Kyudo — Encyclopedia of Japan Brief Overview of Japanese Art of Archery Traditional Art of Archery using Japanese Bow and Arrow "Kyudo" is a Japanese martial art in which the mind and body are trained through a series of conduct in shooting a Japanese bow and arrow at a target. It developed long ago as Kyujutsu (the art of Japanese archery) for tactics and military art, and today it's also considered a sport or a healthful exercise. Meanwhile, some schools from ancient times still exist and are preserving the traditional school while coexisting with modern Kyudo. Difference with the Western Art of Archery Japanese Kyudo developed independently and has its own technique, culture, and history, and is totally different from modern sports like archery, based upon Tankyu (short bow) from Europe.

Historically known as; Kyujutsu, Shajutsu, or Shagei, but at present, traditional Yumiire/Kyusha (弓射) culture in Japan is called 'Kyudo (Japanese art of archery)' and the term 'Kyujutsu' is often used to distinguish the old martial art before it changed to 'Kyudo.' However, some schools are still in existence which use the term 'Kyujutsu' to maintain a strict Tradition and others use the term 'Kyudo' even though they maintain a Traditional School, so, the borderline between 'Kyudo' and 'Kyujutsu' is not necessarily clear nor classified clearly from the aspect of concept and technique. Uniquely Developed in the Long History of Japan It's not sure when Japanese Kyudo was systematized as a "technique" not only because of the lack of clear records, but also partly because the use of the bow and arrow began in prehistoric times.

It is possible that in the Yayoi Period a technique existed for shooting a bow and arrow which was the original present day Wakyu (Japanese long bow with long upper half and short lower half - mentioned below) used in battle, but the details are not known. At the end of the Asuka Period, since the establishment of "Taisha-rokuho" by Emperor Monmu, Reisha and rules of decorum for Yumiire began to be gradually organized and the technique was also systematized and established as "Kyudo" at the same time, based on the simple technique of shooting. On the other hand, not only was a bow used as a weapon for hunting and for battle, but also Yumiya/Kyushi (bow and arrow) were believed to have spiritual power, so that in Nara Period dedications of Yumiya and Yumiire shrine rituals were performed, which became the origin of present festivals and shrine rituals in various places. A Way to discipline the Mind and Body of Samurai In the Heian Period some schools of Kyudo were founded and each school had their own technique, lesson style, and mannerisms.

In the battlefields, festival events and Kojitsu (ancient practices of customs) or annual events at the Imperial Court, each school of Kyudo had flourished and developed. Around the middle of the Sengoku Period, the introduction of firearms retired bows and arrows from actual fighting in battlefields, but Kyudo kept the same status as a martial art even after departing the actual fighting, and remained popular as a martial art for Samurai and a way to discipline the mind and body in the peaceful Edo Period. Over time, its technique and equipment had been improved and each school developed individually at the same time. Kyudo was completed in the Edo Period As some schools had lesson which simulated actual battlefield conditions, their lessons were more varied than those of today's Kyudo. However, around the end of the Edo Period the basic system of technique for Kyudo among each school became similar and the Yumiire technique for using Wakyu is essentially the same with very minor differences. It's not an exaggeration to say that Kyujutsu, that led to today's Kyudo, was completed in the Edo Period both for technique and equipment.

Kyudo is Spreading Worldwide Kyudo attracted the attention of foreigners through books such as "Zen in the Art of Archery," by Eugen Herrigel, in which the focus on spirituality was introduced, and even though it isn't an Olympic sport it's enjoyed especially in Europe and the United States with sports associations established there. On May 2, 2006, the International Kyudo Federation was founded in order to popularize and promote Kyudo. Traditional Kyudo Ritual in a Shrine Yabusame, Traditional Horseback Archery of Japan Kyudo practice in France Comparison to the Archeries of Other Countries Distinctive Japanese Bow, “Wakyu” What is the most distinct feature is the length of Wakyu (bow), which is far longer than the height of a person. The length of a normal Wakyu is 221cm long, which is said to be the longest for a bow, in the world. It is said that Wakyu was made long for durability and strength because it was made from plant material such as wood and bamboo which were less elastic, while Tankyu was made from animal material which were more elastic.

In addition, another distinct feature is that the grip is on the underside of Yugara (wooden or bamboo part between Motohazu (the lower top of the bow) and Urahazu (the top of the bow)). This asymmetricity upper and lower sides produce a difference in the power of the bow, which results in the characteristic technique of Kyudo, and, Wakyu is made to take advantage of this technique. Japanese Bow String is pulled back to the Ear Moreover, in foreign countries the bow string is usually pulled back as far as the archer's neck, in Japanese Kyudo it is pulled all the way back to the archer's ear. Accordingly, the length of arrow is made longer. When a person sets an arrow to the bow, he sets it on the right side of the bow and adopts the "Mongol form" for Torikake hook, in which Torikake is held at the root of right thumb, hooking the bow string.

