Kudo Principles

As a budō, personal development through demanding physical activity remains the main component of Kūdō. This personal development should directly and positively serve society. This notion is transcribed in the Dōjō kun of Kūdō.

Dojo Kun (道场坤)

“Through the study of Kūdō, we want to strengthen our spirit, develop our physical strength, educate ourselves and mature our intelligence, open up to others and improve our character. Thus, we hope to contribute positively to society.”

Dōjō kun (道场坤) is a Japanese martial arts term literally meaning "rules of the dojo". These rules are usually posted at the entrance of the training room or on the front of the dojo (shomen) and outline the behaviors to be respected or avoided. At Kūdō, they are recited at the end of each class.

First Daido juku and Kakutō karate

The Daido Juku organization became operational on February 17, 1981. The first dojo was opened in Miyagi Prefecture under the name "Karate-do Daidojuku". The house martial arts style was also known as Kakutō karate (eng. Fighting Karate) and/or Combat Karate Daidojuku. In the same year, Daidojuku alumni made their competitive debut at the "1981 Hokutoki Karate Championships". Daidojuku played a role in the martial arts boom of the late 80s and early 90s in Japan, being one of the few mixed martial arts organizations in the martial arts industry at the time. He is credited with helping K-1 and U-series promotions reach the Japanese mainstream. In the 1990s, Daidojuku organized kickboxing events known as THE WARS, which centered on the "gloved" rules of full-contact karate, and showcased Daido juku's best talents.

Kudo, the New Direction and the Present

Starting in the mid-1990s, Daidojuku would move away from media-centric promotion and return to the initial course of developing the "safe but practical" style that Daido Juku had been aiming for since its inception. In 2001, Takashi Azuma, founder and president of daidojuku, held an official press conference where he announced that the style promoted by daidojuku would henceforth be called Kudo, thus becoming his own martial art. In the same year, Daidojuku launched the first world championship competition with great success, launching Kudo on the international stage. Based on the philosophy of budō, Kudo is fully expanded in the world and all its instructors and leaders are certified and registered with the International Kudo Federation, also known as KIF.