I'm a firm believer that the judo vs BJJ rivalry is mostly an invention of 1) the internet, 2) grappling forums and 3) Helio/Rorion Gracie. I have yet to actually see a judoka and a jiujitsuero get in an argument over ippon vs submission or the values of pinning. No one has started flashing photos of Royce vs Yoshida or Kimura breaking Helio's arm or pulled out a KOSEN tape. And to the best of my recollection, no BJJer has started listing off the outcome of all BJJ vs judo matches in history and recited Royce's UFC 1-3 record from memory.
Instead, I usually see
something like this:
That's my instructor, Eduardo de Lima, a Gracie Barra black belt, getting help with ouchi-gari from one of his blue belts, Justin Higgins, who also holds black belts in both judo and sambo. Eduardo asked Justin for some pointers on the throw before class and worked on it with him. Then Justin took the class and worked on attacks from mount with Eduardo instructing.
A little more about Justin:
Justin Higgins was selected for the US Sombo team in September. The tournament took place in Nice, France on the November 27, 2005. He took first place in his division to earn the title of +96K 2005 world champion. He won all matches by submission (leglocks), with his quickest match lasting 20 seconds and the longest only 2 minutes.
Now I can imagine what is running through your head:
You mean a BJJ black belt is getting help on his takedowns from a judo black belt? You mean a tournament winning judo and sambo black belt is getting help on his groundwork fron a BJJ black belt?
I'll give you a moment, since I know this can be a lot to take in at once. It's a new and strange concept in these parts that people in the real world ("RL" as you know it) don't fuss over lineage scrolls and the differences between pre- and post-WWII judo and the role of vale tudo in the development of BJJ.
Instead, they just train.
Strange, I know.
Now I am aware that this will shock tudor and Bubble Boy to their core, but I felt it was my responsibility to bring this to your attention, much like Al Gore and Global Warming, only with the fact that judo vs BJJ threads are the stupidest thing ever.