(Yokyu (Western-style archery) adopts "Mediterranean style" in which a string is held with the forefinger, mid finger and annular finger.) The Torikake of Menggu style is seen commonly in regions where Tankyu is used such as Turkey, Mongolia, China, and Korea, and in the Menggu style of shooting an arrow is often set on the right side of the bow. It is said that this was devised so not to lose an arrow from the opposing wind on a running horse. Kyudo developed to fit the Japanese Environment While in foreign countries Tankyu (short bow) is used because of it's advantage on horseback, Wakyu of Chokyu has been used in Japan as an exception. A warp called "Iriki" is set on Wakyu in order to push the arrow along the right side of a bow, and the technique of shooting called "Tunomi (the balance of tension at the root of the thumb)" was developed to take advantage of it. In addition, after the Edo Period the form of Yugake leather glove worn on the right hand had largely changed, which also stimulated a particular form and technique in Japan.

Kyudo activity in a University Kyudo match in Tokyo Comparison to the Sport Archery Kyudo uses Mongolian Style of Archery Technically, archery uses the 'Mediterranean style,' in which the arrow is fixed on the left side of the bow (as viewed from the body) and the string is drawn with the index, middle and third fingers of the right hand, while Kyudo uses the 'Menggu (Mongol) style,' in which the arrow is fixed on the right side of the bow and torikake (gripping of the bowstring with the right hand) is maintained by hooking the string with the base of the right thumb (see the comparison with archery of foreign countries in Kyudo). Additionally, archery in Japan adopts Kyudo's Shaho hassetsu. Japanese Bow consists of Bow and String Only In terms of tools, Kyudo and archery are essentially the same, but while in archery many supplementary tools (stabilizer, sight (sighting device), clicker, etc.) are attached to the bow (depending on the athletic event), the Japanese bow is basically a bow and string.

In archery, there are bows for both the left and right hand, but in Kyudo the bows are basically only for the left hand (in Kyudo, the bow is held in the left hand and the string is drawn with the right hand). In terms of rules, Kyudo doesn't allow the arrow to be returned to its original position in a match, and the arrow that is dropped before shooting is disqualified as 'shitsu' (an error). Kyudo Practice in the School Club Kyudo in Shinto Ritual History of Kyudo Origin from the Jomon Period to the Kofun Period (tumulus Period) The history of the bow and arrow goes back to the Stone Age. Sekizoku (a flint arrowhead) and simple wooden bow were used. In Japan the bow and arrow appeared in the beginning of the Jomon Period (10,000-13,000 years ago) and was used as a tool for hunting. As decorated, lacquered bows were buried with prey, it seems to have been used already for witching and spiritual events.

In the Yayoi Period life changed from hunting and gathering to rice farming, which led to many problems on lands in order to getting field and water, so the bow and arrow developed into weapons on the battlefield. During this period, the bow and arrow were improved for strength and a long bow with a grip on the lower side, was devised. According to a description in the Gishi-wajin-den (魏志倭人伝), there was already an original Wakyu in the Kofun Period. Ancient times (from the Asuka Period to the early Heian Period) "The Chronicles of Japan" says that the 'Emperor went to Asazuma. He saw horses owned by someone below the Daiseni rank at Nagara-jinja shrine. At that time, he made them practice archery on horseback,' as well as 'Umayumi (騁射)' and 'Haseyumi (馳射),' so, original Kisha seemed to have been performed as a shrine ritual, and it also describes that "Taisha-rokuho" was defined by Emperor Monmu and put on exhibition at the end of the Asuka Period.

According to the "Shoku-Nihongi," Kisha (Japanese archery style on horseback) was actively performed during the Nara Period. The origin of the "Yakatamochi-no-shinji ritual" of Muroki-jinja Shrine goes back to the Nara Period, which shows that the spiritual power of the bow and arrow was already believed in. It is suspected that some forms of Kyuju and codes of etiquette existed in ancient times, but there is little historical data to explain Yumiire in ancient times. It is unknown whether schools of that time in fact existed or not and what their origins were.

From the Heian Period to the Edo Period Over hundreds of years, the structure of Wakyu progressed (for details, see the article; History of Wakyu) and Kyudo developed greatly which led to today's Kyudo, Kataboshi Yugake was invented (a type of thumb glove) at the beginning of Edo Period (see the article on Yugake) and the techniques of 'Tsunomi' and 'Yugaeri (the technique where the Japanese bow turns in the left hand after the release).' Since Samurai appeared in the 10th centuries during the Heian Period, Kisha and Kyudo had been considered to be Kyuba-no-michi as a profession of the Samurai. Kisha and Kyudo were major forces in battle and were practiced actively as operational martial arts until the middle of the Sengoku Period. In addition, bow and arrows were considered to have the power to drive off evil and were treated as highly spiritual goods or sacred equipment (even today Hamayumi (ceremonial bow is used to drive off evil) keeps a trace of faith and Kyudo and the Yabusame-shinji ritual are performed in various places).

