The Classical Martial Traditions of Japan
The Koryu.com Guide to Classical Japanese Martial Arts
This "Ryu Guide" is the place to start when investigating a classical Japanese martial ryu. Each category includes a list of the schools that we cover (thus far) at Koryu.com. Schools are listed in more than one category when appropriate (i.e. Tenshin Buko-ryu will be listed both under naginatajutsu and kusarigamajutsu). Each ryu listing contains basic information on the tradition, including the founder, date founded, and systems taught, as well as references to photographs and articles here at Koryu.com, relevant books, and links to appropriate web sites. We will continue to add new material to this list from our archives and research.
All listed ryu-ha have one thing in common--they are authentic Japanese warrior traditions. Virtually all are members of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (Society for the Promotion of the Japanese Classical Martial Arts) or the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japanese Classical Martial Arts Association), the two most respected and well-established organizations devoted to koryu in Japan. All are included in the standard Japanese reference sources. Please keep in mind, however, that this list is by no means comprehensive. Many of the hundreds of extant classical traditions are not yet listed, so the fact that a school's name does not appear means relatively little. Those that are listed, we can and do "vouch for."
Ryuha list by name
Ryuha list by ryu type
General Resources
Legend
Ryuha list by name
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Ryuha by Type
- Battojutsu & Iaijutsu
- techniques of sword-drawing; sword-drawing art
- Bojutsu & Jojutsu
- techniques of staff & stick; staff or stick art
- Jujutsu & Kogusoku
- techniques of flexibility; grappling art
- Kenjutsu
- techniques of the sword; swordsmanship
- Naginatajutsu
- techniques of the glaive; glaive art
- Other weapons of the bushi
- chain-and-sickle, truncheon, etc
- Sojutsu
- techniques of the spear; spear art
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General Resources
- "Donn F. Draeger: The Life and Times of An American Martial Arts Pioneer"
- by Paul Nurse
- "Frequently Asked Questions"
- by Diane Skoss
- "Introduction to Field Guide to the Classical Japanese Martial Arts"
- by Diane Skoss
- Keiko Shokon
- edited by Diane Skoss
- Koryu Bujutsu
- edited by Diane Skoss
- "The Koryu Primer"
- by Diane Skoss
- Meiji Jingu Hono Embukai
- Photos taken by Daniel Lee at the 2001 event
- Old School
- by Ellis Amdur
- "Real or Fake?"
- by Wayne Muromoto
- Sword & Spirit
- edited by Diane Skoss
- Traditions
- by Dave Lowry
- "What is a Ryu?"
- by Wayne Muromoto
- "The Whole Legitimacy Thing"
- by Karl Friday
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Legend [back]
Article at Koryu.com
Book review at Koryu.com
Photograph at Koryu.com
Link to video
Link to other web site
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Last modified on
May 2, 2022
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