Kudo is a modern Japanese combat sport that combines elements of traditional karate, judo, and mixed martial arts. What makes Kudo unique and appealing is the balance it strikes between realism and safety. Practitioners and competitors wear protective gear, including a face shield, which allows for full-contact fight including head-butts and elbow strikes while reducing the risk of serious injury.

One of the key appeals of Kudo is its realism and practicality. Techniques include punches, kicks, throws, and grappling, making Kudo effective for real-life self-defense situations. Also, Kudo is a sport in which athletes have long competitive careers, as there is a wide range of techniques that must be mastered.

Kudo is a combat sport, as well as a BUDO that originated in Japan. BUDO goes beyond mere combat techniques, and is a path that has developed to aim at cultivating individual character and cultivating the spirit. It is, in other words, a way of life. It places importance not only on strength in battle, but also on spiritual aspects such as courtesy, self-control, respect, patience, and sincerity.

In short, Kudo is more than just a fighting style; it’s a comprehensive path to physical fitness, mental strength, and personal growth.

Kudo is a new comprehensive martial art originating in Japan that aims to balance both safety and realism. Although Kudo is full-contact, it does emphasize safety. For instance, because of strives for realism attacks to the face are allowed; however, safety is enhanced by wearing headgear.

The biggest difference from karate lies in the variety and freedom of techniques. Whereas karate focuses on striking and judo on throwing and Newaza (grappling on the ground), Kudo integrates striking, throwing, and groundwork. It enables a wide range of combinations, such as transitioning from striking to throwing, throwing to groundwork, and groundwork back to striking—making it truly a martial art fit for practical combat applications. Additionally, the punching style differs from karate’s: instead of retracting the hand, the opposite hand is placed next to the jaw for protection, making it closer to boxing. The basic stance is “kumite-dachi,” a foot position designed with actual combat in mind.

Regarding throwing and grappling techniques, it is often compared to judo; however, a holding on to the opponent is limited to 10 seconds before a “matte” (stop) is called, so one must quickly transition to throwing once a grip is established. Also, actions prohibited in judo, such as the limitations on actions in a same-side-sleeve-and-lapel grip, are allowed, enabling different gripping strategy. Points can be also scored with simulated strikes stopped after throws. Chokes and joint locks are permitted on the ground, but there is no points/victory can be obtained by merely pinning down the opponent. One must simulate strikes when pinning in order to get points. Finally, ground fight phases are allowed to 30 seconds, following which a “matte” is called. Because of these rules, speed is highly important in Kudo matches.

We have a video titled “What is Kudo?” on the KIF official website. Please have a look !
What Is Kudo? – KUDO International Federation

The meaning of “Ku” (空) in “Kudo,” is explained on this page of our official website.
What Is Kudo? – KUDO International Federation

The name of the sport “Kudo” was crafted by Takashi AZUMA, the founder of Kudo and Daidojuku, when the first World Championships were held in 2001.

Until then, it was not called Kudo but was referred to as “kakuto karate” (roughly translated as “combat karate.”). When organizing the first World Championships, master AZUMA thought that adding yet another tournament called “World Karate Championships” would not be constructive (because there are already many karate world tournaments for each style). He also believed that the martial art he created and developed had significantly departed from its karate roots, and that it indeed it no longer was karate.

The explanation of the meaning of “Ku” on this official website is quite philosophical and might be difficult to understand. Below is another explanation from a different perspective.

Miyamoto Musashi is a famous Japanese swordsman. In his later years, he wrote a book called “The Book of Five Rings (Gorin No Sho in Japanese)”, which is a secret manual on the swordsmanship he established. It consists of five chapters:

1. Chapter of 地 (CHI: Ground)
2. Chapter of 水 (MIZU: Water)
3. Chapter of 火 (HI: Fire)
4. Chapter of 風 (KAZE: Wind)
5. Chapter of 空 (KU: Void/Emptiness)

Among these, the “Chapter of 空 (KU)” is uncharacteristically very brief. Through introducing this, we will offer another explanation of “空(KU).”

Generally, “空” means sky or emptiness. In the Book of Five Rings, Musashi very briefly describes “空” as follows:

“Only by knowing what is present can one know what is absent (lacking). This is precisely ‘空(KU)’. One should know themselves as “KU” – that is, still insufficient – and always strive to fill themselves by honing wisdom and spirit, seeking clarity of mind, and trying to attain a state free of confusion. This is the true “空 (KU).”

