About
Association

Bujin (武人) – means BUDO warriors – the legacy of Takashi Azuma, commitment to the traditions of martial arts;
Shinkudoryu (新空道流) – New Kudo School;
Bujinkai (武人会) – The BUDO warrior society is the name of our Honbu, which is the center for the improvement and advancement of the Shinkudoryu School, designed to develop the legacy of Takashi Azuma.

The Bujin Shinkudoryu School (hereinafter referred to as Bujin Shinkudoryu) was founded by Igor Samokhin (black belt, 6th Dan KUDO) on March 1, 2025.

In March 2024, Jukucho Daido Juku Kenichi Osada and KIF General Director Hideaki Takahashi, on behalf of KIF leadership, addressed an official letter to Igor Samokhin, then Director of the Kudo International Federation (KIF) and Branch Chief of Ukraine.

The letter invited Igor Samokhin to leave the KIF, resign as KIF Director, and create his own organization that would be friendly to KIF.

The KIF leadership presented the following arguments:

1. The demands of the Russian Kudo Federation leadership and the initiative group of instructors of the Ukrainian Kudo Federation to divide between them the Branch covering Ukraine (pre-1991), granted to Igor Samokhin by KUDO founder Takashi Azuma in 2000.

2. The changed international political situation.

Considering Igor Samokhin's contributions to the development of KUDO, the KIF leadership proposed that he create a new organization that would further the work begun by KUDO founder Takashi Azuma, outside of the International Kudo Federation. This organization would be a KIF-friendly organization.

After a lengthy and active discussion of all options, arguments, and rationales, Igor Samokhin and a group of like-minded instructors decided to accommodate the KIF leadership.

After all the terms for the new School's creation were discussed and approved by KIF leadership (during three online video conferences with recorded video), the establishment of a new School, Bujin Shinkudoryu, was announced on the first day of spring 2025.

However, after this, the KIF abruptly reversed its position, rejecting the previously reached agreements.

The Bujin Shinkudoryu School is a community of people committed to the ideals and ethical principles that Jukucho Takashi Azuma has promoted since his founding of Daido Juku Karate Do (since 2001, KUDO).

Currently, Bujin Shinkudoryu is a completely independent organization, completely unaffiliated with the International KUDO Federation. The school continues to develop the legacy of Takashi Azuma and other martial arts. Shinkudoryu has adopted its own unique Competition Rules and certification requirements.

The school was founded in the Russian Federation and strives for a unique symbiosis of the experience of Russian and foreign fighters and the traditions of BUDO – Japanese martial arts – combined with education in the classical values ​​of the school.

Bujin Shinkudoryu is a well-structured system for training versatile martial artists capable of competing under various competition rules, with a system of education based on generally accepted traditional human values.

Goodness, justice, openness, honesty, conscience, duty, honor, and dignity are the ethical categories we rely on in the process of educating people as members of society and as individuals. That's why one of our organization's slogans is "Always Save Face!"

This slogan has three meanings.

First and foremost, one must strive to maintain Face (honor, dignity, and reputation) throughout one's life.

Secondly, one must literally protect one's face (the head area) during a fight through the use of technical equipment.

Thirdly, during sparring according to Shinkudoryu rules, special protective masks are used to prevent facial injuries.

It is important to note that Bujin Shinkudoryu is an open organization. We declare openness to communication and a friendly attitude toward all forms of martial arts and all sports organizations representing martial arts.

The organization declares the principle of "open membership", which allows athletes and instructors to be members of other martial arts organizations.