Judo vs Savate

Judo and Savate are both dynamic martial arts with unique techniques and styles. Judo focuses on throws, joint locks, and pins, while Savate is a French kickboxing style that incorporates both punches and kicks.

General information

Judo
Savate
Introduction :
Judo is a traditional Japanese martial art that focuses on throws and grappling techniques to subdue opponents. It emphasizes using an opponent's strength against them, making it an effective self-defense system. Judo is also popular as a sport, with competitions held worldwide. Practicing Judo not only improves physical fitness and coordination but also teaches discipline and respect. Its origins can be traced back to Jujutsu and it was founded by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century.
Introduction :
Savate, also known as French kickboxing, is a dynamic martial art that combines elements of traditional boxing with high kicks and footwork. Originating in France, Savate is popular for its emphasis on agility, flexibility, and precision striking techniques. It is commonly used for self-defense and as a competitive sport. With its unique blend of striking and footwork, Savate offers a challenging and effective workout for both physical fitness and self-defense skills.
Advantages :
  • Judo is effective for self-defense, focusing on throws and grappling.
  • Judo emphasizes discipline and respect for opponents and instructors.
  • Judo is a great workout, improving strength, flexibility, and endurance.
  • Judo competitions provide opportunities for testing skills in a controlled environment.
  • Judo techniques can be applied in real-life situations.
Advantages :
  • Savate offers a unique blend of striking techniques using both hands and feet, providing a well-rounded skill set for self-defense and competition.
  • Emphasizes agility and footwork, allowing practitioners to move quickly and effectively in combat situations.
  • Focuses on precision and control, enabling practitioners to deliver powerful strikes with accuracy.
  • Incorporates both offensive and defensive techniques, providing a balanced approach to combat scenarios.
  • Promotes physical fitness and conditioning through high-intensity training sessions, improving overall health and well-being.
Disadvantages :
  • Limited striking techniques compared to other martial arts.
  • Emphasis on ground fighting may not appeal to all practitioners.
  • Less focus on self-defense techniques for real-life situations.
  • High risk of injury due to throws and joint locks.
  • Limited availability of Judo schools in some areas.
Disadvantages :
  • Limited use of hands for striking compared to other martial arts.
  • Lack of emphasis on ground fighting techniques.
  • Less popular and fewer opportunities for competitions.
  • Limited availability of qualified instructors and training facilities.
  • Not as well-known or recognized as other martial arts styles.
🟡 Popularity : Somewhat.
Judo is a popular martial art with a strong following in many countries, especially in Japan where it originated. It is also widely practiced in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.
🟡 Popularity : Somewhat.
Savate is somewhat popular in Europe, particularly in France where it originated. It has a dedicated following of practitioners and competitions, but may not be as widely practiced as other martial arts globally.


General application

Judo
Savate
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started in Judo requires learning basic techniques and principles, which may take some time to master. However, with consistent practice and dedication, beginners can progress steadily in their skills.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started in Savate requires some basic fitness and flexibility. Learning the techniques and movements may take time, but with consistent practice and dedication, beginners can progress steadily in this martial art.
🟢 Self defense : Good.
Judo can be effective for self defense on the street due to its focus on throws, joint locks, and grappling techniques. It teaches practitioners how to control and neutralize opponents in close combat situations.
🟡 Self defense : Average.
Savate can be effective for self defense on the street due to its focus on striking techniques, but it may not be as practical as other martial arts that incorporate grappling and ground fighting for real-world scenarios.
🟢 Fitness : Good.
Judo is an excellent way to improve fitness, as it involves intense physical exertion, strength training, and flexibility. Practicing Judo regularly can help improve cardiovascular health, muscle tone, and overall endurance.
🟢 Fitness : Good.
Savate is an excellent way to stay fit, with high levels of exertion and focus on flexibility. The dynamic movements and kicks involved provide a full-body workout, improving strength, agility, and cardiovascular endurance.
🟢 Competitions : Good.
Judo has a well-established competitive scene with accessible sporting competitions at various levels, including local, national, and international events. There are recognized awarding bodies and ranking systems in place.
🟢 Competitions : Good.
Savate has a well-established competition circuit with events at various levels, from local to international. There are recognized awarding bodies and governing organizations that oversee these competitions.


Techniques

Judo
Savate
⚪ Punching : Unknown.
Judo primarily focuses on throws, joint locks, and grappling techniques rather than punching. While some Judo practitioners may incorporate striking into their training, it is not the main emphasis of the martial art.
🟢 Punching : Good.
Savate is good for punching due to its emphasis on precise and powerful kicks, which can be combined effectively with punches to create diverse striking combinations. The range and variety of punches in Savate make it a strong striking martial art.
⚪ Elbowing : Unknown.
While Judo primarily focuses on throws and grappling techniques, it does not typically include punching as a primary component. However, some Judo practitioners may incorporate striking techniques into their training through supplementary training or cross-training.
🟢 Elbowing : Good.
Savate is good for punching due to its focus on precision, speed, and power. Practitioners learn various punching techniques and combinations, enhancing their striking abilities in combat situations.
🔴 Kneeing : Poor.
Judo focuses on throws and grappling techniques, rather than striking or punching. While some Judo practitioners may have basic striking skills, it is not a primary focus of the art. Other martial arts may be more suitable for punching techniques.
🟡 Kneeing : Average.
Savate is known for its kicks rather than punches, but it does incorporate some punching techniques. While not as emphasized as kicks, Savate practitioners can still develop decent punching skills through training and practice.
🔴 Kicking : Poor.
Judo primarily focuses on throws, joint locks, and pins rather than kicking techniques. While some Judo practitioners may incorporate basic kicks for self-defense purposes, the art is not known for its kicking techniques.
🟢 Kicking : Good.
Savate is known for its effective kicking techniques, including a variety of kicks such as front kicks, side kicks, and roundhouse kicks. Practitioners often combine these kicks with punches for a well-rounded striking game.
🟢 Throwing : Good.
Judo is renowned for its extensive range of throws, including hip throws, shoulder throws, and leg sweeps. The combination of technique and leverage in Judo makes it highly effective for executing throws in martial arts combat.
🟡 Throwing : Average.
Savate is not primarily focused on throws, but it does incorporate some basic throwing techniques. While not as extensive as in other martial arts, Savate practitioners can still learn to execute throws effectively.
🟢 Joint locks : Good.
Judo is known for its effective range of joint locks and holds, making it a valuable martial art for practitioners looking to develop skills in controlling opponents through joint manipulation techniques.
🟡 Joint locks : Average.
Savate focuses more on striking techniques such as kicks and punches rather than joint locks and holds. While some joint locks may be included in training, it is not the primary focus of the martial art.
🟢 Grappling : Good.
Judo is known for its effective ground fighting techniques, including pins, joint locks, and chokeholds. Judokas are trained to control opponents on the ground and can quickly transition to submissions for a strong ground game.
🟡 Grappling : Average.
Savate is primarily a stand-up striking art, so its effectiveness in ground fighting is limited. While some techniques may be adapted for ground combat, it is not a focus of traditional Savate training.
🟢 Defense : Good.
Judo is good for blocks and defense, utilizing a range of techniques such as blocking strikes, redirecting opponents' movements, and executing throws to defend against attacks effectively in a variety of situations.
🟢 Defense : Good.
Savate utilizes a range of effective blocks and defensive techniques, including footwork, parries, and counters. The combination of these techniques makes it a strong martial art for both blocking and defense against various attacks.


When choosing between Judo and Savate, consider your preference for striking versus grappling techniques. If you enjoy using your hands and feet for striking, Savate may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer close combat and throwing techniques, Judo could be the ideal martial art for you.