In this sense, many “道 (DO; Way of Life)” exist that pursue “空 (KU),” and Kudo therefore can be seen as a universal term. Kudo as a martial art can be said to be one way of life that pursues this “空 (KU).”

KIF (Kudo International Federation) is an organization that governs the competitive application of Kudo internationally. Kudo was recognized as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO) by the Cabinet Office of Japan in 2002. In accordance with its Articles of Incorporation, major matters are determined by the General Assembly and Board of Directors. Also, KIF issues rules such as Code of Conduct and Anti-Doping rules. The tournament rules are also one of the important rulesets established and administered by KIF.

KIF is a member of the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and also an International Member of TAFISA (The Association For International Sport for All). The most important role of KIF is to support international Kudo competitions held in various regions in the world. For this reason, KIF conducts a referee training and certifies Referee License.

On the other hand, Daidojuku is a private organization that has created Kudo and its philosophy. The existence of Daidojuku makes it possible for Kudo to exist as a form of BUDO. The main role of Daidojuku is to approve and coordinate branches in each country. Other important roles include approving and issuing Kudo Dan ranks, and promoting Kudo through events such as holding international seminars etc.

Kudo organizations and individuals in each country belong to Daidojuku and become members of KIF. KIF and Daidojuku therefore have different but complementary roles and a common pursuit of leading the development of Kudo.

The expression “大道無門 (Daido Mumon)” is a term conveying very deep meaning used in Zen and Eastern philosophy. It consists of two words, which can be literally translated as follows:

大道 (Daido) = Great road, the path of truth
無門 (Mumon) = No gate, no barrier, no restriction

In other words, “大道無門” expresses that the path to truth or enlightenment is opened to everyone and has no gate (no restriction, entrance, or obstacle). In a modern sense, it is also used to convey that “there is no fixed entry point”on the path to wisdom and accomplishment nor “strict rules on how to follow that path.”

This phrase “大道無門” is the origin of the name of the Daido Juku martial arts school. The martial art called Kudo, created the organization Daido Juku, follows this idea of Daido Mumon by minimizing restricting rules, seeking to making it as comprehensive a martial art as possible with as few restrictions as possible. For example, someone who is skilled in standing techniques also learns throws and ground techniques for the first time, and conversely, someone skilled in throws and ground techniques learns standing techniques. In short, it is truly a sport with no specific “gate” or limitation. At the same time, effort is made to establish rules that ensure safety to the greatest extent possible.

Every four years, the World Kudo Championships is held in Japan, the country where Kudo originated. The first World Kudo Championship was held in 2001, and the 7th World Kudo Championship is scheduled for 2027.

Additionally, between two World Kudo Championships, the World Kudo Cup is held in countries other than Japan. So far, it has been held in Russia, India, and Bulgaria. Mexico is candidate for the 2029 World Kudo Cup, but the official host country will be decided at the general meeting to be held during the 2027 World Kudo Championship.

Each continent hosts continental championships. In Europe, the European Championship, the European Junior Championship, and the European Junior Cup are held annually. The Asia-Oceania Championship and the Pan-American Championship are held biennially. Besides these, the Eurasia Cup is also held.

The schedule of international tournaments involving KIF (Kudo International Federation) can be found at this link:
Event Schedule – KUDO International Federation

Past results of international tournaments are also published on our official website.
Results Of International Tournaments – KUDO International Federation

In addition, there are domestic tournaments held in countries affiliated with KIF. In some countries, open tournaments welcome participants from other countries.

Entry to these tournaments is done according to the procedures announced by the respective tournament organizers; however, to participate in international tournaments, membership in KIF is required.

International events involving KIF are published on our website and be found by following the link below:
Event Schedule – KUDO International Federation

Besides international tournaments, there are international seminars. The basic requirement to participate in these seminars is to be a member of KIF, but open seminars that allow non-members to participate are also sometimes held.

In addition to general seminars that teach overall Kudo techniques, summer camps and camps for competing athletes have also been conducted.

Lastly, besides international seminars, seminars and camps are also held in various countries.

Participation requirement and sign up method depend on the organizers of each event.

