Shintoryu

Shintoryu is a romanization that may refer to more than one martial arts tradition of Japanese origin. The name is sometimes rendered as Shintō-ryū or Shinto-ryū, and the exact kanji or meanings can vary by lineage. Because there is no single, widely recognized organization bearing the name Shintoryu, descriptions of its methods differ between sources.

In general, styles called Shintoryu are described as traditional Japanese martial arts with a focus on weapon-based training, particularly swords (kenjutsu) and sometimes spear (sojutsu) or staff (bōjutsu). Many lineages emphasize a combination of kata (forms) and partner drills, with attention to posture, timing, and breath control, and they may preserve secrecy about techniques or transmit them only to approved students, as is common in koryū.

The historical record for Shintoryu is fragmented; some references trace the name to the late feudal period, while others appear in modern dojo catalogs. Because the term can designate different or even unrelated systems, claims about techniques, lineage, or founder should be evaluated against primary sources from specific schools. See also Shinto-ryū, Shinto-jujutsu, and other similarly named koryū to explore related traditions.

This is a stub article; more reliable sourcing is needed to identify distinct lineages or to provide concrete dates and practitioners.