Gendai budo
現代武道
Modern Japanese martial arts that arose after the Meiji reforms in 1868, such as judo, karate, aikido or shorinji kempo.
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Gendai budo (現代武道) means “modern budo”. It denotes Japanese martial arts that arose after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. They include aikido, judo, karate, kudo, shorinji kempo and modern schools of jujutsu. Sumo is sometimes wrongly counted among them, even though it is older. Gendai budo differ from the old koryu schools in several respects. They adopted a unified system of kyu and dan grades, whereas koryu use various systems of licenses. Koryu often have a strict entrance ritual, for example the blood oath keppan, and a selection of students, while the dojo of the modern arts are open to anyone who follows the rules of conduct.