Alright it’s not a blog but I’ve finally put together my reading list for koryu folks, or folks just interested in the koryu take on martial arts. What is koryu? In general, Koryu literally means “old flow” and is used in Japanese to refer to old styles, schools, or traditions (not necessarily only in the martial arts). The simplest English translation of this term is “classical.” (Reference A Koryu Primer)
First, a couple of books that are not strictly martial arts related, but I think are very important for understanding the martial arts:
1) The Art of War – either Thomas Cleary’s translation for accessibility (I’ve read this one), or Samuel Griffith’s for a more military perspective. This gives a solid grounding into the martial basis of the martial arts, and I feel every serious martial artist who’s interested in the martial side should read this at some point
2) Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – Gregory Hays’ translation is often recommended for its accessibility (I’ve read that one), I’ve also seen Robin Waterfield for more context. Stoicism is basically a western take on Fudoshin (Immovable mind). Stoic concepts have had a huge influence on Western thought, culture, and on Christianity. (I’m not as familiar with the other major western religions). Highly recommend this one, especially as Marcus Aurelius was a warrior scholar emperor. (Reference for the five minds or spirits)
Second, some key websites:
1) My most referred to blog is https://budobum.blogspot.com/, Peter Boylan’s blog. Worth the read through for anyone interested in koryu. Bonus in that people getting into the ZNKR/SMR have a chance to train with him. Here is a blog by him on our website, copied with his permission. Practice Makes Permanent.
2) https://classicbudoka.wordpress.com/ – Wayne Muromoto trains Taka(no)uchi Ryu, which had a huge impact on HYR. Reading this is well worth it.
3) https://kogenbudo.org/blog/ – Ellis Amdur trains Araki Ryu, one of the coolest arts out there. This blog is worth a read as well.
4) https://koryu.com/ – I think this was put together by the Skoss’s though I could be misremembering. Excellent resource with a variety of articles worth the read, found here: https://koryu.com/library/, and a ryu guide, found here: https://koryu.com/guide/ryuguide/ that has an article on Hontai Yoshin Ryu (HYR – one of the arts practiced at our Dojo). Recommended articles here are anything by Guy Buyens and Stephen Fabian, senior practitioners of HYR, as well as other articles under the HYR ryu guide, as well as, well, everything on the lists.
Third, books:
First, shout out to the koryu.com book review listing – of which I’m only including the ones I have read and personally recommend. You can find a link to the books mentioned and other reviews (and likely the books) here: https://koryu.com/books/martialartsbookreviews/
1) Musings of a Budo Bum by Peter Boylan – it’s great, read it. A collection of essays by Boylan, this is a really accessible look at the arts by a man who lives in the US and trains and teaches classical Japanese martial arts. (The link will take you to Amazon.)
2) Autumn Lightning by Dave Lowry – you’ll see his name a lot on this list, because first, he trains Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, which was the art of the Tokugawa family, and second, he’s a prolific writer.
3) Persimmon Wind – Lowry’s sequel to Autumn Lighting.
4) Classical Bujutsu by Donn Draeger – I believe he was the first person to actively write about the koryu arts in English. While I have read that some of the information has been supplanted by modern scholarship, this series of books is an essential read for any koryu artist.
5) Classical Budo by Donn Draeger – part 2 of Draeger’s series.
6) Code of the Samurai, translated by Thomas Cleary – the Bushido Shoshinshu is a fascinating historical document written by samurai for samurai, and while there may be better translations of it, this one is pretty accessible.
7) Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai, translated by William Scott Wilson – another book by samurai for samurai, I don’t like this one as much as the Code of the Samurai, but it is an interesting insight into the mindset of a provincial samurai from the late 1600’s, and has some interesting aphorisms within it. Well worth the read.
8) Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume One – an excellent collection of essays on koryu by non-Japanese practitioners, this one is very much worth the read.
9) Sword & Spirit: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan, Volume Two – the sequel to item 8 on this list, also well worth the read.
10) Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, by Ellis Amdur – this is another collection of essays, this time by Ellis Amdur (mentioned above).
11) The Book of Five Rings, translated by William Scott Wilson – definitely recommend Wilson’s translation – I’ve read several, and this is the best of the ones I have read by far. This book by Miyamoto Musashi is easily one of the most famous books on the koryu arts, but it is not as accessible as one might hope. If you are training the Japanese sword and are interested in the mindset of Japan’s most renowned swordsman – this is the book to read.
12) The Demon’s Sermon on the Martial Arts, translated by William Scott Wilson – Wilson is just a great translator of these sorts of texts. You’ll see his name a few more times. This one is a highly philosophical text, but that’s part of why I study these arts, so you know, I love it, I recommend it.
13) The Life-Giving Sword: Secret Teachings of from the House of the Shogun, translated by William Scott Wilson – Wilson again, and this is a book written by Yagyu Munenori, of Yagyu-Shinkage fame (the art Dave Lowry, mentioned above and below, studies). Cannot recommend this one enough.
14) The Unfettered Mind:Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master, translated by William Scott Wilson – first, Wilson again. Second, those of you who train with me can probably immediately see why I love this book so much. Written by Takuan Soho, it includes an essay written by Takuan to Yagyu Munenori, as well as two other essays. All of these are amazing. Not an easy read, but an important one. One of my favorites, too.
15) Legends of the Samurai, by Hiroaki Sato – a collection of exactly what it says – legends of the samurai, this book is quite a bit different, but amazingly worthwhile. A lot of historical and quasi-historical stories pulled from historical sources, translated and presented in an utterly fascinating read that helps give context to the study of these arts. Bonus – my son bought this for me one year, I read it while traveling, and absolutely loved it.
16) Assorted other Dave Lowry books – the man is a prolific author on the martial arts, and a lot of his writings are worth the read. I recommend In the Dojo and Sword and Brush from experience, but also know Moving Toward Stillness and Clouds in the West have been recommended as well.
Thank you for reading. More thoughts to come.
Matthew Hawthorne