In the Kamakura Period 'Kisha-Mitsumono,' three archers riding horses, Inuou-mono, Kasagake, and Yabusame, were actively performed as one of the military arts or as a performance at events, but it declined temporarily in Azuchi-momoyama Period. The 'Bow and arrow' retired from the status of major weapon in battlefields in the latter part of the Sengoku Period, but 'Yumiire' remained popular as a profession among Samurai so, that drawing a bow was considered to be a discipline of mind and body even during the peaceful Edo Period and various schools of Kyudo and ways of shooting developed. In the Edo Period the activities of each school were at their peak. At the beginning of the Edo Period, 'Toshiya,' a competitive sport of shooting at a target through Nokishita (about 120m long) of Sanjusangendo, gradually became popular and the sharp shooters of feudal retainers from each domain competed in order to be called 'Tenka-soitsu (the best shooter in Japan)' by staking their domain's prestige and their lives.

In 1669 Kanzaemon HOSHINO (Bishu-Chikurin group of Heki school) recorded 8,000 Toshiya shooting 10,242 arrows and in 1686 Daihachiro WASA (Kishu-chikurin group of Heki school) recorded 8,133 Toshiya shooting 13,053 arrows. In the mid-Edo Period, Yabusame, which once declined temporarily, was promoted by Yoshimune TOKUGAWA and had revived as a shrine ritual all over Japan. In the Meiji and Taisho Period Kyudo, which was a profession of the samurai, was forced to make a major change with the times from the end of Edo period to the Meiji period. At the end of the Edo period, in 1862, the 'ceremony of presenting Kyudo' at the Edo bakufu (the Japanese feudal government headed by a samurai shogun) was abolished, and Kyudo was eliminated from the subjects taught at Kobusho (institute for martial arts training).

Then, with the Taisei Hokan (transfer of power back to the Emperor) in 1867, traditional Kyudo culture was forced into a decline when the feudal system characteristic of the shogunate and samurai society collapsed. In 1871, with the Haihan-chiken (abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures), martial arts education at hanko (a domain school) disappeared and its practicality was lost not only in Kyudo but in martial arts in general, further accelerating the decline of martial arts. Until the Meiji Restoration, with some exceptions, only members of the samurai class were allowed to draw bows, but after the restoration the common people were allowed to draw bows, and it rapidly became a game or an amusement. On the other hand, Yumiya (bow and arrow) as a tool for pleasure already existed among the common people, and gambling archery halls at public resorts were very popular in urban areas after the revolution. Many of the gambling archery halls were entertainment and amusement businesses, and they flourished so much that the Meiji government enacted restrictions.

By early Meiji, Yumiire/Kyusha culture declined to the extent that the bow was often associated with gambling archery halls. While the public Kyudo dojos (training halls) disappeared under such social conditions, Japanese Kyudo and its traditional culture survived thanks to activities by sincere Kyudo-ka (Kyudo artists), who worked on properly passing down the ancient Kyudo traditions by opening private Kyudo dojos, etc. In the mid-Meiji, with the beginning of elementary education, full enforcement of conscription, victory in the Japanese-Sino and Japanese-Russo wars, etc., a nationalistic thinking arose in society along with a surge in patriotism. Martial arts began being used as national policy, and citizens once again recognized and respected the various martial arts, including Kyudo and Bushido (the code of the samurai). This social trend led to the 1895 founding of Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, an organization managing various martial arts, by key figures living in Kyoto, and was headquartered in the Butokuden constructed in the precincts of Heian-jingu Shrine in Kyoto.

Various martial arts, including Kyudo, shifted their focus from technique to the cultivation of the Japanese spirit, and in 1920 the Bujutsu Senmon Gakko was renamed as Budo Senmon Gakko. On the other hand, in reaction to the sentiment, "It's good as long as it hits," which prevailed in the period of decline, a tendency toward the sentiment, "If the shooting form is good, it doesn't matter if it does not hit," meaning an overemphasis on the spirit, was becoming common. Additionally, from the Taisho period to the early Showa period, a shooting form called Shomen-uchiokoshi (shooting with front-facing posture), as performed by the Honda-ryu school and its disciples, became very popular. Later, the disciples of Toshizane used this shooting form to distinguish themselves as members of the Honda-ryu school.

