A ryu is a school or system of classical Martial Arts.
What makes a ryu is a curriculum of skills, techniques, strategies, philosophies and a meaningful history that is distinctive cohesive, unique and effective. It is not enough to have a grab bag of disconnected techniques et al: there has to be a cohesion and a seamless continuity of skills, techniques, strategies, philosophies and lineage of instruction that can hold up to scrutiny. There also has to be a proven method of knowledge transmission that is effective, workable and systematic.
RYU has two meanings:
One is a school or system of instruction -------
One is a school or system of instruction ------- The other translation of ryu means dragon.The dragon is a symbol of good luck, intelligence, spirit, ferocity and power.
KOCHO translates as butterfly.
This is a symbol of personal transformation, creativity and freedom. To rephrase what Mohammed Ali once said:"Float like a butterfly ------ Conquer like a dragon"Just as the caterpillar undergoes change (chrysalis)-- our student gain knowledge expertise, and empowerment through undergoing our curriculum.
So the dragon and the butterfly, the hard and the soft, the creative and the powerful--coexist-each to be employed as necessary. This philosophy is aligned with the traditional concept---- "Nasaki no bushi" -----the tenderness of the warrior
There are times to be hard and times to be soft. If the hand was always closed, it would be deformed: if the hand was always open -- it would be another type of deformity. There are times for opening and closing the hand just as there are times to be hard or soft.
BUTTERFLY AND DRAGON SCHOOL
