[pumpineemob]

Okay, I'm new to these boards and I've only really practiced in Japan, and primarily iaido and kenbu at that, so this is an issue I'm really not very kuwashii about. What exactly IS a koryu? I know Japanese, and I understand the term, so I can obviously recognize that ZNKR seitei kata aren't koryu (though derived from, IIRC) and that, say, Hyoho Ni Ten Ichi (?) Ryu does constitute koryu.

What about MJER and MSR? My sensei in Japan refer to them as koryu, as distinct from seitei, but since we're all part of the ZNKR I've only seen about three or four "koryu" show up in performances and competitions, and (with the exceptions of pre-tournament performances and an all-Japan performance in Kyoto I saw this year), these koryu kata always show up in conjunction with seitei kata.

I've heard a lot of talk about people studying koryu, with an implication of studying completely separate from ZNKR, AUSKF, BKA(?), etc. This is why I'm not entirely sure of how the term is used outside Japan now. What constitutes "studying koryu", and what doesn't fall under that heading?

[Alexeric]

See www.koryu.com
Diane Skoss' website and books are pretty much the definitive answer on this in English. The level of scholarship is very high, and contributors probably average each about 20 years experience in koyu practice in Japan.

GIYF as ever.
Plus do a thread search at www.e-budo.com

b

[somawaima]

Nice answer.

Rep++;

[Ufkkrxcq]

Koryu is old style, the styles of iaido that are several hundred years old. Seitei is derived from, what? half a dozen koryu, I think? Originally as a bridging gap for kendoka to take up iaido then became an art in its own right. There is a term for styles between koryu and seitei.. can't remember it though and even those are a couple hundred years old I i recall correctly.

[qp0yfHOf]

You might want to look into 日本古武道振興会 and 日本古武道協会 as well, as they are the two largest organisations (that I know of) that organise national koryu bujutsu enbu in Japan.

MJER and MSR people don't often demonstrate at these enbu as fas as I know.

Newbie, perhaps the other term you are looking for is gendai budo?