What is the difference between karate and jujitsu?

Question

I've done a bit of research, but they seem to be relatively the same. Which is better to take, if you're aiming for better fighting skills or more agility?

Answer 1

they are totally different...apparently you did no research

Answer 2

I've read the answers above me here and agree and disagree with a lot of it and here's why.  For one Okinawan Karate has just as an effect grappling ability as any grappling art.  However, I can't stand Okinawan Karate's punch where your thumb ends up in a 11 o'clock position and your fist tilted as if you're about ready to pour wine out of a wine class.  In the same token jujitsu "The gentle art" teaches techniques that are effective from your back on the ground as well as reversing the mount or countering the mount while keeping a calm head if you ever find your self in that kind of situation ( on your back ).  The grappling techniques between Okinawan Karate and Jujitsu differ greatly as well. Okinawan Karate grappling being in the "stand up" and Jujitsu being "ground work".  As far as atemiwaza goes both have effective striking, but Mainland Karate punches are more effective, in my opinion, than Okinawan Karate punches.  Jujistu's striking is more of a snap the strike out there and bring it back quickly kind of strike including jujitsu's palm strike, elbow strike, etc. As far as agility goes that always depends on an individual and there own time and effort put into their training no matter what art or form they study.  It would take several books worth of writing to pen down all the differences between Karate and Jujitsu, but the concepts are nearly the same.  In Karate to bend at your waiste, other than a bow,  is a no-no while many jujitsu practitioners use the lowest center of gravity to control an opponent.  As far as which is best and which isn't I never cared much for those types of arguements.  I think that all arts deserve respect for their accomplishments over the ages.  A art form is a art form because it is that it is and not because it's better than someone elses.  Tradition is the most important thing among in and all art forms out there.  It's good to have pride in your style, no matter what it might be, but saying that one form is better than another is seriously unfounded by any facts known to man.  You can take a little of all art forms and find something useful in every one them. So I'd say take them both it may be expensive as h**l, but well worth it.  Even if you take Jujitsu to blue belt and Karate to green belt or something you'll find way more in that purhaps than just sticking with one.  Then you'll be able to decide for your self which techniques work best for you from both art forms.

Answer 3

Karate focuses on strikes. Traditional Jujitsu also encorporates striking, but has greater variety of grappling moves, primarily used to maim or cripple the opponent, also a great variety of chokes. It is said that at one point in history, Karate and Jujitsu once fell under the same umberella. Either art will help fighting ability and agility. Karate more so when standing on your feet.

Answer 4

Karate is a "HARD" martial art, hard meaning it confronts strength and power against strength and power. As others stated, it is primarily a precussionary art solely relying on blunt force strikes to incapacitate an oppenent.

Jujitsu - whether japanese or BJJ - is a "SOFT" art, soft meaning it meets strength with misdirection, leverage, balance manipulation. Jitsu is primarily a control art in that regardless of whether or not you use strikes, the end result ALWAYS end with the jitsu fighter in some form of dominant position.

Answer 5

I've done both and been graded in both and and my personal experience and preference would be Jiu-jitsu :)***

Answer 6

I assume you are talking about Japanese jujitsu, not Brazilian.  I like Japanese martial arts, but many instructors get stuck on the forms, rather than the fighting skills so talk to the instructor at any dojo before you sign up to make sure they teach what you want.

If you are looking for a more rounded skill set, go with jujitsu.  You'll learn throws, strikes, chokes, standing grappling, etc.  I think you'll eventually want more specialized training on strikes and more broad training with grappling eventually, but getting started in a Japanese art is a good start.

Answer 7

Karate is a striking art (like boxing) mainly kick and puches, blocks and stances.

Jujitsu is a grappling art (like wrestling) with joint locks, chokes and throws.

Both arts have thier strengths and weakness. I personally train in both (have for years).

With Jujitsu you can control the damage to an assailant. You can do anything from restraining the person to breaking an arm or leg. With Karate you don't have a whole lot of control you kick and punch with force and the damage depends on how clean you land the punch.

With Jujitsu you are generally engaged with (1) attacker but with Karate you can defend against multiple assailants.

Maybe try a little of both and see which one you perfer.