The early Showa Period and end of World War II The Butoku Kai aimed toward the unification of forms in various martial arts as one of its projects, and while 'the kyudo form of the Empire of Japan' for kyudo and 'the Jujutsu form of the Dai Nippon Butokukai' for Judo were established, the shooting forms of Kyudo were set for unification as well. In September 1933, based on requests from the national meeting of Hanshi (the top rank) and Kyoshi (prestigious title) held in May of that year, a 'kyudo kata (shooting form) research committee' was formed by famous Kyudo artist, who were called from all over the country by the chairman of Butoku Kai, Soroku SUZUKI. Sadajiro ATOBE, the director of the Kyudo section in Butoku Kai, became the committee's chairman, and discussions for 'the united shooting form' were held for three days, beginning on November 10, at the Butokuden in Kyoto.

The first day, three Jarai (shooting ceremonies), Makiwara-jarai (a way of ceremonial shooting to shoot straw butt), formal shooting facing targets and formal standing shooting, based on the Ogasawara school, were decided. The second day, shooting forms were discussed, but when 'Uchiokoshi (anchoring)' was discussed they each advocated their own school's shooting forms, 'Shomen-uchiokoshi' or 'Shamen-uchiokoshi (anchoring in slanting position)' and would not give in, leading to a hot debate and ending the day without a conclusion. On the final day, the discussion seemed to break down, all agreed to adopt the compromise proposal of 'an intermediate method for Shomen-uchiokoshi and Shamen-uchiokoshi' presented by Hanshi Noribe, and a tentative decision was made. In November 1934, this was called 'Kyudo-yosoku (basic art of shooting an arrow)' and was officially established as the united shooting form.

Butoku Kai tried to spread and enforce it nationwide, but this 'intermediate compromise' raised many opinions pro and con from the Kyudo world, and a major debate emerged in magazines and newspapers, eventually mocking it a 'Nue-mato shaho (slippery art of shooting an arrow).' In 1937, the Sino-Japanese War erupted, and in the following year the 'National General Mobilization Act' was issued. Martial arts were thus gradually incorporated under government management for 'enhancement of the national strength and enhancement of the national prestige,' and were put to use. In 1942, the existing Butoku Kai was reorganized with Prime Minister Hideki TOJO as its chairman, the ministers of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education, Ministry of the Army, Ministry of the Navy, Ministry of the Interior and an academic expert as vice-chairmen, a private citizen as administrative director, and governors of the region as the heads of the branches.

The headquarters operation was transferred from the Butokuden in Kyoto to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Tokyo, and thus a new Dai Nippon Butoku Kai was established as an extra-departmental organization of the government, co-managed by five government ministries. Hanshi, Yozaburo UNO, was assumed as the chairman of the Kyudo section in Butoku Kai and also served as the executive director of Butoku Kai. Martial arts grew and spread significantly with this new start as an extra-departmental organization of the government. Kyudo, which was treated somewhat like a conserved martial art and an intangible cultural property, participated actively in activities such as the dispatch of players to Shinkyo (Xingjing) (July 1942) for the 'Japan-Manchuria Budo Championship,' celebrating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Manchukuo.

In March 1943, the new Butoku Kai changed the titles to Hanshi, Tasshi and Renshi (Senior Teacher), and the dan-i (qualification of rank) to a to-i system, with the fifth 'to' as the first dan level, the fourth 'to' as the second dan level, and so on to the first 'to' as the fifth dan, thus abolishing the sixth dan and those above it. In March 1944, Hanshi, Yozaburo UNO, the chairman of the Kyudo section in the new Butoku Kai, established and became the chairman of the 'Kyudo-Kyohan Seitei Iinkai (committee to establish Kyudo-Kyohan)' and created the 'Kyudo-Kyohan (teaching method of Kyudo).' Regarding the pending issue of the form of Uchiokoshi, they accepted the 'Kyudo-yosoku' while also accepting the traditional Shomen and Shamen, and adopted the three styles of Shomen, Shamen and Kyudo-yosoku.

While they were active, for instance performing guidance tours and traveling reviews, when the Pacific War situation became imminent the government strongly recommended martial arts training to the citizens in order to focus the lives of the citizens entirely on the pursuance of the war. However, toward the end of the war, air raids and naval gunfire by the Allied Forces became fierce in various parts of Japan, and many Kyudo dojo burned down. The Kyudo dojo that survived the fires were used for purposes other than Kyudo (warehouses, lodges, etc.), and the environment for pursuing Kyudo and martial arts became very much worse. Furthermore, due to the hardship of life there was no room for the bow in terms of time nor psychology, and people became distanced from Kyudo. After the war, due to a backlash against the rigorous enforcement of martial arts from before the war to during the war--which was something of a national policy--people's feelings toward the martial arts became very harsh. The Postwar Period When World War II ended, Butoku Kai tried to immediately change its existing nature to that of a private organization, and therefore privatized its operation in January 1946.

