Takashi Azuma (1949–2021) was a pioneering Japanese martial artist best known as the founder of Kūdō, a modern hybrid martial art that fuses the effectiveness of full-contact striking with grappling and throws. Born in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Azuma began his martial arts journey in judo during high school and later trained in Kyokushin Karate while studying philosophy at Waseda University. His early exposure to these arts laid the foundation for his revolutionary thinking.

Azuma rose through the ranks in Kyokushin under the legendary Masutatsu Ōyama, but he felt the style lacked realism in dealing with modern combat scenarios. He sought to create a more complete system—one that incorporated not only powerful strikes but also throws, submissions, and realistic sparring with protective equipment to reduce injury while maintaining full-contact intensity.

In 1981, he founded Daido Juku, and in 2001, officially renamed the style Kūdō. The discipline combines elements of karate, judo, boxing, and jiu-jitsu. Fighters wear a distinctive face-shielded headgear that enables safe, high-impact sparring. More than a fighting style, Kūdō is rooted in reigi (etiquette), shin-gi-tai (spirit-technique-body), and the pursuit of personal growth and resilience.

Azuma’s philosophy of budō emphasized that martial arts should evolve with society while preserving traditional values. Under his leadership, Kūdō became a global phenomenon, with practitioners in over 60 countries and regular international championships.

Azuma passed away in April 2021 at age 71 due to stomach cancer, leaving behind a profound legacy. His contribution to modern martial arts is not just technical but philosophical—teaching that true strength is found not only in the body, but in character, humility, and continuous self-improvement. His spirit lives on in every Kūdō practitioner.