Judo is often cited as being one of the main influences in the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, people don’t often bring up all of Judo’s influences.
Here’s a breakdown of all of the martial arts that helped influence the grappling art of Judo.
What Are Judo’s Influences?
Judo’s influences came from a wide variety of different grappling styles from Japan, as well as other influences from the West. Jigoro Kano took elements from numerous styles of Japanese JuJutsu, sumo, and all western physical education and wrestlng.
- Japanese JuJutsu Styles
- Sumo
- Wrestling
- Western Physical Education
Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū
Before Jigoro Kano began developing Judo, one of the principal Jujutsu styles he practiced was Tenjin Shin’yo-ryu.
This is a prominent Jujutsu style known for its emphasis on atemi-waza (striking techniques) and katame-waza (grappling techniques, including locks and holds).
Kano trained extensively in Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū under Hachinosuke Fukuda and Tsunetoshi Iikubo. This school’s focus on grappling and joint locks heavily shaped Judo’s groundwork (katame-waza), such as pins, chokes, and armlocks.
The randori (free practice) approach in Judo also drew from this school’s training methods. Of all of Judo’s influences within Jujutsu schools, Tenjin Shin’yo-ryu is arguably one of the top influences.
Kitō-ryū
A Jujutsu style that emphasized throwing techniques (nage-waza) and philosophical principles, including concepts of harmony and balance, influenced by Zen Buddhism.
Kano studied Kitō-ryū under Tsunetake Iikubo and incorporated its throwing techniques, which became a cornerstone of Judo’s nage-waza.
The school’s philosophical ideas, such as “seiryoku zen’yō” (maximum efficient use of energy), also became central to Judo’s principles.:
Yoshin-ryū
Known as the “Willow School,” it focused on soft, yielding techniques, including joint locks and throws that used an opponent’s force against them.
Influence on Judo:
While Kano did not formally train in Yoshin-ryū, its principles of flexibility and redirection likely influenced Judo’s emphasis on using an opponent’s momentum, particularly in throwing techniques.
In Judo, you can see many similar techniques where the force of an opponent is used against them, like in Yoshin-ryū.
Sekiguchi-ryū
A jujutsu school emphasizing close-quarters combat, joint manipulation, and grappling. Techniques from Sekiguchi-ryū likely contributed to Judo’s grappling and submission techniques, though its influence was less direct than Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū or Kitō-ryū.
Tenshin-ryū was one of various regional jujutsu schools that existed during Kano’s time, some of which emphasized practical combat techniques.
Kano likely encountered practitioners of these styles during his training and research, and their techniques likely indirectly informed Judo’s development, particularly in practical self-defense applications.
Sumo
Sumo is Japan’s traditional wrestling style that goes back centuries, which involves pushing, pulling, and throwing opponents.
While not a direct influence, Sumo’s emphasis on balance, leverage, and throwing likely inspired some of Judo’s nage-waza. The grabbing of the mawashi in sumo to initiate throws and trips shares the same mechanics as the Judo techniques where the belt is grabbed. If you have watched a sumo match, you can see it was one of Judo’s influences.
Western Wrestling and Physical Education
Two of Judo’s influences actually came from the West. During the Meiji era, Japan was exposed to Western physical education systems, including wrestling and gymnastics.
Kano was a scholar and educator who incorporated Western ideas of physical education and scientific training into Judo. This is evident in Judo’s structured curriculum and emphasis on physical fitness, which distinguished it from traditional Jujutsu.
One of the principal moves that Kano borrowed from wrestling was the fireman’s carry, or in Judo, “kata guruma.” He slightly altered details of the wrestling technique to include various Gi grips.
Wrap Up
Just like how Judo inspired the development of BJJ, Jigoro Kano’s art was inspired by various other grappling arts that came before and were Judo’s influences.
This shows the beautiful cycle of developing effective martial arts and how everything developed centuries before survives and gets passed down to the next generation.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.