Efforts were made on behalf of conservation and development through mutual cooperation with various martial arts organizations, the board members were appointed from among the private citizens, being recommended through a council elected from around the country, and the items they handled were limited to kyudo, Judo and Kyudo. They were approved by the Minister of Education, but the surveys by the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers gradually became vigorous, and for the following reasons there emerged an atmosphere in which dissolution was ordered. It was a powerful, centralized organization. They comprised high-level military personnel and police officers related to the Special Higher Police both centrally and locally, and were connected to national organizations. They had enormous assets. Butoku Kai and the Ministry of Education held various talks, but eventually they recognized that dissolution was unavoidable and so ultimately decided on dissolution. They presented a report to the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers on September 28, 1946, and announced a voluntary dissolution on October 31, bringing an end to the 52-year history of Butoku Kai.

However, the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers did not accept the voluntary dissolution of Butoku Kai and instead ordered the dissolution of Butoku Kai on November 9, expelling around 5,000 people from the public and private sectors who were involved in Butoku Kai. With the dissolution of the Butoku Kai, enthusiasts organized local federations in various regions, spreading them nationwide. The All Nippon Kyudo Federation was formed in 1947, gathering the consensus of these various organizations. However, due to various factors it resulted in dissolution in December 1948. On April 3, 1949, the 'Nihon Kyudo Federation' was founded, and on August 2 it was formally accepted as member of the Japan Amateur Sports Association. On September 15, 1953, it received permission from the Ministry of Education to establish a foundation. When the state of society settled in 1954, the movement to re-establish Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, which had occurred two years earlier, became active again and emerged as an issue within the Kyudo federation as well.

However, after careful discussions the Ministry of Education rejected the request for the establishment of Butoku Kai in August 1955, given the existence of a national organization democratically organized and operating soundly, and which was also a member of the Japan Amateur Sports Association. Consequently, archers participating in the movement to re-establish Butoku Kai within the Kyudo federation left the federation. On January 18, 1957, it was renamed as the 'All Nippon Kyudo Federation.' In August 1953, 'Textbook of Archery, Volume 1' was published to alleviate the confusion in shooting forms that had occurred after the war, as well as to clarify the fundamental principles of Kyudo. The advantages of various schools were utilized as indicators of modern Kyudo, and the fundamental principles of Kyudo could be learned without the need for a participant to belong to a specific school.

In the 'Textbook of Archery,' Shaho hassetsu was defined, and the united uchiokoshi (intermediate uchiokoshi) in the 'Kyudo-yosoku,' which was established in the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, was officially abolished, so that the Shomen and Shamen uchiokoshi methods were adopted. Manners and movements of the Ogasawara school were mainly adopted for Jarai and Taihai (posture and manner of the martial art), unifying the Jarai and Taihai, which varied among schools, to a style consistent with that of the federation, and correcting the confusion in matches and reviews. Contemporary Kyudo Today, the All Nippon Kyudo Federation is taking the lead in adopting the characteristics of the schools, and with the mainstream shooting forms taking into consideration its nature as a sport in modern society, the shooting forms are becoming more consistent nationwide, so that there are fewer differences among regions.

However, the 'shooting form based on a unified view' of the All Nippon Kyudo Federation is vague, with differences in regard to technical theory being apparent among instructors, and consequently there is no so-called 'united shooting form' such as the 'kyudo form of Japan' by the All Japan kyudo Federation (AJKF). Shaho hassetsu', 'manners' and 'distance' are the only aspects that are officially defined by the All Nippon Kyudo Federation. As an extreme example, it's considered acceptable for now, when the same bow, arrow and Kyudo gloves are used at the same shooting range, but the techniques are completely opposite. The reason for such differences in technical theory is in the unique evolutionary process of Japanese Kyudo. There is a history of development behind it, where the evolution and development occurred separately among the schools depending on the purpose, such as for horseback shooting 'Kisha' (to shoot an arrow while riding a horse), shooting on foot 'Busha' (to shoot an arrow while walking) and Toshiya shooting, 'Dosha,' (long-range archery).

The techniques of the schools and techniques from traditional technical systems in Japanese Kyudo, such as Busha, Kisha and Dosha, became intermixed in the 'Shaho hassetsu,' and techniques were sorted out by archers and instructors, so that today many archers follow the 'shooting form' that is a mixture of those techniques. Archers who draw the bow with a clear understanding of Busha, Kisha and Dosha, which have different goals, have become very rare. Thus, with the change taking place in the high dan-i instructor class, the rising and fading popularity of shooting techniques and shooting forms over time is viewed as one of the characteristics of today's Kyudo. Meanwhile, the Kyudo and Kyudo schools continuing from ancient times either value the foundation (either Kisha, Busha or Dosha) of their development or assume the ancient tradition through consistent techniques and teachings that meet the different purposes by preserving the teachings of the ryuso (a founder of a school, an originator), traditional schools, etc. Many schools and organizations operate under the All Nippon Kyudo Federation, but there are schools and organizations that operate without any involvement with the All Nippon Kyudo Federation.

