Kudo is a famous Japanese Budo sport full-contact punches, various kicks, throws and submission techniques in the ring. Kudo roughly translates as “The Way of the Open Mind.” It includes head guard and gloves, throwing and grappling techniques, restraint, locks and strangleholds. Kudo is an inclusive martial art along with elements of philosophy. Both physical, as well as mental strength, is considered while practising Kudo. Today, Kudo is practised in more than 52 countries, with the most significant representation in Russia.
Takashi Azuma is the founder of Kudo and also the President of the Kudo International Federation. He, at present, holds a 9th-degree black belt in the Kyokushin Budokai (awarded by Jon Bluming), a 3rd-degree black belt in judo, and a 9th-degree black belt in Kudo.
Today, Kudo is recognized by 10 national Olympic committees worldwide and has over 50 member countries.
Objective
The primary aim of Kudo is to come as close to their opponent and undergo real fighting with appropriate protective clothing. To achieve this, Kudo is fought with a small set of regulations and has specialized techniques. The techniques of Kudo include the full range of a real struggle such as standing up, throwing, grappling and ground fighting. Some of the techniques, such as grappling and ground combat, have been added from the judo. However, these techniques are safe to perform. Kudo practitioners use white and blue Gi colours for their easy identification. Some of the independently developed protective gears are for the face, torso, arms, legs, etc., to ensure their safety during combat. All athletes are required to wear dogi, headgear, Kudo fist guard and a Kudo bandage.
History of Kūdō
Takashi Azuma is the founder of Kudo. In 1977, the Kyokushin karate, a full-contact karate champion, resigned from the Kyokushin organization to form a new Daido Juku in Sendai city, located in northern Honshu, Japan.
Daido Juku means “School of a Great Way”. It includes various forms of techniques that were not present at that time in the regular full-contact karate styles. Azuma recognized the potential for a hybrid martial art. By 1980, the art was not constrained by the boundaries of a single style and used techniques from various martial arts forms, namely Judo and Karate. In the late 1980s and early 90s, the style began to include techniques from other forms like Muay Thai, Boxing Sambo etc. Later, a new style emerged, which included various forms of offensive as well as defensive techniques. It also included punches to the head, elbow strikes, head butts, judo throws, jiu-jitsu joint locks and other standup and ground fighting techniques.
In 1981, Hokutoki karate Championships, Daido Juku made its public debut. Later, it was also known as Hokutoki. In the beginning, Hokuto was known as Kakuto Karate Daidojuku, the name of the style although changed to be acquainted with its unique and unorthodox techniques as an improved mixed martial art. In 2001, during an official press conference held for Daido Juku, founder Azuma Takashi and President of Daidojuku, N.P., together announced the new name of the mixed martial art Budo to “Kudo”. This renaming gained Kudo the opportunity of becoming an official Japanese Cultural Budo sport under the same category as Judo, Aikido and Kendo. Today, Kudo and Daido Juku have worldwide copyrights, and all of its instructors and branch chiefs, along with school coaches, are certified under the Kudo International Federation ("KIF"). Dojo Kun refers to rules (training hall) in Japanese martial arts. Kudo International Federation of India (KIFI) is the national governing body for Kudo in India.