The World Kudo Championships are held in Japan, the birthplace of Kudo, and are organized by the Kudo All Japan Federation.
The host country and schedule for the World Kudo Cup are decided at the KIF General Assembly among the countries that have submitted an interest in hosting.

The host countries and schedules for the continental championships are decided by the Kudo committees of each continent.

The competition rules are one of the important regulations released by KIF and they are published on our official website.
They can be found here:
Rules & Regulations – KUDO International Federation

An overview of the rules and weight classes is also published on our website; it is however important to note that these are very simplified explanations meant to provide a general understanding, and it is necessary to understand the actual competition rules themselves accurately for the fine details. This summary can be found here:
Summary Of Rules – KUDO International Federation

One of the distinctive features of Kudo is that rather than weight classes, the athletes are divided based on a Physical Index (PI), which is the sum of height plus weight. This stems for the idea that taller fighters have an advantage in striking, while heavier fighters have an advantage in grappling and ground techniques.

The competition rules are regularly reviewed and revised. The current competition rules were revised in December 2021. They are currently under review.

There are indeed categories for female athletes. The main difference from the male division is that the use of some protective equipment such as chest protectors. is mandatory. There is also a difference in match duration, but we are currently reviewing the tournament regulations and are considering aligning the duration of rounds.

Athletes aged 18 and over compete in the General Division (i.e. adults). Athletes 17 and under are divided into the following three categories based on age, with slight differences in applicable rules for each:

Under 18 (ages 16 and 17)
Under 16 (ages 14 and 15)
Under 14 (aged 13 and below)

The tournament rules for each age category are published on our official website.
Rules & Regulations – KUDO International Federation

A high level summary of the differences in rules and judgment criteria for the General Division, U18, U16, and U14 is also made available

The Masters categories are scheduled to officially begin at the 2027 World Kudo Championships. In preparation for this, we are currently testing the rules at events such as the European Kudo Championships, with the following age categories:

45+ (ages 45 to 54)
55+ (ages 55 to 64)

Within these categories, classification will be done based on the Physical Index (PI). In the future, if the number of participating athletes reaches a level justifying it, we think it would be preferable to adopt age categories in 5-year increments.

Article 74 of the tournament rules details prohibited actions over four pages. These include ‘prohibited strikes,’ ‘prohibited grabs,’ ‘prohibited throws,’ and ‘prohibited chokeholds and joint locks,’ among others, with each category banning actions that could seriously affect an athlete’s long-term integrity.

For example, attacks to the spine, strikes to the back or crown of the head, strikes to the knee joint from the front or side, throws that cause significant damage to the head or cervical spine, and joint manipulations involving twisting or bending in directions other than extension are all prohibited.

One of the important roles of referees is to ensure safety during matches. This aspect is heavily emphasized during referee’s trainings.

Victory can be obtained in 3 ways: ippon, decision, or via forfeit/disqualification of the opponent. These are established via a majority of at least 3 of the 5 judges.

1. Victory by Ippon (Win by decisive move)
   1. e.g. when the opponent is knocked down for 4 seconds or more
   2. when a chokehold or joint lock is successfully applied and leads to the opponent’s submission
   3. when a total of 8 points is obtained via a combination of waza-ari, yuko, koka (each being categories of points award), and/or penalties to the opponent.
2. Victory by Decision or Point Lead
   1. A win by superiority based on the total difference in points, where “Waza-ari” is 4 points, “Yuko” is 2 points, “Koka” is 1 point, “Foul 1” gives 1 point to the opponent, and “Foul 2” gives 2 points to the opponent.
   2. A win by superiority in content (the one who has more effective attacks in the order of “Striking,” “Throwing,” and “Groundwork”).
3. Victory due to the opponent’s disqualification or forfeiture.

   Regarding “Win by superiority in content” in (2)b above, if there is no difference in points or obvious dominance, the “superiority” judgment will be made based on the following priorities:

   1. When strikes and kicks mainly to the upper level (head/face) are accurately landed in large numbers, either singly or in combination, and would have been effective attacks if there were no protective gear.
   2. If tied under rule (1), the side with more successful throws, foot sweeps, tackles, etc. is favored.
   3. If still tied under rule (2), the side that actively attacked during ground fighting is favored.

