Kudo in Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (The Week — KIFI National Kudo Championship coverage, Sportskeeda — Sohail Khan profiles and 2023 Kudo World Cup self-funding coverage, Karnataka Kudo (karnatakakudo.com), KIFI Association (kudoindia.org)).

Overview

Governing body: Kudo International Federation India
Origin: Japan, 1981
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Kudo is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Kudo International Federation India oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Kudo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The Kudo International Federation India runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Kudo typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Kudo originated in Japan, 1981, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Kudo, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Kudo International Federation India, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Kudo is played and developed across India under the Kudo International Federation India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How kudo evolved globally and took root in India.

Kudo traces its modern origins to Japan, 1981. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Kudo International Federation India is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, kudo grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Kudo International Federation India, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Kudo sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Scholarships & Funding

Central, state and private scholarships available for kudo athletes in India.

Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified kudo talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect kudo athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports fund used to sponsor elite kudo athletes' training, foreign coaches and equipment.
Pension for Meritorious Sportspersons
Lifetime monthly pension (₹20,000 for Olympic/World/Asian/CWG medallists; scaled by tier) for retired kudo internationals — Government of India.

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Indian Players

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Rules

Kudo (Daido Juku) is a Japanese mixed martial art combining full-contact karate strikes with throws, grappling and submissions. Bouts are fought in a bogu-style helmet with a clear faceguard, allowing punches, kicks, elbows and knees to the head and body, headbutts, throws, and limited ground fighting (usually capped at around 30 seconds before a standing restart). Competitors are matched by a 'tai-sa' index that adds height in centimetres to weight in kilograms rather than weight class alone. Points are scored as koka, yuko, waza-ari and ippon depending on effect, with a knockdown, submission or accumulated advantage ending the contest; grabbing the faceguard, attacks to the groin, spine or joints against the hinge are penalised. Grades run through kyu and dan ranks.

Authoritative rulebook: Kudo International Federation India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a kudo squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in kudo at a federation-recognised event.

Kudo helmet (Neo Head Guard) with transparent faceguard
Open-finger gloves
Groin guard and shin/instep protectors
Mouthguard; chest protector for juniors and women
Dogi (white or blue) with rank belt
Matted competition area

Governing body

National federation

Kudo International Federation India

Kudo International Federation India is the recognised national body for Kudo in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for kudo. State associations under Kudo International Federation India run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Japan, 1981
Olympic: No
Category: Combat

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the kudo calendar in India.

National Kudo Tournament
Organized by the Kudo International Federation India (KIFI, established 2011, recognized by MYAS as India's sole national federation for Kudo, chaired by actor Akshay Kumar with Soshihan Mehul Vora as president), now in its 16th edition (2025-26). A separate 1st National Kudo Championship (2023, Pune) drew over 600 participants from 28 states and union territories.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in kudo.

Kudo World Cup / World Championship
Sohail Khan ('Golden Boy of Madhya Pradesh,' 21 national gold medals) reached the quarterfinals of the Senior World Championship in Tokyo (2023) after being crowned Junior World Champion in 2017; he later won bronze at the 2024 Eurasian Kudo Cup (Armenia) and qualified for the 2025 Kudo World Cup in Bulgaria. An 18-member Indian team competed at the 2023 World Cup in Tokyo.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for kudo. The national championship under Kudo International Federation India remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised kudo athletes to know outside India.

Mikaela Mayer (USA) / Naoya Inoue (Japan)
World-title boxers headlining the current pro scene.
Islam Makhachev (Russia)
UFC lightweight champion.
Zaur Uguev (Russia)
Two-time Olympic and multiple-time World wrestling champion.
Kim Yu-Jin (South Korea)
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
Uta Abe (Japan)
Olympic and World judo champion.

Records

Where to find India's official kudo record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Kudo is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in kudo are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Kudo International Federation India.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in kudo are maintained by the Kudo International Federation India.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for kudo and mirrored by Kudo International Federation India.
National record holdersFederation register
Kudo International Federation India publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in kudo — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Despite MYAS recognition, KIFI receives no government financial assistance — the 18-member team travelling to the 2023 World Cup in Tokyo had to self-fund travel, accommodation and meals, with athletes personally negotiating local sponsorships
Sohail Khan has publicly advocated for Kudo's inclusion in the National Games, noting the sport was left out of the 2025 edition even as fellow indigenous/martial disciplines like Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Rafting and Yogasana featured as demonstration sports
KIFI claims over 10 lakh (1 million) active athletes across Indian villages, districts and states; playing pathway through KIFI's national selection trials and state-level competitions

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Related academies

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for kudo athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about kudo in India.

Who governs Kudo in India?▾

Kudo International Federation India is the recognised national federation for Kudo in India. State associations under Kudo International Federation India run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Kudo an Olympic sport?▾

Kudo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Kudo International Federation India.

How do I start playing Kudo in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Kudo athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Kudo?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Kudo athletes selected for international events?▾

Kudo International Federation India runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Kudo in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Kudo in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Kudo