Kyudo Hunting by Samurai in the Muromachi Period Old Archery Exhibition Contest at Sanjusangendo Hall in Kyoto Samurai using Japanese Bow Wakyu fighting against Mongolian Army Tools and Uniform of Kyudo Japanese Bow "Wakyu" Japanese bow, approximately 221cm long (possibly being slightly longer or shorter), held about one-third the way from the bottom. Originally, it was a bamboo bow made of bamboo and wood glued together with isinglass (a kind of gelatin), but today bamboo bows glued with synthetic adhesive or affordable ones made of fiber-reinforced plastic (glass fiber, carbon fiber) are popular. Arrow Metallic arrowhead, nock to fix the arrow and three feathers attached to a no (spatula) (also called the shaft) made of bamboo, duralumin or carbon. Two arrows per set: a haya (a male arrow) and an otoya (a female arrow) Yugake A deerskin glove that's worn on the right hand when drawing the bow. There are the Mitsugake (glove covering three fingers), Yotsugake (glove covering four fingers) and Morogake (glove covering all five fingers), depending on the number of fingers to insert.

Today, the kataboshi (a glove with hardened thumb) with a wooden tsuno (called a boshi) inside for the thumb is common. In the past, waboshi (a soft glove (without a hardened thumb)), which had no tsuno inside, was mainstream (the tsuno can be inconvenient because one can neither draw a bow while on horseback nor hold a sword). String Twined hemp or synthetic (Kevlar, aramid, etc.) coated with kusune (pine resin boiled with oil) for additional strength. Some made with synthetics are not coated with kusune. Target Examples include hoshimato, kasumimato, sanshokumato (三色的), iro mato for long-distance shooting, iwari, etc. The sizes vary from 1 m to 8 cm in diameter. Straw butt Kyudo: The ancient art of Japanese archery - Matador Network Kyudo: The ancient art of Japanese archery June 18, 2013 Mark is a student in the MatadorU Travel Photography program . I recently went to Japan to experience and document kyudo, the ancient art of Japanese archery.

It literally means “The Way of the Bow” and is considered by many to be the purest of all the martial arts. Originally a samurai discipline and heavily influence by Shintoism and Zen, kyudo integrates technical skill with the development of a completely focused and disciplined mind. I met Kazuhisa Miyasaka Sensei in Yamanouchi town, where he manages his own ryokan — a traditional Japanese inn — and teaches the art of the bow. During the course of three hours, he explained the history behind kyudo and its tools: “Thousands of repetitions, and out of one’s true self perfection emerges.” It takes a minimum of 30 years to master the grip of the bow. Despite this, he allowed me to shoot a target from about a meter away. “The outdoor target is for samurai only,” he told me with a smile. Back in Australia, I couldn’t stop thinking about my kyudo experience and started a personal quest to study this dynamic expression of the Japanese spirit. There are no kyudo schools down-under, nor are there many archers who have ventured in this direction, but I found Samantha Chan on Facebook and invited her to be the subject of a photo essay.

With the collaboration of the Sydney University Archery Club, we organised the photo shoot on the grounds of St Paul’s Oval, Sydney University. Samantha lived in Japan and practiced the way of the bow for about a year with the Kagoshima University Kyudo Club. 1 Kazuhisa Sensei Kazuhisa Sensei possesses great dignity and grace. These qualities, coupled with his skill and knowledge of kyudo, make him the perfect model of a master. His dojo, or the "place of the way," is full of pictures, certificates, diplomas, and targets hanging on its walls, clearly displaying his position and the high regard in which his accomplishments are held. 2 Hassetsu The hassetsu are the eight fundamental stages that make up the practice of kyudo and include ashibumi (footing), yugamae (the readying of the bow), and hikiwake (the drawing of the bow). The emphasis on proper form is stronger in kyudo than it is in Western archery. 3 First and second arrows Arrow feathers come from all kinds of birds, but the most prized are the ishiuchi, or the tail feathers of the hawk and eagle.

In a traditional kyudo shooting session, two arrows of differing curvature are shot one after another. Feathers for the haya, or first arrows, have a natural curve to the left, while those used in the otaya (second arrows) curve to the right. Intermission What is Kyudo ? -Japanese art of archery- | Japanese Culture Blog What is Kyudo ? -Japanese art of archery- What is Kyudo ? -Japanese art of archery- arts, sports The bow has been used as a tool for hunting since the ancient times. Kyudo was first practiced as a Shinto ritual in the palace and had been developed as a material art of samurai training since the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). Events using bows such as yabusame (Japanese horseback archery) and makigari (Japanese hunting archery) had been frequently held. Now sport kyudo players use a bow of the standard length of 221cm and arrows with the length 5cm than the bow and compete the points scored by hitting a target.

yabusame (Japanese horseback archery) Kyudo - Traditional Japanese Martial Art of Archery - Japan Guide Kyudo – Traditional Japanese Martial Art of Archery October 23, 2013 Japanese archery, or kyudo, is one of the traditional martial arts. The roots go back to the Yayoi Period from 500 bc to 300 ad, when an asymmetrical bow was used for hunting. In the Genpei War from 1180 to 1185, there was a great need for archers, so the skill was spread with people trained to use bows and arrows both on foot and on horseback. Kyudo, Archery, Yumi, Bow. Main methods of drawing bows. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The first official school of archery was established by Henmi Kiyomitsu in the 12th century, and is called Henmi-ryu. Archery flourished in the civil wars of the 15th and 16th centuries, but declined after the introduction of the matchlock rifle by the Portugese in 1543.

