason.

Your child is influenced by those around them.

We really focus on creating the right environment to help kids achieve more in martial arts and more importantly, outside of martial arts.

Speaking of those around them, another important factor is the age group of the program.

We’ve found over the last 19 years of teaching Jiu Jitsu in Texarkana that the kids need to have age appropriate instruction.

We break the classes down into 2 groups – the 4 to 6 year olds and the 7 to 12 year old groups.

Even within the same age group, we often split the kids based on physical attributes and age.

 

The facility also matters.

 

It’s important that it’s large enough, safe, and clean.

 

It’s important that the program offers a free class to check out the instruction, facility, and culture of the school.

At Texarkana Jiu Jitsu, we offer a free first class to come in and check out the program.

It’s the first step to make sure the program is right for you and your family.

It gives you the opportunity to see the facility, meet the instructors, and have any questions you have about the programs answered.

This will help you make a better decision about the program before joining.

As far as price goes, most martial arts schools will be within about $10 per month of one another for tuition.

Many schools also have added fees of buying equipment as often as every month, paying for promotion ceremonies, membership in associations, and events.

We charge $97 a month for the kids classes. We​ do not other hidden charges. We hold​ ​in school competitions,parents night out, parties, and events for the kids for free.

It’s really important that parents understand the ins and outs of martial arts and think about these things so they can make the right decision for their children.

If you’re interested in setting up the first class, contact us and we’ll get it set up for you!

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts and Fitness Classes for Kids (Age 4 and Up), Teens, Men and Women. We Help Texarkana Area Kids, Men, and Women Live Healthier, More Active Lives.

Martial Arts Classes for Fitness, Self Defense, Confidence, Competition, and a More Active, Positive Lifestyle!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kids Martial Arts. Cardio Kickboxing. Yoga. Beginners and All Fitness Levels Are Always Welcome!

Call Us: (903) 793-1085 Email Us: TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com

Ex-Navy SEAL Commander On Why He Trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

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Jocko Willink talks about the importance of training BJJ, developing personal power, the mental and physical skill sets that allow athletes to compete in MMA at a high level.

Check it out. Great insight into a high level achiever.

https://youtu.be/qYPMwFemmIo

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu took off in the US when Royce Gracie entered the 1st UFC back in 1993.

In the US, this was the beginning of what is now known as MMA.

Royce Gracie went on to win 3 out of the first 4 UFCs, submitting all opponents in the process.

In 1995, our head coach Marc Hagebusch was fortunate to become one of the first Texans to train BJJ when Carlos Machado came to Dallas. Carlos Machado is a cousin of the Gracie family and the eldest brother of the legendary Machado Brothers.

Coach Marc was training Judo at the time under the legendary Vince Tamura.

He continued training both highly effective combat sports, Judo and BJJ.

In 1999, Coach Marc moved to Texarkana to take over a clinic and began sharing his Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Wrestling, and Self Defense.

At the time, the only styles available in Texarkana were Karate and Tae Kwon Do.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu began in 1999 and still continues today with popular kids and adult programs… plus Fitness Programs, Cardio Kickboxing, and Weight Loss.

If you’re interested in finding out more about what we offer OR if you would like to try a Free First Class, send us an email or call us and we’ll get it set up for you!

Types of Combat Sports and Martial Arts

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The Combat Sports, MMA, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, and Jiu Jitsu in Texarkanatexarkana martial arts and combat sports training

In order to be extraordinary, you must not follow the ordinary path.

It makes sense.

All Martial Arts Offer Some Benefit for It’s Practitioners.

The style that you choose should suit what you want to accomplish with training.

Different styles appeal to people for different reasons.

This post will talk about some of the training differences from a broad perspective to help people understand different training methods.

It is not meant to be this art or style is better than another art.

Gracie Jiu Jitsu

The Gracies developing a system of martial arts that was grappling based contrary to the common wisdom of the time that grappling didn’t work in a fight. This idea went on the revolutionize the martial arts, combat arts and sports. The Gracies were the founders of modern MMA and the UFC.

They used the UFC to show the world how well Brazilian Jiu Jitsu performed in a very close to no rules fight against other skilled martial artists.

One of the Gracies, Royce Gracie, went on to win 3 out of the first 4 UFCs.

Martial Art Styles

If you’re thinking about training for yourself or your child, many different styles exist… Karate (like Shotokan), Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, Judo, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Kickboxing, Sambo, and other combat sports and martial arts.

By the way, I like to make this distinction in martial arts styles/systems.

You can break martial arts into two groups… the combat arts/sports and the ‘traditional‘ martial arts.

What’s the difference in these 2 Martial Arts categories?

Traditional Martial Arts

Traditional martial arts include tae kwon do, karate (like Shotokan karate and Kenpo karate), Japanese ju jitsu, Aikido, and others.

These martial arts are by in large a static system that was passed down through many years, often centuries.

These arts are generally a closed system of martial arts. The techniques do not generally change over time.

A large part of the practice in these styles consists of the practice of forms or kata. These are long sequences of movements that are memorized.

Presumably, the arts were taught that way because of limited written communication / reading. It was a way to pass on the techniques in this era.

They often incorporate weapons that were used centuries ago like the staff, nunchuks, or tonfa.

These arts do not typically spend much time in live drilling and sparring against a resisting opponent. It varies depending on the school.

The old school traditional arts tend to discourage much cross training in other arts, whereas some of the less traditional ones allow or at times encourage cross training. It depends on the art and the particular martial arts school/instructor.

Combat Martial Arts and Combat Sports

The combat arts include MMA, boxing, muay thai/kickboxing, judo, wrestling, sambo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

These arts are not static.

These arts tend to be an open system of arts that change over time as new things are learned and improved on.

These arts are based more upon performance, that is being able to use the movements against a resisting opponent that has counter intentions of their own.

You see these arts as the primary styles that work in Mixed Martial Arts competitions like the UFC.

This type of training follows the line of thinking that if you want to learn how to swim, you’ll have to get in the water.

The benefits to training in combat arts like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that participants develop…

  • the ability to use what they learn in a more realistic scenario.
  • improved fitness, endurance, and conditioning.
  • improved focus because the participant remains attentive and present in practice and training.
  • improved discipline in other areas of their life because participants want to perform better in their chosen sport and this causes them to evaluate if their lifestyle (habits, diet, exercise, …) will improve their performance or reduce it
  • Gain much better control of their emotions because anger and other negative emotions will cause them to perform poorly during training (and competition)
  • and the confidence that they can actually use the techniques against an attacker.

A very important added benefit to training in a grappling style like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that participants are able to train without the repetitive head trauma that often occurs in the striking arts.

As we learn more about concussions, this is something that many are rightfully concerned with both for adults and especially for kids.

Plus, as far as kids go, the kids learn how to handle a bully or an attacker without having to resort to punching or kicking them.

Kids in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu learn how to control their aggressor without injuring them. This is particularly important with modern school policies punshing both students involved in a fight, regardless if it was simply from one bullying another.

There is some cross over between the 2 camps of martial arts at times and different martial arts schools may lean a little more towards performance or kata type training regardless of style depending upon the instructor.

However, this is a good way to intellectualize the difference between the various martial arts.

Want To Try A Texarkana Jiu Jitsu Class?

Call Us: (903) 793-1085 Email Us: TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com