The KIF Tournament Rules stipulate the following.

Art. 1.
The match area shall be elevated by no more than 60 cm above floor level. It shall consist in a square of 13×13 meters, being a 9x9m fight area at the center, and a 2-meter-wide safety buffer zone on the outside. A mark signaling the limit of the match area shall be placed at 90 cm from it. To the extent possible, the match area should be covered by a single sheet, to prevent holes and uneven footing. When the tournament area has 2 or more match areas, there shall be a buffer of at least 4 meters between two match areas.

Art. 2.
At the center of the fight area, two lines materializing the athletes starting position and separated by a 1.8m interval shall be placed. The line on the left side seen from the front of the match area shall be blue, while the line on the right side shall be white.

Art. 3.
Throws being allowed, the match area must be made of mats/tatamis, to have appropriate softness.

The rules regarding attire during matches are specified in Articles 4 through 19 of the KIF Tournament Rules, and a concise explanation is provided on this page of our official website.
Kudo-gi, Official Gear – KUDO International Federation

For the safety of the athletes, there are several restrictions, which are stipulated in Articles 20 to 24 of the KIF Tournament Rules. For example, Article 20 imposes the following restrictions.

Art. 20.
Athletes having received strong strikes to the head / been knocked down by strikes to the head during a competition of Kudo or other discipline within 14 days from the start of a tournament may not participate in it.

The points that are likely to be deemed complex or confusing at times are as follows:

1. Among the judge team, there is a hierarchy of roles. Among the 4 corners judges, only one, the “Deputy Chief Referee” has the power to call a draw.
2. The Chief Referee is given more power than corner judges: for example, even if three flags are raised for Blue and one flag is raised for White, the chief referee may exercise 2 points to declare a draw.
3. Furthermore, for example, even if three flags are raised for Blue and the assistant chief referee rules it a draw, the chief referee may still exercise 2 points to declare a draw.
4. When the corner judges raise two flags for Blue and two flags for White respectively, the chief referee may decide in favor of one side or may judge it as a draw.

During tournaments, the most experienced referees serve as chief referees or assistant chief referees, and the chief referee holds significant authority to declare draws in closely contested matches. This is done with the athletes’ best interests in mind.

Referees, who have the essential role of ensuring safety during matches, are required to have a great deal of experience and knowledge. In Kudo, experience as a competitor is highly valued in becoming a referee. Many referees are former champion athletes or accomplished active competitors.

We would like to emphasize the following points:

• The judgment of effective techniques and fouls can vary depending on the viewing angle.
• For this reason, there is a panel of 5 referees and an Auditor, and each referee is expected to make decisions confidently based on what they observe.
• As a result, even if one person has a different judgment from the others, it is not a problem; the overall consensus decision of the referee’s panel is followed.

If a video system was introduced, filming from multiple angles will be essential, and reviewing matches that last only three minutes via video will not be practical when taking into consideration the need to keep the tournament progressing in a smooth and timely manner.

There are sometimes complaints about decisions, but it is important to keep in mind that these complainants can only see the situation from one direction. In contrast, the referee panel makes decisions with the eyes of five referees. Furthermore, there is an auditor in case of obvious mistakes or uncertain judgments. KIF trusts the decisions made by the referee panel.

There are five grades of official referees: S, A, B, C, and D, in descending order of seniority. KIF has established “Referee License Certification Guidelines,” which specify the requirements for obtaining each grade of official referee qualification.

On KIF’s official website, a table summarizing in a concise fashion the authority, qualification requirements, and other details can be found at the following link:
Referee License In Kudo – KUDO International Federation

KIF provides the following materials to federations in its member countries:

1. Materials that give a general explanation of the rules ranging from the General Division to junior divisions (U18, U16, U14), using videos.
2. Materials that explain rules and judgment methods in detail using text and illustrations.
3. Materials providing examples of decisions in General Division matches, using videos.
4. Materials explaining examples of judgments in junior matches, using videos.
5. Materials focusing on the referees’ attention to safety.
6. Materials focusing on the referees’ movements and spoken commands.

Procedures.

