Learning a martial art- is one of the best ways you can learn to fight and improve yourself. Karate and Judo are suitable for these purposes and also provide many benefits, such as increased confidence and better mental health.
However, you may struggle to choose one to learn. So, let’s see which is the better fighting style, Karate or Judo:
Judo is a more effective martial art than Karate because it teaches how to force an opponent to submit swiftly. On the other hand, Karate is the art of punching and kicking, which aren’t as effective as grappling movements. That said, Judo doesn’t teach any striking techniques, which can be significant.
Choosing which one you’ll learn can be difficult. Ironically enough, the choice itself might be more complicated than the actual training. Thus if you can minimize the amount of thinking you do and still know which is most suitable for your desires and needs, you’ll be solid for the rest of your fighting journey.
All martial arts provide a unique value. Consequently, you only need to worry about whether you’ll stay consistent in particular martial art.
For instance, while some will stay consistent if they decide to study Judo, others won’t. As a result, it’ll be best for them to choose another one, such as Karate.
The following section will discuss the better fighting style, Karate or Judo.
Which is better, Karate or Judo?
When comparing two martial arts, many factors jump into the equation. Eventually, it’s almost impossible to say which is better, as each gives its unique value. As a result, to compare them confidently, we must assume two fighters of the same skill level were to fight. Then, we can assume which is the more effective martial art.
Judo is better than Karate because it teaches more effective fighting techniques, takedowns, throws, and submissions. These are grappling techniques, the most effective movements in the fighting world. Only a single land of one Judo technique can lead to an instant victory on the opponent.
Nonetheless, Karate is incredibly practical as well. Consequently, if you want to learn it for the many reasons it grants its trainees, you should do it.
The differences between Karate and Judo
Karate and Judo are similar, yet different. So, knowing their other traits- is a critical step in the process of choosing the most suitable one. If you know the 3-following sections, I’m confident you’ll choose the right one and keep up with training, which is the gap between success and failure.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the first difference.
Difference #1- Fighting techniques
The fighting techniques Karate and Judo teach- are distinguished. In fact, it doesn’t take a microscope to notice the different fighting approaches each present.
While Karate is the art of punching and kicking, Judo is the art of throwing grappling. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s when you throw your opponent off balance and pin him to the ground. However, most Judo schools don’t teach striking, which is what the first style is all about.
From my perspective, the fighting techniques the fighting style instructs- are the most prominent step in your decision-making process. Eventually, if you’re not eager to learn the fighting movements, you won’t stay consistent with your training.
Now, let’s elaborate on each technique and why it’s effective/ineffective.
As previously mentioned, Karate is the art of punching and kicking. Of course, it teaches you to use them in many variations and combinations. Therefore, mastering it- is incredibly challenging and often takes longer than a decade.
What Karate teaches is more than functional; it’s practical and effective for self-defense and all other fighting purposes. As a result, its masters and most trainees can use what they learned to defend themselves in an emergency properly.
Moreover, Judo is the art of throwing grappling. Such movements allow you to pin an opponent to the ground with a single execution. You will come out victorious in a real fight if your opponent is pinned to the ground.
Difference #2- Rules & Points
The second difference is the rules and points in competitions. Eventually, both Karate and Judo became worldwide sports. In fact, the first is an Olympic sport. As a result, its viewership is higher than the average martial art. So, the rules and way of calculating the points- matter.
You get a point in Karate by landing a clean hit on your opponent. There are 3-ways you can earn points, Yuko (1-point), Wazzari (2-points), and Ippon (3-points). However, complete contact isn’t allowed in a match, and breaking the rules will lead to disqualification.
Judo’s pointing system works as follows: Your goal is to pin the opponent while he’s on his back to the ground. Then, you can land an Ippon to gain 2-full points by landing a successful throwing grappling movement on your opponent. And, you can receive a smaller point by landing a Wazzari.
Because the martial arts use different fighting techniques, the rules will also be different. For example, because Karate is the art of punching and kicking, you can use punches and kicks (which makes sense). But on the other hand, these fighting techniques are illegal in Judo.
The following video showcases some of Judo’s techniques and why they’re incredibly effective.
Difference #3- Defensive/Offensive
The last difference is the aggressiveness measurement of each martial art. Eventually, some fighting styles will have more aggressive traits than others. For example, Tai Chi, a traditional martial art that uses slower than usual movements, isn’t as bold as MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).
Karate is a more aggressive martial art than Judo because it has more offensive traits than the latter. For instance, Judo is constructed to be used in self-defense situations, which means when you’re under attack. While Karate has the same purpose, it includes movements that allow you to attack first.
If you’re in a situation where you can use Judo techniques, you’re in close quarters with your opponent. Therefore, the situation has likely escalated too far, and you must defend yourself.
While Karate appreciates the same background, the case is different. Essentially, some of its movements will allow you to attack before your opponent can react. For example, the front kick is a beautiful technique you can use to cause massive damage to the opponent before the fight has begun.
The following video demonstrates my point perfectly.
The similarities between Karate and Judo
Thus far, we’ve discussed the different traits between the two martial arts. While it’s vital to know the information I mentioned this far, there’s one thing missing.
So, we’ve talked about the different traits, but what about the similar ones? Knowing them will give you the upper hand in the decision-making process. Knowing what they do makes them alike; you’ll learn and appreciate them better.
Hence you’ll know better which is the most suitable of the two.
Let’s dive in.
Similarity #1- Purpose
The first similarity we’ll discuss is their purpose. In my eyes, that’s what every martial arts trainee must know. How likely will you stay consistent for years to come if you don’t? I’ll say not so much.