Even so, the bow was still used alongside the guns because of its greater accuracy, range, and rate of fire. However, the training required to shoot the bow was much longer than that of using a gun, so the matchlock rifles eventually dominated military combat. Kyudo, which means “The way of archery” was developed as a ceremonial art and method of practicing self-control. It was popular among samurai interested in Zen Buddhism. The philosophy arose that “correct shooting is correct hitting,” meaning that if a practitioner uses perfect form, he is guaranteed to hit. Therefore, there is a focus on proper technique and posture in most schools of kyudo, though those with a more military background may have an emphasis on accurate hitting of the target. Japanese Kyudo Competition As well as a personal meditation, kyudo is a sport for men and women around the world. There are ranking systems and competitions. The bow is traditionally made of bamboo, wood, and leather, but now there are synthetic models. The bow is very long, almost two meters, and held about a third of the way from the bottom. It is held in the left hand and drawn with the right. The pull begins above the head and the bow is pushed, rather than pulling the string.

It is pulled to behind the ear. When the bow is shot, it spins around the hand with a flick of the wrist to help control the flight of the arrow. This movement is unique to Japanese archery. Kyudo arrow points Arrows were traditionally bamboo fletched with hawk or eagle feathers, though today non-endangered species like swans and turkeys are used. Arrows are still usually bamboo, though some people prefer synthetic ones. Arrows are considered either male or female, and rotate either clockwise or counter-clockwise, respectively. Arrows are typically shot in pairs of one male and one female, and the different rotation is supposed to help keep them flying accurately when shot in succession. kyudo fletching Just as important as hitting the target is the style of delivery. A kyudo practitioner will stand and center himself before shooting, creating a beautiful image of concentration and composure. If you have a chance to see kyudo in a ceremony or practice, you can see a window into the Japanese samurai spirit. This excellent trailer video by Empty Mind Films for their new film, One Shot. One Life shows the accuracy of one of the kyudo masters… he simply never misses the target.

Yet he states: “The techniques for facing and hitting the target are quite simple. I used to be a national team member, and at that time I had to hit the target no matter what, practicing until my hands turned black. Eventually all that technique became obsolete in exchange for the ability to express myself through the bow.” In the film this master archer prepares for the extremely difficult 8th dan grading, whose pass rate is below 1%. But for all his ability to hit the target, can he pass this strict examination? Some quotes from the film that offer insight into the art of Japanese archery… “Even if we dedicate a lifetime, we will not be able to master it. If we keep this in our mind we can continue further. This is one of the things I was taught by my Sensei and I will not forget. I strive to practice everyday feeling like a beginner.” My Sensei often said “when we face the target we are facing ourselves as a mirror”. It is wrong if we do not face the target in this manner. Ultimately, no technique is left, no form is left, nothing but the archer’s humanity remains. For the observer, this is very beautiful.

It makes you feel admiration for that person’s handling of the bow.” Kyudo practitioner Kyudo: Japanese Archery Welcome to the Meishin Kyudojo homepage, a website maintained by Dan and Jackie DeProspero and dedicated to the instruction and advancement of Kyudo, the traditional art of Japanese archery. We invite you to explore our website to discover for yourself the beauty and elegance of one of Japan's most revered martial practices. Choose one of the links on the left and allow us to share with you the knowledge of our teacher, the late Hideharu Onuma, 15th Generation Headmaster of Heki Ryu Sekka-ha and modern kyudo Hanshi Kyudan. Learn also the history and philosophy of kyudo and how the art is practiced today around the world. Other pages will provide information on the use and care of kyudo equipment and links to resources that will further your knowledge of kyudo and provide you with insight on this wonderful art that is often referred to as a "Martial Art for the Mind." The Meishin Kyudojo is nestled among tall pines and dogwoods a few miles outside Raleigh, NC.