1. KIHON (fundamental techniques)
2. IDOU (fundamental techniques with footwork)
3. UKEMI and EBI movement (breakfalls and shrimping)
4. NAGEWAZA (throws)
5. NEWAZA (ground techniques)
6. Yakusoku-KUMITE (pre-arranged sparring patterns / drills)
7. KUMITE (sparring)

Reference videos covering points (1) to (5) are available to representatives of KIF member countries.

The best self-defense is to avoid being in a situation were one has to defend themselves. However, in reality, there are times when you cannot escape or when you have people you need to protect.

The practice of Kudo teaches striking while standing, striking while grappling, throwing after grabbing, and ground techniques following a throw. However, a major difference between Kudo as a sport and self-defense is that in competition, the attacks used are primarily aimed at causing damage and, in the absence of protective gear would harm the opponent, whereas in self-defense, the goal is to avoid causing damage as much as possible and ultimately restrain the opponent so they cannot move or be a threat.

Examples of seminars focused on self-defense techniques are also available on the official website’s video page below.
Kudo Seminar / Camp – KUDO International Federation

The Kudo belt ranking system is explained on the KIF official website and can be found at the link below.
Ranks (Dan/Kyu) In Kudo – KUDO International Federation

Rank examination contents are specified in the “Belt Promotion Test Procedures” and cover the following elements.

1. KIHON (fundamental techniques)
2. IDOU (fundamental techniques with footwork)
3. UKEMI and EBI movement (breakfalls and shrimping)
4. NAGEWAZA (throws)
5. NEWAZA (ground techniques)
6. Yakusoku-KUMITE (pre-arranged sparring patterns / drills)
7. KUMITE (sparring)

One of the important governance documents issued by KIF is called “Rank Certification Rules”. It establishes the basic principles concerning the issuance certification of dan and kyu ranks. The dan/kyu promotion examinations are conducted in accordance with the “Belt Promotion Test Procedure” (see the previous section).

A notable feature of dan (black belt) examination is that there is a kumite (full contact sparring) test against a number of opponents, such number being determine according to the candidate’s age. For example, a male candidate under 30 years of age would have to face 10 opponents in a row, and whether they remain eligible for the rank they seek would depend on the number of wins and losses in these rounds of sparring.

Regarding technical skills, there is a scoring sheet for the examination items shown in the which evaluates whether the candidate possesses the technical attributes deemed needed to be worthy of being recognized with the Kudo dan rank.

Additionally, a certain number of years must have passed to be eligible for promotion to the next dan. For example, to take the exam for 3rd dan, a person who holds a 2nd dan must have practiced for more than three years after obtaining the 2nd dan.

The official KIF website publishes a list of affiliated countries.
Affiliated Countries – KUDO International Federation

As of January 2025, 53 countries are listed as members, but currently, there are several other countries applying for membership. The membership review process usually takes more than a year.

In order for a Martial Arts organization to become a member of the Kudo Federation, certain procedures must be followed. Please refer to What Is KIF? – How To Join.
First, go to the “Contact” page, fill out the required information and send us a message.

1. Please use the Contact form to inform us that you would like to establish a Kudo branch. The person in charge will send you the entry sheet by email.
   Contact – KUDO International Federation
2. Please return the entry sheet and pay the Application fee.
3. After participating in technical seminars held in your country or neighboring countries, or receiving instructions at the headquarters in Japan, Dan/Kyu rank will be determined by examination.
4. Deploy KMS (Kudo Membership System) and pay the Establishment fee and the Belt fee.
5. A branch certificate will be issued and you can begin the branch activities. The grade and authority of a branch will vary depending on Dan/Kyu of the person in charge.

Budo organizations affiliated with KIF make direct orders to the KIF Headquarters (Japan). Individual purchases can be made from Budo organizations affiliated with KIF.

Daidojuku has roots in Kyokushin Karate. Takashi Azuma, the founder of Kudo and Daidojuku, trained under Kancho Masutatsu Oyama and achieved notable results in tournaments, including winning the 9th All Japan Karate Championship held by Kyokushin Kaikan in 1977.

However, through Kyokushin tournaments and training, he began to question aspects such as the prohibition on punches to the head and the absence of throwing and grappling techniques. Feeling the need for a more practical karate and a comprehensive martial art, he left Kyokushin in 1981 and established Daidojuku. Seeking not to be constrained by tradition, he started to pursue his own path (“Daido”) aiming to balance “practicality and safety.” Subsequently, he went on to establish a new martial art called “Kudo.”

