Modern Japanese martial art Kudo was established in the 1980s. Takashi Azuma, desiring to create a practical and effective combat sport that fused elements of traditional martial arts such as karate, judo, and kickboxing, designed it. Kudo martial arts integrate full-contact sparring while utilizing protective equipment such as gloves, headgear, and shin shields. The system prioritizes authentic combat situations and permits an extensive array of maneuvers, such as grappling, hurling, and striking. Kudo is a comprehensive martial art in that standing and ground combat are customary in competitions. Kudo is distinguished by the implementation of a helmet design that permits headbutts, an action that is generally prohibited in combat sports. This incorporation exemplifies Kudo's emphasis on pragmatic methods of self-defense. In general, Kudo endeavors to cultivate versatile martial practitioners well-versed in multiple facets of combat, rendering it applicable to both self-defense and competitive engagements.