Kudo

Kudo, or Kudō, is a term that appears in several contexts, most often in Japan. It is commonly used as a surname and can also refer to a modern martial art. In English-language texts, it is usually written without diacritics as Kudo or Kudō, and may be romanized in different ways such as Kudoh or Kuodō depending on transliteration conventions.

As a Japanese surname, Kudō is relatively common. The most typical writing is 工藤, though other spellings and kanji exist. People bearing the surname can be found across professions, including the arts, sports, academia, and public life. Because it is a traditional and widely encountered name, Kudō appears in literature, media, and historical records.

In the martial arts context, Kudo can refer to a modern Japanese system often described as a hybrid or comprehensive practice combining elements of traditional arts such as judo and karate, with a focus on both standing and grappling techniques and competitive sport aspects. Practitioners may train in dojos around the world, and the art has organized bodies and events to support instruction, ranking, and competition.

Kudo may also surface in other uses, including given names, place names, or character names in fiction, as well as in company or product names. Because Japanese readings and kanji combinations vary, the same phonetic term can correspond to different meanings depending on context and spelling.