Kickboxing vs. BJJ: What’s the Difference and Which Is Right for You?

Kong Martial Arts
Jun 27
2 min read

If you're thinking about stepping onto the mats or into the ring, two popular martial arts often come up: Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Both are options to learn at Kong Martial Arts in their purest forms.

While both are powerful disciplines with serious physical and mental benefits, they couldn’t be more different in technique, and approach. So you're probably wondering what are the main differences between Kickboxing & BJJ?

The Basics

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a striking-based martial art that combines punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. It’s fast-paced, high-impact, and focuses on stand-up combat. Think of it as a mix of boxing and karate with an emphasis on footwork, timing, and powerful strikes. Our classes invlolve a mixture of pad work (and if your advanced) sparring!

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

BJJ is a grappling-based martial art that focuses on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control. It’s often described as “human chess” because it emphasizes leverage, technique, and strategy over brute strength. BJJ teaches you how to control and submit your opponent without throwing a single punch. Our classes have both options of Gi (wearing a kimono) and No-Gi

Key Differences between kickboxing & BJJ

Feature	Kickboxing	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
Combat Style	Striking (punches, kicks, etc.)	Grappling (holds, chokes, locks)
Range	Stand-up	Ground fighting
Self-Defense Use	Effective for quick stand-up defense	Effective for close encounters and control
Fitness Benefits	High-intensity cardio, agility	Full-body strength, endurance & cardio
Competition Format	Rounds, striking points or KO	Points, submissions, or decision
Training Gear / Equipment needed	Gloves, pads, shin guards, mouthguard	Gi (kimono) or no-gi rashguard

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Kickboxing if you:

Want to improve striking power, cardio, and agility
Enjoy fast-paced, explosive workouts
Are interested in stand-up self-defense or competition (e.g., Muay Thai, K-1)

Choose BJJ if you:

Prefer close-contact grappling and ground control
Like technical, strategic martial arts
Want to learn how to defend yourself without relying on striking

Can You Train Both?

Absolutely. In fact, we offer a mixed martial arts class (MMA) on saturdays. Fighters train in both kickboxing and BJJ because together they cover the full spectrum of combat—standing to ground. Combining the two can make you a well-rounded martial artist and give you a deeper understanding of distance, timing, and control.