Different Ju Jitsu Styles and variants

[Kris H]

Hi,

I'm currently looking at taking up either Sakura Ryu Ju-Jitsu (www.sakuraryujujitsu.com) or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (www.bjj.com.au) or Hapkido.

I'm interested in a grappling art to complement my Muay Thai training for self defense purposes and prehaps competitions. Whats the main differences in Ju-Jitsu (notably the first style mentioned) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Cheers

[Freeform]

BJJ tends to focus on groundfighting more that JJ and there tends to be more pressure testing (sparring). JJ tends to be a more stand up style concentrating on throws and locks. If you do a lot of clinchwork in your MT class I'd suggest BJJ (especially if your thinking about comps). If not its pretty much a toss up, go do a couple of sessions at each club and then decide.

Col

[shootodog]

just off the top of my head, i'd say go bjj. bjj and muay thai have always had this synergy, that on completes the other (best case in point is team chute boxe).

yet, traditional jujutsu (or japanese jujutsu as my bjj friends insist me calling it) isn't just stand up work. it has much much much ground work if you know what ryu it comes from. shintoryu has mucho ground skills (maybe just as much as judo). the diff would be that judo is safer to train in than the old shintoryu jj.

[ranger]

you know what, if those styles were available to me and can be affordable i'll take them both. :D

[SoKKlab]

Hi,

I'm currently looking at taking up either Sakura Ryu Ju-Jitsu (www.sakuraryujujitsu.com) or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (www.bjj.com.au) or Hapkido.

I'm interested in a grappling art to complement my Muay Thai training for self defense purposes and prehaps competitions. Whats the main differences in Ju-Jitsu (notably the first style mentioned) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Cheers

Speaking as someone who has experience of the whole lot and who has done Muay Thai/ Thai fighting arts for a long time now (Oww, get him!), I'd say that:

There are Good aspects to Hapkido, but it will not gel particularly well with your Muay Thai, you'll find the striking frustrating compared to Muay Thai.

Most of the throws and locks are the same or very similar to JJJ, but because Hapkido tends to have an equal emphasis upon striking as well as Locks, throws etc, then you may start to not bother with it.

The true Hapkido kicking-ie Rebound, Retraction style, is a decent way of kicking, but coming from the Thai/ Burmese way, it can be frustrating.

Hapkido tends to work better with something that has certain similarities, ie Tae Kwon Do. So probably your least choice.

Japanese Ju Jitsu has a bit more in common in terms of being able to use Muay Thai like techniques as a part of your Ju Jitsu training.

Depending upon the system, you'll find that there is less emphasis in JJJ on specifiying exactly how to use a particular Striking tool, as in Elbow is just Elbow and most Modern Ju Jitsu systems will happily (to an extent) allow you to integrate your own way of doing things into the mix, as long as it doesn't contravene JJJ principles of movement. Some things are set in stone.

Ultimately as FF said, the majority of your time in JJJ will be doing Locks and Throws, so it can fit and there is a bit in common-Alot of the Kick Catching Throws, some of the body throws etc are very similar to techniques that you find within Muay Thai, but it can be equally frustrating and there are plenty of things that are foreign to someone from a Muay Thai background.

BJJ will fit reasonably well and it's a popular choice (although to me Western Wrestling, particularly Submission or Catch fits much better with Muay thai than BJJ) because they operate in mostly different areas, then they will mostly complement each other (But then so will a decent Judo Class, that teaches a fair amount of Groundwork in its syllabus).

BJJ is Probably your best choice in terms of enhancing your Self-protection prowess.

[Kris H]

Speaking as someone who has experience of the whole lot and who has done Muay Thai/ Thai fighting arts for a long time now (Oww, get him!), I'd say that:

There are Good aspects to Hapkido, but it will not gel particularly well with your Muay Thai, you'll find the striking frustrating compared to Muay Thai.

Most of the throws and locks are the same or very similar to JJJ, but because Hapkido tends to have an equal emphasis upon striking as well as Locks, throws etc, then you may start to not bother with it.

The true Hapkido kicking-ie Rebound, Retraction style, is a decent way of kicking, but coming from the Thai/ Burmese way, it can be frustrating.

Hapkido tends to work better with something that has certain similarities, ie Tae Kwon Do. So probably your least choice.

Japanese Ju Jitsu has a bit more in common in terms of being able to use Muay Thai like techniques as a part of your Ju Jitsu training.

Depending upon the system, you'll find that there is less emphasis in JJJ on specifiying exactly how to use a particular Striking tool, as in Elbow is just Elbow and most Modern Ju Jitsu systems will happily (to an extent) allow you to integrate your own way of doing things into the mix, as long as it doesn't contravene JJJ principles of movement. Some things are set in stone.

Ultimately as FF said, the majority of your time in JJJ will be doing Locks and Throws, so it can fit and there is a bit in common-Alot of the Kick Catching Throws, some of the body throws etc are very similar to techniques that you find within Muay Thai, but it can be equally frustrating and there are plenty of things that are foreign to someone from a Muay Thai background.

BJJ will fit reasonably well and it's a popular choice (although to me Western Wrestling, particularly Submission or Catch fits much better with Muay thai than BJJ) because they operate in mostly different areas, then they will mostly complement each other (But then so will a decent Judo Class, that teaches a fair amount of Groundwork in its syllabus).

BJJ is Probably your best choice in terms of enhancing your Self-protection prowess.

Thankyou,

This was particularly helpful. I went to one of the Hapkido classes, and exactly as you said, i found the kick and step back technique frustrating, and the punching technique most annoying, coming from down by the hips. It just wasn't compatible, not to say it is a bad style, it's also just that the school was quite 'pure' and didn't want any integration so.........

I think i will go with the JJJ (Sakura Ryu is apparently 'Cherry Blossom' if that helps) since i have been to three classes, and most of it has been groundwork thus far, however the biggest thing is it involves only about 5 mins travel time versus about 45 mins each way to get to the BJJ.

Thanks all for your help.

[Kenpo Kicker]

I would go with bjj since you don't have to do katas but travel time is important. I dunno if your jj has them or not. If you like the katas shoot for it.

[Kris H]

so far i haven't seen any sign of katas, but i'll check tonight. I dislike katas. I would do the BJJ the probelm is i don't have a car and takes more like an hour or an hour 15 to get there by bus :(

Still i shall see......

[Kenpo Kicker]

Oh, thats no good for travel. JJ has some great stuff in it. It may not be trad jj who knows.

[Cyrax]

Kaigan-Ryu Ju-Jitsu
http://www.arkjujitsu.com