Ryu
流
Japanese for “stream”, in the sense of school or style. A suffix of the names of styles and old schools: Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Katori Shinto-ryu.
Quick Facts
Term typeClassification of techniques, arts and schools
LanguageJapanese
Formsuffix / compound element
Pronunciation[ryoo]
Alternative Namesschool, style
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)りゅう / りゅうは
Hepburn romanizationryū / ryūha
Word breakdown
流ryūstream, flow
派hagroup, branch
Definition
Ryu (流) means “stream” or “flow” and in the martial arts denotes a school or style with its own lineage of teachers and methodology. The full word ryuha (流派) means “school”. The suffix -ryu is attached to the name: Goju-ryu, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu in karate, Katori Shinto-ryu or Kashima Shinto-ryu among the old schools. Ryu is used mainly for schools with a firm line of transmission. At the head of the old koryu schools usually stands the soke, a hereditary leader, and knowledge is passed on through menkyo licenses.