Okuden

Okuden (奥伝) is a Japanese term meaning "inner transmission" or "secret teachings." In traditional Japanese martial arts and esoteric lineages, it designates the advanced level of instruction that is passed directly from a master to a selected student, beyond the introductory and intermediate material.

Okuden is commonly used in koryū bujutsu and in schools of ninjutsu, aikijujutsu, and kenjutsu to denote the culmination of formal training. It is often described as the highest stage within a three-tiered curriculum—Shoden (初伝, beginner teachings), Chuden (中伝, middle teachings), and Okuden (奥伝, inner teachings)—though exact terminology varies by school. Some traditions supplement this with Kuden (口伝) for oral transmission and Densho (伝書) for written lineage records.

Access to Okuden material is typically restricted to trusted students and requires direct instruction from the master. The transmission is usually personal, tacit, and experiential rather than fully codified in public manuals. Content can include advanced techniques, strategy, historical and philosophical aspects of the school, and often ethical or spiritual elements tied to the lineage.

Because the use and meaning of Okuden differ among schools, not every art uses a formal Okuden, and the scope of what constitutes "inner" teachings can vary widely. Etymology: 奥伝 combines 奥 (oku) meaning "inner" or "deep" with 伝 (den) meaning "transmission" or "tradition."

See also Shoden, Chuden, Kuden, Densho, koryū bujutsu.