Judo vs Taekwondo: Japanese Against South Korean Fight Style

Photo by Kurt Nordstrom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Are you planning on becoming a martial artist, or do you want to learn how to defend yourself? There are hundreds of martial arts to pick from, and judo and taekwondo are two of the most popular.

Telling the two apart can be tricky for beginners. After all, both are unarmed Asian martial arts and Olympic sports.

Which is better: Judo or Taekwondo?

Main Difference Between Judo vs. Taekwondo

The main difference between Judo vs. taekwondo are:

• Judo is a grappling art based on throws and pins, whereas taekwondo is a striking art known for its kicks.
• Judo originated in Japan, whereas taekwondo comes from Korea.
• Earning a black belt often takes longer in judo than in taekwondo, though it varies by school.
• Judo uses no protective gear, whereas taekwondo sparring uses headgear, a chest protector, forearm and shin guards, and other padding.
• Judo practitioners are called judoka and their teachers sensei, whereas taekwondo teachers are called sabeom-nim.

Taekwondo vs. Judo: What Are the Differences?

The main differences between judo and taekwondo come from their origins. How each art spread around the world shaped its techniques and its image.

So if you want help choosing, or want to check whether a class in your hometown is the real thing, it helps to know a bit of history.

The Origin of Taekwondo

Taekwondo, also written tae kwon do, is a Korean martial art best known for its fast, high and spinning kicks. Training includes kicks, punches, blocks and footwork, with kicks taking center stage.

This fighting style originated in Korea. A key figure in uniting the Korean martial arts of the time was General Choi Hong Hi.

After World War II, several Korean martial arts schools, known as kwans, came together to develop taekwondo as a unified Korean art.

General Choi wrote a "Theory of Power" to explain powerful striking using basic physics. It covers ideas such as reaction force, concentration, balance, breath control, mass and speed, and it stresses that speed adds more to a strike's power than mass does.

That emphasis on power and reach helps explain why taekwondo leans so heavily on kicks. The legs are longer and stronger than the arms, so kicks can strike from farther away with a lot of force.

Fun Fact: One popular martial art from Japan is often compared to the Korean fighting style. Learn about this by researching Taekwondo vs Karate for a more in-depth comparison between the two.

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The Origin of Judo

In judo, the goal is to throw an opponent cleanly to the mat or control them on the ground with pins, chokes or joint locks. There are no kicks or punches in competition.

Judo was the first Asian martial art to become an Olympic sport, at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Jigoro Kano developed judo in the late 1800s from jujutsu, founding the Kodokan in 1882.

It is built on throws, pins, chokes and armlocks. Judo uniforms are thicker than karate uniforms because opponents grip and pull on them. Striking appears only in a few traditional forms, not in competition or regular sparring.

Fun Fact: Judo is one of the popular types of martial arts renowned globally.

Knock-Out Point: Are you into high kicks or strong punches? You might want to check out our comparative article on two martial arts for more information -- Taekwondo vs Karate.

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Taekwondo vs. Judo: What Are the Key Similarities?

Both are effective self-defense tools, and they have a few things in common. One of the main similarities is that both come from East Asia: judo from Japan and taekwondo from Korea.

Many of the world's best-known martial arts come from Asia.

Another similarity is that both are Olympic sports, even though one focuses on grappling and the other on kicking. And both can help you defend yourself against an untrained attacker.

Which Is Better: Judo or Taekwondo?

There's no single winner. It depends on the people involved and the rules of the match.

Under no-holds-barred rules, many coaches would favor the judoka if they can close the distance, because a skilled judoka can take a taekwondo fighter down and control them on the ground.

Photo by Amuzujoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Judo

Martial arts are trained largely so people can protect themselves and their families. But many people never pick a style and stick with it long enough to get good.

When you watch demonstrations, taekwondo's kicks can look like the best form of self-defense. In my opinion, though, judo is the more practical option.

So, why do I prefer Judo? Unless the first strike ends it, many real fights turn into clinching and wrestling. At close range, with grabbing, knees and short punches, a judoka is in their element.

A judoka wants to put their opponent on the ground. Spinning kicks look impressive, but a clean throw like harai goshi onto a hard surface can end a fight on its own.

Once a judoka gets a taekwondo practitioner to the ground, a pin, choke or armlock is often only a matter of time.

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Are Judo and Taekwondo in the Olympics?

Yes. Judo and taekwondo have both been Olympic sports for years. Karate appeared once, at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Combat sports date back to the ancient Olympics, but most martial arts have never been part of the Games.

In the ancient Olympics, wrestling was added in 708 BCE and boxing, called "pyx" (with the fist), in 688 BCE.

Men's Judo debuted at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and women's judo became a medal sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Taekwondo was a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Games and became a full medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Electronic scoring with the PSS (Protector and Scoring System) was first used at the Olympics at the London 2012 Games.

Can You Do Takedowns or Flips in Taekwondo?

Traditionally, taekwondo includes few takedowns or throws. It is mainly known for kicks and strikes. Some schools add gymnastics-style warm-ups, so the idea of takedowns, flips and grappling isn't new to every student.

Some schools now teach grappling techniques as part of their self-defense curriculum.

Judo, on the other hand, is full of takedowns and throws. Its techniques also helped shape Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which grew out of judo and jujutsu taught in Brazil in the early 1900s.

Fun Fact: Many contemporary gymnasiums nowadays have dummies to improve grappling, kicking, and punching skills. Know more about these contraptions by researching the best grappling dummy models on the market today!

Can Taekwondo Be Effective in a Street Fight?

Although it's a sport, Taekwondo can be useful in a street fight, especially against an untrained person. Fast kicks give you range, but sport taekwondo rules don't prepare you for grabbing, clinching or punches to the head.

Taekwondo features footwork, blocking, striking and kicking, which help with keeping distance and defending.

Photo by Mohammadhossein Movahedinejad, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Taekwondo

These skills can help protect you, but a street fight has no rules. Anything goes, so a practitioner who has only trained for the sport may be at a disadvantage.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Is More Effective -- Judo or Karate?

Neither is better in every situation. Karate trains strikes at range, while judo trains throws and ground control at close range. Judo practitioners are often more comfortable when a fight hits the ground, while karate practitioners prefer to keep it standing. The better choice depends on your goals and on how hard each school spars.

Is Krav Maga a Judo or Karate Technique?

No. Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by Imi Lichtenfeld and later adopted by the Israel Defense Forces. It borrows from boxing, wrestling, judo and other arts, and it focuses on real-world self-defense.

Is Kung Fu Similar to Judo?

No. Judo is a modern Japanese martial art focused on throws and grappling, while kung fu is an umbrella term for many Chinese martial arts, most of which focus on striking.

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Conclusion

Both are Asian martial arts, but they work very differently. Judo is built on throws and ground control, while taekwondo is built on kicks. For one-on-one self-defense, I believe judo is more practical because it teaches you to control and subdue an attacker at close range.

Sources

• Jigoro Kano, Hall of Fame, International Judo Federation