List of koryū schools of martial arts explained

This is an incomplete list of koryū (lit. "traditional schools", or "old schools") martial arts. These are schools of martial arts that originated in Japan, and were founded prior to 1876, when the act prohibiting the wearing of swords (Haitōrei) came into effect after the Meiji Restoration.^[1]

Alphabetical listing

Comprehensive systems

• Asayama Ichiden-ryū^[2]
• Kashima Shin-ryū^[3]
• Kukishin-ryū
• Sekiguchi Shinshin-ryū
• Suiō-ryū
• Tatsumi-ryū^[4]
• Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū^[4]
• Tenshinshō Jigen-ryū
• Takenouchi-ryū^[4]
• Tendō-ryū^[2]
• Yagyū Shingan-ryū

Grappling/close-quarters ryū (armoured, unarmoured)

• Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
• Hontai Yōshin-ryū
• Kitō-ryū
• Kukishin-ryū^[5]
• Sekiguchi-ryū
• Shindō Yōshin-ryū
• Sosuishi-ryū
• Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū
• Yagyū Shingan-ryū^[2]
• Yōshin-ryū - Founded by Akiyama Yoshitoki
• Yōshin-ryū (Yōshin Koryū) - Founded by Miura Yōshin

Sword-drawing ryū (battōjutsu, iaijutsu, etc.)

• Hoki-ryū
• Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū
• Sekiguchi-ryu
• Tamiya-ryū (Kuroda)
• Tamiya-ryū (Tsumaki)
• Yagyū Shinkage-ryū

Sword-fighting ryū (kenjutsu, tōjutsu)

• Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū^[2]
• Ittō-ryū
  • Hokushin Ittō-ryū
  • Ittō Shoden Muto-ryū
  • Kogen Ittō-ryū
  • Mizoguchi-ha Ittō-ryū
  • Nakanishi Ittō-ryū
  • Ono-ha Ittō-ryū
• Jigen-ryū
• Kage-ryū
• Kage-ryū (Aizu)
• Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū^[2]
• Kashima Shintō-ryū
• Maniwa Nen-ryū^[2]
• Mugai-ryū
• Nen-ryū
• Tennen Rishin-ryū
• Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
• Shingyotō-ryū^[2]
• Shinkage-ryū
• Yagyū Shinkage-ryū^[2]

Spear/polearm-fighting ryū (sōjutsu, naginatajutsu)

• Higo Ko-ryū
• Hōzōin-ryū^[4]
• Jikishinkage-ryū Naginatajutsu
• Toda ha Buko-ryū^[4]
• Yōshin-ryū^[4] (not to be confused with Hontai Yōshin-ryū)

Stick/Staff ryū (jōjutsu, bōjutsu)

• Shintō Musō-ryū^[4]

Various weaponry

• Isshin-ryū (kusarigamajutsu; not to be confused with Isshin-ryū karate)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Skoss. Diane. A Koryu Primer. Koryu Books. 2006-05-09. 2007-01-01.
2. Book: Skoss, Diane. 1997. Koryu Bujutsu Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan Vol.1. Koryu Books. 1-890536-04-0. 63.
3. Book: Friday. Karl F.. Seki. Humitake. Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture. University of Hawaii Press. 1997. 978-0824818791.
4. Book: Skoss, Diane. 1997. Sword & Spirit Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan Vol.2. Koryu Books. 1-890536-05-9. 70. registration.
5. Book: Watatani Kiyoshi, Yamada Tadashi. Bugei Ryuha Daijiten (武芸流派大事典) (Large Encyclopedia of Martial Arts). ja . Shin Jinbutsu Ourai Sha (人物往来社). 1969.