It is a privately owned, 5-person kyudojo and matoba built to allow kyudo practice in conformance with All Nippon Kyudo Federation procedural standards. Visitors are always welcome at the Meishin Kyudojo, but because it is on private property we ask that you contact us beforehand to schedule a visit. Dan and Jackie DeProspero Kyudo: The Art of Japanese Archery Kyudo: The Art of Japanese Archery The Japanese are quite well known for doing more than what is required, not just in their work, but in practically all walks of life. This �more� doesn�t necessarily mean more work, but could also mean more meaning, giving that distinct Japanese outlook, which the world has come to known. In the realm of archery, Kyudo, Japanese Archery taken into an art form, is one solid example of just how far that distinct Japanese outlook could bring something �trivial� to. As a form of martial art, the Japanese Archery is classified to be modern. The name Kyudo literally translates to way of the bow, and is seen as an avenue for meditation to take place. Like all Japanese Martial Arts, Japanese Archery is embodied by a philosophy, one which is calming.

Approximate estimations to the number of Kyudo practitioners are known to reach half a million in population, with many getting actively involved into the activity. Japanese Archery holds no specific views towards the ideal age or gender which could define a Kyudo practitioner. Regardless of gender or age, the art of Japanese Archery could be learned and/or mastered by anyone. As noted, Japanese Archery boasts to have a philosophical sense, attracting many practitioners into it for the moral and spiritual development which could be gained from the activity. But of course, many are into Kyudo not just for these factors, but also for the discipline involved in making more accurate marksmen out of a Kyudo practitioner. In Kyudo, the nobiai or the action of expansion unique to Japanese Archery, is what many Kyudo practitioners strive for. The nobiai is known to result in the �natural release�, allowing accuracy to prevail in one�s bow and arrow skills. This natural release, comes from a conjunction between the spirit and balance of the actual shooting. If correctly done, the arrow will arrive to its aimed target, with no problems at all. The spiritual goal would be that to give oneself to the shooting when talking about this for of Japanese Archery.

In terms of competitions and related events, the views towards such adherences for Kyudo practitioners are varied. Some work on the belief that through competition, the spiritual gains which Japanese Archery boasts could be achieved in full. Others, don�t see the value of competition, as spirituality is one which is subjective and is nowhere near competitive. Bottom line, when talking about Japanese Archery, one is sure to notice tones of �being one�, definitive of all that is Japanese. Indeed, when talking about doing more that what is required, the Japanese have it made, with Japanese Archery being a good example. This article is provided courtesy of Roxanne Courtmanch. Please visit for more articles on archery as well as many other topics that may be of interest to you. Kyudo - Shambhala Meditation Center of Washington DCShambhala Meditation Center of Washington DC Kyudo Kyudo Practice time: Sundays, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Kyudo, “the Way of the Bow”, is the ancient discipline of Zen archery. The practice of Kyudo is elegant and deceptively simple.

Neither age, sex, nor physical strength have any significance, so both young and old and those from all walks of life, are attracted to Kyudo. Kyudo, a standing form of meditation, is unlike sport archery in that hitting the target counts for little. In Kyudo, the target serves only as a mirror of one’s mind. With this practice the aim is to synchronize body and awareness in the present moment, and thus purify the heart and mind. Confidence and natural dignity are the result. Kyudo Japanese Zen archery classes meet off site every Sunday, weather permitting , from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Equipment is provided. For more information: The regular location is outdoors at: Adelphi Manor Archery Range 2500 or 2600 Block University Blvd East inside the Beltway in Maryland near the University of Maryland. Directions Directions to the outdoor location: The MNCPPC Public Archery Range named Adelphi Manor Archery Range on University Boulevard East just west of the University of Maryland entrance.

Directions from Baltimore: This is just like coming from Northern Virginia (below), except you’ll be coming south on I-95 to the Beltway I-495. Take the Beltway I-495 option West (counter-clockwise around DC, toward Silver Spring). Go one exit to Exit 28 for New Hampshire Avenue and Takoma Park. Take New Hampshire Ave, going south toward Takoma Park. Directions from Northern Virginia: Take Beltway I-495 (clockwise around DC) past Bethesda and Silver Spring, to Exit 28, New Hampshire Avenue and Takoma Park, heading south toward Takoma Park. Continuing from Exit 28: Go about two miles south on New Hampshire to University Boulevard, and turn left (east). Continue on University Boulevard about a mile and a quarter. Continue straight through the intersection with Riggs Road on the way. The last stop light is at West Park Drive. Pass through the light and notice a public splash pool on the right, which has a sign that looks like a big blue baby dolphin. Get into the left lane and take the left-turn lane (without a stop light) into Adelphi Manor Archery Range.

From Washington, DC: Exit the District on New Hampshire Avenue north. Turn right on to University Boulevard and follow directions above for arriving from Exit 28 off Beltway I-495. Kyudo - a brief overview of Japanese Archery - YouTube Kyudo - a brief overview of Japanese Archery Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 19, 2011 Recorded from the programme Transworld Sport. This short film gives a brief insight into the martial art of Kyudo Category

Question: Kyudo is the Japanese art of which sport?
Answer: Archery