The purpose of Karate and Judo is to teach people to fight appropriately and fiercely. Throughout the years, it has also become a platform for self-improvement for many people. Starting to train out of these two reasons- will ensure you keep up with your training, as you’ll have a why.
It all starts with a why, a reason. What is it all for if you don’t know what you’re doing? It’s likely if you don’t have concrete why you won’t stay consistent and dedicated enough to enjoy the many benefits it brings.
In the following section, we’ll discuss how both came to life. First, however, you should know one last detail: Karate and Judo are suitable platforms for self-defense.
Consequently, if you dedicate yourself to learning and practicing, you’ll enjoy many benefits, mental and physical. For example, many Judo trainees report feeling more confident and with a better appreciation for themselves. This is caused by overcoming many obstacles the training will present, like beating an opponent for the first time.
Similarity #2- Origin
The second similar trait is the place of birth for both of them. I find it interesting when two fighting styles that don’t look alike eventually come from close proximity.
Well, you may ask yourself, why do I need to know the origin? How will it help me know which is most suitable? In our case, it won’t, as they’re from the same place.
However, it is vital information to know where they’re from and why it makes them unique.
Karata and Judo originate from Japan. They’ve developed and re-constructed throughout the years to fit today’s world better. Today, you can learn and use them to learn self-defense and as a sport. For instance, many people do martial arts to improve their physical shape and condition.
Eventually, the place of origin tells us how martial art came to be what it is- today. So, although it doesn’t say anything about the fighting techniques or the fighting approach, it does suggest many positive attributes, such as the ability to learn it for self-defense.
Similarity #3- Difficulty and Hardships
Everyone experiences difficult times. However, yours are likely to be different than your friend’s.
The case is different when discussing martial arts. If you practice in one, you’re familiar with the various hardships it may bring. For example, many martial arts trainees report wanting to give up. That applies to many fighting styles and many trainees.
Karate and Judo present similar difficult moments, such as wanting to give up and not feeling as motivated to attend the next class. The case applies to most martial arts, and thus it’s comforting to know that people have already felt how you do now so that you can feel at ease.
The difficult primary period is at the beginning of your training. That’s when you invest plenty of effort and sweat into training but are not seeing even minor results.
Nonetheless, once you pass this period, you’ll feel enlightened. Your motivation will begin to fuel up again because results will come your way. So, you’ll have another reason to attend training.
However, you won’t see any results in the initial training time. Consequently, it’ll be challenging to feel eager to attend the next training session.
In fact, the same applies to any activity in life. When you start doing something that requires concentration and time, you’ll have to go through the initial period, which I like to call The ghost town phase.
Beyond it lies many results and benefits that will fuel your motivation tank again. So concentrate on going over it, and you’ll have enough fuel for the rest of your way.
Which is better for self-defense, Karate or Judo?
As previously discussed, Karate and Judo’s purpose is to teach people how to fight appropriately. In short, teach them self-defense. Thus they’ll both be suitable for such a pursuit, regardless of which is better.
Judo is better than Karate for self-defense because it teaches more practical and effective fighting techniques: grappling. On the other hand, Karate teaches you punching and kicking in many variations. So while it’s effective and suitable for self-defense, the first one is more influential and more suitable overall.
Self-defense calls for action. If you want to master it, you must learn to take action. All martial arts will guide you on shifting your brain’s reaction when noticing a dangerous situation.
That’s one of the reactions that may disrupt your way of disabling the attacker. In fact, if you won’t react appropriately, odds are- you won’t be able to cause massive damage- if any.
If your goal is to learn self-defense solely, I encourage you to choose Judo. But do know that Karate will make you a solid fighter as well. So, don’t be discouraged if you want to learn it. Instead, begin as soon as possible to notice results sooner.
Finally, Karate and Judo are suitable and effective martial arts for self-defense. However, the latter is more appropriate for such a purpose because it teaches many grappling techniques, which are highly effective in fighting. As a result, it’s more suitable than the first one.
Should I learn Karate or Judo?
To answer this question, I must refer to you as an individual. What do I mean? To you, Karate might be most appropriate. However, for others, Judo is precisely that. So, I’ll compare needs to a martial art. But then, you’ll know which will be best if you pick.
If you desire to study a traditional martial art that teaches punching and kicking in many variations, consider Karate. On the other hand, if you want to learn a fighting style that focuses on throwing grappling, one of the most effective movements in the self-defense world, Judo is for you.
Eventually, it all boils down to what you’re most eager about. For example, if grappling is what makes you most excited, Judo is for you. On the other hand, if using combinations suitable for self-defense and self-improvement is your jam, Karate is more suitable.
Choosing the right one is vital since that’s the one way you’re most likely to ensure you keep up with your training. For example, if you’re not as eager to learn the techniques from the beginning of your journey, you’ll most likely quit before noticing any concrete results.
To summarize, both martial arts are fantastic choices for self-improvement and learning to fight. However, the fighting techniques they teach are different and appropriate for other people. As a result, you can compare what you want to learn with a designated fighting style.
Final words
It’s been a pleasure writing this article, as I have wanted to for a long time. Comparing two martial arts- is always demanding both in the research and writing processes of my publishing routine. As a result, I’m always happy and eager to learn more and more about these topics.
Karate and Judo are two incredibly effective martial arts, suitable for self-defense and self-improvement. Thus it doesn’t matter what you want to achieve on the side of the results. Instead, it’ll be best to focus on the fighting techniques and compare what you’re eager to learn and the martial art.
If you enjoyed reading this article, I encourage you to read about the deadliest martial arts. It’ll grant you more knowledge on which you should learn compared to your needs and desires.