The Scottish Koryu Association is a not for profit association founded with the specific goal of promoting Authentic, Japanese Classical traditions in Scotland.

Koryu literally means "old flow" and is used in Japanese to refer to old styles, schools, or traditions, and not necessarily only in the martial arts. The simplest English translation of this term is "classical.

For our membership criteria we define a 'koryu' martial art, participant or group using the following criteria:
1. A ryu which was founded i Japan prior to the modern japanese era, or Meiji era in1868.
2. A ryu which has an unbroken lineage from the founder to the present time.
3. The participant or group is a direct member of their parent orgnisation in Japan.
4. The Japanese ryu is recognised as a koryu by the Japanese government's Nihon Kobudo Kyokai, the classical section of Nippon Budokan.

A primary reason for the founding of the association was to provide a vehicle for the study of 'authentic Japanese martial arts' and also to bypass the attempted control of "Western Ju Jitsu" organisations that pretend to practice 'Traditional Japanese Martial Arts' when in fact they practice a western blend of modern martial arts techniques.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to both individuals and clubs who wish to study with us. Membership benefits include member to member insurance and access to our training and events.

WHAT WE PRACTICE
We study traditional 'Japanese' Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (which is a 'Koryu' style or 'Ancient Tradition'). Hontai Yoshin Ryu have been members of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (or the Japanese Classical Martial Arts Association, which is part of the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo Japan) since its establishment.

Hontai Yoshin Ryu training includes, Jujutsu (unarmed), Bojutsu (long staff and half staff), Kodachi (Short Sword), Tanto Dori (Knife defence) and Iaijutsu (Japanese sword).

Along with Jujutsu students begin weapons practice at an early stage, as with any classical Jujutsu style weapons are at the core of the tradition.

SELF DEFENCE
Although all students begin with kata training, we also take a simple and effective, common sense approach to self defence, and example of situations drilled include, stalking attacks, silent or surprise attacks, restraint and dragging attacks, control and threat/strike attacks, punching kicking and grappling attacks and weapon attacks.

The purpose of the self defence syllabus is to not only give students a hands on feel for technical application and a better general knowledge of self defence, but more importantly to develop their sense of situational awareness allowing the student to either avoid or preempt dangerous situations altogether.

Technically as the students progress through the kyu grades it is expected that the skills developed through of kata training will reflect on their self defence techniques.