Last Updated on October 19, 2021 by
Judo and boxing are two combat sports that come in handing for general body fitness and self-defense. Boxing focuses more on footwork, arm techniques, and head movements, while judo involves locks, throws, and grappling.
These two martial arts are different in a way that one typically involves throwing punching, jabs, and making blocks, while the other involves breaking the balance and using the weight of the opponent against them. If you’re looking for a better combat sport to choose between judo and boxing, then you’re at the right place. In this article, we are going to walk you through the differences and advantages of the two martial arts. Let’s get right to it.
If you’re looking for a combat sport to help improve your physical skills, then you can’t go wrong with either of the two. Let’s say you want to improve your power, fitness, cardio, and movements, both judo, and boxing will prove to be effective. But you need to understand that each martial art specializes in improving certain skills. Take, for example, the training equipment in boxing gyms is quite different from the equipment in a judo gym. In a well-facilitated boxing gym, you’ll find reflex bags, speed bag platforms, and other vital training gear. Each piece of equipment is used for different body and skill training to improve movement, punch techniques, reflexes, and many more.
Judo, on the other hand, helps you develop strength and endurance when you train with a dummy. During a training session, you’ll more likely to burn a lot of calories when your practice grappling and throwing techniques. You also need to be powerful to be able to slam your opponent to the ground. In summary, the two combat sports are effective, it only depends on your preferences and the purpose.
The table below contains the cost of practice, equipment required, and ease of learning of judo and boxing.
Parameters | Judo | Boxing |
Cost of practice | Less expensive | Expensive |
Equipment | Fewer equipment | Quite a lot of equipment |
Ease of learning | More easier to learn | A bit complex |
Judo Vs Boxing – Which One Is Easier To Learn?
Boxing majorly focuses on arm techniques which involve other techniques combination which needs time before mastering all. If you want to learn a combat sport for self-defense purposes and you’ve got limited time, then boxing is preferable. It might seem that the punch combinations are complex to learn, but that’s not true. If you can spend some time practicing frequently, you’ll be able to master all the required publishing techniques in boxing. It is much easier to learn punching techniques than the judo grappling techniques that are a bit complex and requires your diligence and dedication. In summary, both boxing and judo are excellent choices for people who want to develop self-defense skills and confidence.
Equipment And Price Comparison
Boxing requires you to use different types of punching bags to learn head movements, hooks, and cross. Also, you’ll need to get yourself certain gears like gloves a pair of boxing boots, and hand wraps. All of this equipment will cost you money. One major reason why we prefer judo to box is the reduced equipment required. With a judo gi equipped with reinforced stitching and a thick collar, you’ll be able to train effectively. Judo training centers are even much more affordable to run, with basic equipment including mats and grappling dummies. In summary, judo requires less equipment than boxing, and therefore, it is less expensive.
Judo Vs Boxing – Similarities
You need to be physically and mentally fit as a trainee before you can start learning the moves and techniques of the two martial arts. You need to learn punching techniques such as cross, hook, uppercuts to knock down your opponents in boxing. However, judo requires you to learn certain grappling techniques and how to throw your opponent to the ground in judo. To be honest, they are both exceptional martial arts that help to improve people’s mental health and help them develop self-confidence. For many years now, both boxing and judo have been featured in the Olympic sports. That’s to tell you that they are part of the biggest combat sports.
Key Advantages Of Judo

1. It helps you develop self-defense skills
2. Judo teaches trainees how to lose with grace and win with humility
3. Learning judo will help you with tenacity and perseverance
4. It helps you both mentally and physically
5. Judo enhances cardio and lowers cholesterol in the body
6. People who participate in judo have a reduced risk of obesity, osteoporosis, and heart disease.
7. It offers you strength, flexibility, explosive power, and static balance
Key Advantages Of Boxing

1. Boxing helps improve your hand-eye coordination
2. As a fitness boxer, boxing will help strengthen your upper body and core
3. Helps build your confidence and increase alertness
4. Corrects your posture and improves your balance
5. Blends self-discipline, self-defense skills, and physical activity
6. Helps you build confidence, respect for people, and self-esteem
7. It enhances your mood
8. Boxing reduces stress
9. It increases muscle mass
FAQs
Which Is More Preferable – Judo Or Boxing?
Judo is a combat sport with grappling type art while boxing is a striking combat sport with arm techniques. While judo teaches you more about groundwork and throws, boxing is more about head movements and throwing punches. All in all, judo is a more preferable option for people who are learning self-defense.
Can Judo Be Used In A Real Fight?
Yes! Judo is a combat sport that focuses on effective locks, grappling, holds, and throws to bring down any opponent to the ground using their balance against them. The only thing that isn’t quite palatable with judo trainees is that they always train in a Gi, which could be a disadvantage.
Is Judo One Of The Best Martial Arts?
Yes! Judo is one of the best martial arts because it prepares you to be able to defend and protect yourself against any attacker in a real-life fighting situation. Also, we love that the techniques that judo teaches are quite impressive as they will make you a top fighter in martial art.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to learn how to defend yourself in a real-life fighting situation or learn a striking-based martial art, you need to pick a combat sport that is more suitable for your purpose. If you’re interested in a martial art that focuses more on arm techniques and footwork, then you need to find a boxing gym. However, if you want to learn how to grapple and break the balance of your opponent, then you should join a judo training class. We’ve reached the closing chapter of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good resources in your quest to know the differences between judo and boxing. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks!