What is better – Sambo Vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

When it comes to grappling martial arts, the likes of Sambo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are undoubtedly some of the best. For years, they have been proven in MMA and even in street fighting. However, the question is – what is better?

In brief, both arts have a lot in common with each other, as well as a lot of differences. Generally, a Sambo practitioner would argue that their martial art is better – whilst a BJJ practitioner would say the opposite. This article will hopefully explain the differences between the two which is great if you’re thinking about starting one of them.

What is BJJ?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu originated in Brazil and was mostly influenced by Judo as well as Japanese Ju Jitsu. Although it uses some Judo moves, BJJ is mostly known for its ground work. Here, it still uses submissions such as armbars and chokes but has a big emphasis on the guard.

The guard is a term used when the bottom player uses their legs to fend off their opponent and create distance. The importance of the guard in BJJ cannot be underestimated. In many competitive BJJ matches, people will often pull guard for strategic matches. In other words, most grappling martial arts end when someone hits the ground in a bottom position. For BJJ, this is where the action often truly begins.

What is Sambo?

Sambo is a Russian martial art that is pretty close to Judo in terms of its style. Here, most of the action is on the feet and the idea of beating the opponent is also done by submitting them, or by taking them down and winning by points.

Unlike BJJ, the bottom position is seen as weaker and the emphasis is to stay on the top. Honestly speaking, there’s not too much difference between Sambo and Judo. However, there are a few key differences. Firstly, Sambo specializes in leg locks – which are banned in Judo. Secondly, Sambo also uses lots of illegal Judo throws, such as leg grabs and rice bag throws. Unlike BJJ, Sambo has an upper body gi (named the kurtka) but also uses shorts instead of gi pants.

Gi or No gi?

Traditionally, both Sambo and BJJ have used the gi. However, this is changing. In BJJ, these days no-gi is arguably more popular due to its faster tempo. Therefore, it’s normal for BJJ practitioners to train in and out of the gi.

The same can be said for Sambo. Whilst Sambo is mostly done in the kurtka, it can also be trained in no-gi as well. This just means changing collar grips with collar ties and underhooks. Ideally, it’s best to train both gi and no-gi which will make you as well-rounded as possible.

For instance, BJJ and Sambo black belt Vlad Koulikov trains both the gi and no-gi in either martial art and is a fan of both. At the same time, if you want to train one or the other then this is completely fine as well.

What is cheaper to learn?

Undoubtedly, there is one winner in this department and that is Sambo. Overall, Sambo is fairly average in terms of cost – whereas BJJ is notoriously expensive. Whilst most martial arts cater to a working class audience, BJJ is typically more middle class. This means the clothes are more expensive and so is your average class price. Normally, a BJJ gym will charge around $120 a month per membership. This differs drastically compared to Sambo, which charges closer to $50 per month.

The reason for this may be that Sambo is in competition with Judo. Over time, Judo has earned the reputation as an inexpensive martial art. So, it’s only natural that Sambo keeps its prices low to compete with Judo. This differs from BJJ which doesn’t really have much competition and is a pretty unique martial art, meaning it can easily justify higher prices and avoid paying for it as a result.

Cultural differences

Culturally, there’s a big difference between Sambo and BJJ. In terms of martial arts, you could argue that BJJ is one of the most laid back in terms of its culture and norms. Because it’s fairly modern, BJJ lacks the status that is often found in traditional martial arts.
This often translates to training as well. Often, people will spar at a slower, more relaxed pace. This isn’t always the case but some gyms are pretty casual and friendlier than other places. This has resulted in BJJ booming in popularity in recent years and has become one of the fastest growing martial arts as a result.

Sambo however, is pretty different. As you may know, Sambo originated from the Soviet Union and as a result, has a lot of Soviet cultures that runs through its blood. For example, it has a pretty intense pace (like Judo) and a typical Sambo gym will be pretty serious too. Overall, there’s less joking and more of a hard-working environment compared to BJJ. Because of this, you’re more likely to see older guys train BJJ, as well as more of a casual audience.

This may be better if you’re a serious competitor – but it may be off-putting if you’re a hobbyist. Ultimately, it depends on your own perspective. In most parts of the world though, you’re much more likely to find a BJJ gym compared to a Sambo gym due to the difference in popularity.

Difference between belts

For many years, Sambo didn’t use a recognized belt system. However, the FIAS eventually introduced their own belts which were backed by Sambo legend Fedor Emelianenko. Whilst some Sambo practitioners didn’t agree with this move, most people didn’t really care. As a result, some Sambo schools now use belts to distinguish talent and time spent training.

These colors are slightly different from other martial arts but start with white belt and end with brown belt. Overall, it’s not too dissimilar to the BJJ system where students begin with white belt and ends with black. In both cases, achieving the final belt takes many years and lots of dedication. Whilst the final belt should be celebrated, it’s also important to remember that it’s just a belt and as they say, it’s the journey and not the location that counts.

Another key difference worth noting is the belts worn by Sambo practitioners when competing. They will usually wear a red or blue belt that matches the color of their kurtka. This is so the ref can distinguish between the two. In BJJ, you will wear your ranked belt when competing, whilst sometimes you’ll be separated by wearing a yellow and green belt as well.

Khabib on BJJ

In his earlier days of UFC, Khabib Nurmagomedov famously wore a t-shirt with the caption, “If Sambo was easy it would be called Jiu Jitsu.” Obviously, this was quite a statement, to say the least. Over the years, Khabib has rarely trained BJJ but has been seen in Renzo Gracie’s iconic gym in New York on a few occasions. For the most part though, the bulk of his BJJ comes from the cross over of training Sambo that has a lot of similar positions.

So, did Khabib really mean what was written on his t-shirt? The answer is partly but it was mostly done as a publicity stunt. Basically, Khabib does respect BJJ and certainly trains it, but obviously his main strength is Sambo. With this said, it’s unsurprising that he prioritizes Sambo over BJJ and sees it as the dominant martial art.

Still, if you look through many of Khabib’s MMA fights – he was still very well versed when it came to BJJ. Make no mistake about it, Khabib would not have been the champion he was without it. Often, he could be seen using an aggressive closed guard and even used an octopus guard to once re-gain a top position. These aren’t moves that are taught in Sambo – so he definitely trained BJJ and knows it well. Ironically, Khabib’s BJJ rank is a white belt but the reality is that he’s most certainly a black belt in terms of skill.

Main differences between Sambo and BJJ

In Sambo, you could get a victory by taking someone down and pinning them or by submission. Generally, the rules here are quite similar to those used in Judo. In BJJ, you can win by submission or by points that are scored by sweeps, takedowns guard passes, and various pins.

Although different martial arts, the emphasis is the same that the dominant grappler is rewarded by submitting their opponent or by securing points. As you can imagine, this means that Sambo matches usually take place whilst standing whereas BJJ is focused on the ground.

Aside from this, there are certain rules. For instance, in certain sports settings, it’s illegal to choke in Sambo – whereas in BJJ this is encouraged. Certain leg locks and knee reaps are also legal in Sambo whilst they’re illegal in BJJ settings, such as the flying scissors takedown.

Although there are similarities, the main difference is that Sambo is predominantly stand-up grappling, whilst BJJ is predominantly ground-based grappling.

Who would win – BJJ or Sambo?

If you had a black belt in BJJ vs a Sambo black belt who has trained for the exact amount of time then it would be a close call. For example, in a typical BJJ format with standard BJJ rules then the likelihood is that they would be victorious. This isn’t surprising either as they’re used to the rules which play into their strengths.

By the same token, you could also expect the black belt Sambo practitioner to win in a Sambo match. The reason for this is that the BJJ player could literally pull guard, sweep the Sambo practitioner and then submit them from the top. In the Sambo match, the Sambo practitioner could equally play to their own rules and quite easily beat the BJJ black belt with takedowns. This exercise is a good example of certain rules favoring certain skill sets.

BJJ Vs Sambo in MMA

However, how would then get on in an MMA setting? This is where things get more complicated. Arguably, the Sambo practitioner would have the upper hand here, as they could take down their opponent and use strikes from the top to win. This is where the rules of sports BJJ no longer help the BJJ fighter. Generally in MMA, the person who gets the top position wins – which makes sense if you’ve ever watched fights.

Still, this doesn’t mean that BJJ is redundant. Remember, a BJJ black belt is always dangerous from their back and they may catch the Sambo practitioner with a sweep or submission that would change the fight. In summary, Sambo is arguably better suited to MMA but BJJ is still effective and should be respected.

It’s good news for those who train either and want to think about MMA. The reason for this is that you can train combat BJJ or Sambo. Typically, combat Sambo looks quite similar to MMA which is slightly toned down. The same can be said for combat BJJ which is similar to MMA but uses open-palm strikes. As a result, this changes the dynamic massively and often punishes guard pullers with the prospect of strikes to the head.

How to use both in MMA

It’s fair to say that MMA has had its fair share of champions from both Sambo and BJJ. For every Khabib Nurmagomedov or Fedor Emelianenko, there’s also a Fabricio Werdum or Charles Oliveira. Basically, both have had their fair share of greats.

In terms of champions per head, Sambo would surely win the battle as there are far more BJJ black belts in MMA compared to Sambo equivalents. Still, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Sambo is superior as mentioned with Khabib, he still had to rely on BJJ an awful lot when fighting.

In short, there are pros and cons to each discipline. With Sambo, its takedown game is much better. Whilst BJJ does feature takedowns, generally they’re not as specialist compared to Sambo. With this said, if you want to be good at takedowns in MMA, Sambo is certainly better than those used in BJJ.

When looking at the two, Sambo has a lot of takedowns, whereas in BJJ there’s more focus on ground work as well as guard pulling. This means it’s unsurprising that Sambo is better in this department. Also, because of its lack of rules in certain areas, Sambo in MMA can look very similar to wrestling and Judo. Arguably, it’s the best takedown-martial art that you can learn as it incorporates everything.

BJJ is better for defense, Sambo is better for attacks

Having said this, BJJ is still not to be laughed at and offers positives that aren’t seen as much in Sambo. For example, generally its submissions are more controlled and aren’t based on speed as much. Years back, Sambo practitioners arguably had better leg locks compared to BJJ, but since then BJJ has undergone a leg lock revolution. With this said, if you’re after finer details of making someone tap – then BJJ is probably better, especially when it comes to chokes that aren’t as prominent in Sambo.

Lastly, the other obvious advantage of BJJ is the guard. Although the guard is frowned upon in Sambo, it’s also a realistic position. Imagine being good at takedowns but your opponent is better. At some point, you may be forced to fight off your back. This is where the guard comes in and can be used to either defend a bad spot, escape back to your feet, or even used offensively. BJJ black belt Tony Ferguson often used his closed guard to submit opponents, proving that he was good in seemingly bad positions.

What is easier on the body?

If you’re not gunning for championship glory then you may want to consider what is better for your body. As we’ve already established, they’re both great for MMA and self defense, but what about longevity? Arguably, BJJ is better on the body which ties into its more chilled-back nature. By no means is BJJ easy on the body and if you train for years, the likelihood is that you will pick up some chronic injuries due to the nature of wearing down your body whilst grappling.

However, there is one main reason that Sambo is harder on the body. The reason is that Sambo focuses on takedowns. Simply put, takedowns are great to learn but if you keep getting thrown to the ground then it will hurt your body. This is a simple example of gravity and continuous throws will naturally lead to injuries.

Having said this, if you’re worried about injuries then training either martial art probably isn’t for you. There are much safer martial arts out there and whilst it’s unlikely that you’ll get your arm broken or knee blown out, the reality is that years of training will take their toll on anyway, no matter how good or athletic they are.

Conclusion

Overall, there are some pretty big differences between Sambo and BJJ. Although they’re both grappling, the rules and culture often create differences in them. In short, if you want to be good at takedowns and throws then Sambo is by far the better of the two. However, if you want to improve submissions and your ground game then BJJ is superior.

In summary, it’s unfair to compare Sambo and BJJ. Instead of focusing on their weaknesses, it’s better to focus on what makes them so good. In this case, both have their own quirks and it’s fair to say that they’re elite in terms of martial arts. In conclusion, if you pick either Sambo or BJJ then you’re on to a winner. Besides, if you really don’t want to miss out then you could always train both or train one whilst emphasizing certain techniques from the other.

Want to improve your throws and submissions? Check out the Sambo Encyclopedia.