The history up to now is compiled in the 2020 publication “40 Years of Daidojuku, 20 Years of Kudo: This is Kudo” (169 pages). Unfortunately, this is only available in Japanese. The key periods are summarized below.

Ⅰ. Foundational Period (1981–1985) ～ Ⅱ.Opening Period (1986–1991)

• February 1981: Promoting a fighting karate style that combining safety, practicality, and prone to appeal to the greater number, Takashi Azuma established “Karatedo Daidojuku” in Sendai City.
• June 1981: The 1st exchange match under full contact rules allowing face strikes was held. Hideaki Takahashi, the current KIF Head Director, placed third in this tournament.
• October 1982: The Open Tournament Hokuto-ki Karate Championship was held for the first time.
• April 1983: Kenichi Osada, the current Jukocho of Daidojuku, became an uchi deshi (live-in student).
• September 1983: Tokyo branch was established with Hideaki Takahashi (current KIF Head Director) at the helm.
• May 1985: From this year, two Open Tournament Hokuto-ki Karate Championships were held annually: a spring event divided by physical index categories, and an autumn event with an open weight category.
• September 1986: Headquarters dojo opened in Tokyo.
• November 1986: At the open weight tournament this year, Kenichi Osada won his first championship.

Ⅲ. The Great Glove Debate and the Overseas Expansion Period (1992–1995)

• July 1992: Daidojuku hosted “THE WARS 7.7.” where athlete wore boxing gloves. Daidojuku indeed had chosen to use headgears and light fist guards on the knuckles. Some martial arts organizations criticized this choice, arguing that Daidojuku athletes would not be able to succesfully compete in bare-faced, gloved matches. In response, Daidojuku organized a gloved match in the ring to prove otherwise.
• Kenichi Osada, the current head of Daidojuku, fought boldly for five rounds against Por Tai, the unified Muay Thai champion of Rajadamnern & Lumpinee, resulting in a draw decision. Other current Daidojuku branch chiefs also fought in the ring.
• May 1993: A seminar was held in Vladivostok (which later became the first overseas branch).
• July 1993: “THE WARS ’93.” was held. Together with the previous year’s THE WARS 7.7, this was a gloved match tournament intended to counter the martial arts world prevailing view at the time that the strongest combat sport was kickboxing, competed with gloves and striking only, and that fighters using face protectors in rules were no match. The event aimed to demonstrate that fighters could perform equally well when switching from face protectors to gloves. Daidojuku fighters proved their ability to adapt to gloves, and calls for glove use in fighting karate progressively faded.
• November 1993: Held a seminar in Chile (establishing the second overseas branch).
• March 1994: Official recognition of the Brazil branch (third overseas branch).
• May 1994: Official recognition of the Moscow branch (fourth overseas branch).
• February 1995: Official recognition of the Iran branch (fifth overseas branch).

Ⅳ.The Period of Testing Against Grapplers and other Comprehensive Martial Arts (1996–2000)

• February 1996: Held “THE WARS III.” In this event, Daidojuku fighters demonstrated their ability to adapt to rules outside of Daidojuku’s own.
• March 1997: Held “THE WARS IV.” This event had Daidojuku fight against opponents under Shooto rules and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rules, proving their capability in ground fighting, and reaffirmed the philosophy of “Kakuto Karate” (as the karate practiced by Daidojuku was known) as a stand-up-focused form of mixed martial arts.
• April 1999: Held “THE WARS V.” Following THE WARS IV, this event featured challenges against other mixed martial artists.

During this period, Daidojuku officially recognized branches in Saint Petersburg, Sri Lanka, Australia, Pakistan, Yekaterinburg, Ukraine, Thailand, and Belgium. Other followed, and are omitted thereafter.

