Koryu is a Japanese word which literally translates as “old school.” Not in the modern, hip vernacular, but instead as a school that is old. It can also be translated to be “old style.”
Koryu specifically refers to Japanese traditional art that developed before the Meiji restoration of 1868. In Japanese history, this marked a turning point where old methods were abandoned and modernization happened extremely quickly. The reasons are myriad, and their explanation left to better scholars more qualified than I. For our purposes, the Meiji restoration eliminated the samurai as a social class, along with the rights and privileges associated with them.
Interpretations
Many Japanese words have either subtle context in which they work, and change their meanings, or they have implied meanings. Koryu is one of those words. Besides the age requirement, there is a connotation of koryu schools being living traditions which are unchanging since the time of their founding. There is also the idea that koryu involve many different teachings which prioritize combat, discipline, morals, and aesthetic form. They are transmitted singularly from headmaster of the ryuha to students. Historically the passage of headmastership has usually been familial as well.
Since these are from a time of actual samurai, there is a dividing line between koryu and budo or bujutsu. Budo, are generally more modern, and do not necessarily have combat as their primary function. For example, although aikido is based on koryu (Daito-ryu aikijutsu), and indeed shares many of their techniques, it was developed after the Meiji restoration, and its function is not combative. It is therefore a modern budo. Even if someone trained in their koryu took what they knew and decided to form a new system for the Japanese sword, (Toyama-ryu) they would not be a koryu because of the age factor.
Do you have a favorite martial arts word that doesn’t directly translate into English? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll cover it next week. Or better yet, submit your own Martial Word Wednesday and get published.
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