Ⅴ.Introduction of the Kudo name, World Championships, and Global Expansion (2001-)

• November 2001: the 1st Hokuto-ki World Kudo Championships are held.
• July 2002: Held “THE WARS VI.” This event featured 8 Daidojuku athletes against 8 players of Lutte Contact a French mixed martial art resembling Kudo. After this event, the practice of challenging others under different competition ruleset to learn from them disciplines ended, marking a shift toward leveling up within Kudo itself.
• May 2002: Held the first All-Japan Hokuto-ki Kudo PI Division Championship, the first All-Japan tournament to carry the “Kudo” name; held annually each spring thereafter.
• August 2002: Received official approval from the Cabinet Office for the “NPO International Kudo Federation.”
• November 2002: Held the first All-Japan Hokuto-ki Kudo Open Weight Championships bearing the “Kudo” name; held annually each autumn thereafter.
• November 2005: Held the 2nd Hokuto-ki World Kudo Championships.
• September 2007: Held the 1st European Kudo Championships in Bulgaria.
• February 2008: Held the 1st European Kudo Championships in Russia.
• September 2008: Held the 1st Asian Kudo Championships in Mongolia.
• October 2008: Held the 1st Eastern European Kudo Championships in Bulgaria.
• October 2008: Held the 1st Middle East & Africa Kudo Championships in the UAE.
• November 2009: Held the 3rd Hokuto-ki World Kudo Championships.From this tournament onward, the open tournament system was abolished, and only competitors belonging to the Kudo International Federation were allowed to participate.
• February 2011: Held the 1st World Kudo Cup in Russia.
• March 2011: Held the 1st South Asian Kudo Championships in India.
• July 2013: Participated as an exhibition sport at the World Games 2013 in Cali.
• June 2014: Held the Kudo Asia Cup Open in Russia.
• July 2014: Held the 2nd Asian Kudo Championships in South Korea.
• November 2014: Held the 4th Hokuto-ki World Kudo Championships and the 1st World Kudo Junior Championships.
• October 2015: Held the 1st Asian Kudo Cup in Mongolia.
• November 2015: Held the 1st Pan-American Cup in Chile.
• February 2017: Held the 2nd World Kudo Cup in India.
• November 2017: Held the 3rd Asian Kudo Championships in Japan.
• December 2018: Held the 5th Hokuto-ki World Kudo Championships and the 2nd World Kudo Junior Championship.
• September 2019: Held the Pan-American Cup 2019 in Colombia.

After this, international activities were temporarily suspended due to the impact of COVID-19.
Information on international events after resumption is available on the KIF official website.
Activity Reports & Planning – KUDO International Federation

Master Azuma, founder of Daidojuku, named this tournament after the connection between the north pole star and the constellation of the Great Bear. “Hokuto” comes from “Hokuto Shichisei (7 stars of Great Bear)” which is the Japanese name of that constellation. A well-known feature of the Great Bear is that it can be used, for instance in navigation, as a pointer towards the fixed, unmoving North Star.

Master Azuma metaphorically incorporated that meaning in the name of the Hokutoki Tournament, taking the North Star as a symbol of the unique and supreme truth that we cannot easily attain. He wanted the ruleset of these tournaments to be such that they would allow athletes to seek that truth. Like the Great Bear, the experience of competition points us towards the truth we pursue, in that it shows us if we, through our training and practice, are going in the right direction.

The “ki” in “Hokutoki” means “flag.”

The Meaning of Continuing Kudo
– The “Do” We Are Walking –
What you practice every day in Kudo is not just martial arts.
It is not only about sharpening techniques or competing in tournaments.
Kudo is a path — a place of learning that enriches your entire life.

1. Training shapes who you are
Through regular practice, you naturally build perseverance, focus, and self-discipline.
These qualities extend far beyond the dojo — they support you in work, school, family, and every part of daily life.

2. Walking the path together
Kudo cannot be practiced alone.
It exists because of training partners who challenge, support, and encourage each other.
The friendships and bonds you form here go beyond the dojo and often last a lifetime.

3. The global bond of Kudo
Kudo is practiced in over 50 countries around the world.
At international seminars and tournaments, you stand shoulder to shoulder with practitioners from different nations and cultures.
By continuing your practice, you are also taking part in international friendship and small steps toward peace.

4. A lifelong martial art
Kudo is for everyone – children, adults, and even seniors.
Because it can be adapted to each person’s age and physical ability, you can continue training throughout your entire life.
That makes Kudo not just a sport, but a lifelong companion on your personal journey.

In conclusion
Each time you step into the dojo, you are polishing more than just your physical skills.
You are cultivating inner strength, pride, friendship, and a connection to the wider world.
To continue practicing Kudo is to walk a path of growth — for yourself, for your community, and for peace.