KYUDO | Ocala Kyudo

KYUDO (弓道), the WAY of the BOW,

with its distinctive asymmetrical longbow,

is the Japanese martial art of archery.

Kyudo is about the Spirit as much as it is about the Body. Hitting the target is not the goal, rather the target is hit as a result of achieving self-perfection and correct technique.

Practicing kyudo is open to everyone from adolescence, with no age limit. Its health benefits are exercised both physically and mentally.

THE BODY

It is an ancient spiritual practice that builds a deep connection between the mind and the archer. Kyudo embodies serenity and grace and is evident in the way the art is carried out and practiced. The supreme goal of Kyudo is the state of Shin-Zen-Bi or Truth-Goodness-Beauty. This can be approximated as: When archers shoot correctly (truthfully) with virtuous spirit and attitude towards everything and everybody (goodness), beautiful shooting realizes itself naturally.

The opening (Drawing) of the bow (Yumi) solicits the body as a whole with the movements and postures. The power of the bow, which puts one to the test, will be adapted to its dispositions. The attention paid to the quality of the posture and the gesture invites one to the knowledge of one's body. The practice of one's consciousness, relaxation, and extension maintain and develops the breath, the muscles, the placement of the body and the balance.

The archer progresses in his everyday life: spine stretched between the head in the sky and the feet anchored in the ground, open rib cage, abdominal breathing, tonicity... Verticality and horizontality structure the academic forms of the gesture and guide the practicing towards an education or re-education to a healthy, respectful and natural correctness of the posture.

Varied and complete, kyudo is suitable for those looking for a demanding practice that is accessible to everyone from adolescence to old age.

THE MIND

The progress of the sharei (5-person rotational shooting) sharpens the relationship of the practitioner to the other kyudoka (Kyudo practitioner), to space and to time in perception of all his environment.

Kyudo promotes both the individuality of the archer and his awareness of the group. Attention to the present moment and to other practitioners predisposes to strong concentration.

Inner observation of one's own sensations dissolves the screen-thoughts that usually absorb our energies. The shift from "wanting" to "letting go" leads to emptiness of action and deep inner relaxation.

Kyudo forces the archer to accept himself with his talents and his shortcomings. His ability to cope with events and his decision-making power are strengthened.

The study and practice of Kyudo contributes to building internal wellness, to the quest of body and spirit mastery through very precise movements as well as straightness, simplicity and purity.

The archer confronts himself. The study of all techniques and gestures is fundamental: the archer starts with makiwara shooting (bale of straw situated at a bow’s length); shooting is performed according to a set of established gestures that slightly differs between ryu (martial traditions). Mato shooting (target of 36cm diameter at 28m distance) is practiced later, but does not prevent the archer from performing makiwara shooting to continuously improve his practice.

SHIN, ZEN, BI

Truth, Goodness (virtue) and Beauty in Japanese archery*

The essence of modern kyudo is said to be synonymous with the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. Truth in kyudo is manifested in shooting that is pure and right-minded, where the three elements of attitude, movement, and technique unite in a state of perfect harmony.

In the Japanese art of archery, Kyudo, the principal objectives of this traditional teaching are: Truth (真, shin), Virtue (善, zen), and Beauty (美, bi).

Truth

Truth is about the archetype of archery and about effortlessness in the effectuation of the shot by the archer. This becomes evident through the sound produced by the string, the bow and the impact of the arrow on the target; one feels the ‘limpidity of the shot’. In Japanese archery, as with the ancient Greek philosophers right up to Ken Wilber and Integral philosophy, we should keep in mind only one fundamental secret for interpreting the world: beauty, goodness and truth. I suggest we use this interpretation key to observe the world and its evolution and to act in it . For example, we can study the evolution of the human being and of our beliefs (beauty). We can also observe the evolution of relationships between human beings and cultures (goodness). And finally, we can see how our institutions and organizations (truth) evolve and can evolve in order to survive and develop in a turbulent and chaotic world.

Virtue

Virtue implies good, goodness. To be in a state of equanimity in the face of any event, to be detached from feelings such as envy, anger, elation, joy. The objective is to manage the inner and outer conflicts in order to achieve the right shot in archery. Such an objective is attained thanks to kindness.

Beauty

Beauty is the result of movement harmonized with breathing and with the optimum economy of force. The archer does not seem to make any effort when the string is drawn.

*by Bruno Marion

"A thousand arrows or ten thousand, each must be new".

By practicing Kyudo, we cultivate personality, human qualities, strength of character, self-knowledge, respect for others. Great importance is given to the quality of posture and gestures. The perfect shot will not only be precise, but imbued with dignity and aesthetics, fundamental dimensions of the practice of Kyudo. aesthetics of the rhythmic gesture and harmonized with breathing, aesthetics of the balanced posture, emphasized by the beauty of the forms of the bow. All this will be possible thanks to uninterrupted concentration, and intense and regular training.

Kyudo, a discipline for everyone.

To advance in the Way of the Bow, it takes perseverance and deep sincerity in the search for one's inner truth. The archer is learning "taking" here. Abandoning this voluntary "ego" that tends to dominate all our lives allows us to reconnect with the living forces of the deep Self that will achieve the "right gesture". This exciting adventure is lived between the archer and himself. The target he must reach is his inner target, the one in the heart of the hara, much more than the target placed at 28 meters.

The practice of Kyudo is open to everyone, and can be approached from adolescence, and without age limit. Men and women practice together in training and sharei (ceremonial shooting with several archers).

DOJO

A dojo, or kyudojo, is the place where the Way of the Bow is practiced. In Japan, the practice is most often done in traditional wooden dojos, but in the United States and other countries, it is quite rare to be able to benefit from such places. If some passionate practitioners have built beautiful traditional dojos, it is most often municipal gyms that welcome practitioners. But whatever the setting, what is common to all dojos is the atmosphere of concentration, silence and calm that reigns there, it is etiquette, rigor and discipline that govern the acts of practitioners.

The plan visible here represents a traditional dojo; the same arrangement is reproduced in a simple gymnasium, by floor marking and with pieces of wood.

A traditional kyudojo is composed of a sheltered shooting room, the Shajo, a "house of targets" or Matoba, also sheltered and located 28 meters from the firing line.

These two parts are separated by an open space of lawn or raked gravel, on the side of which is laid out the Yatori Michi, or path to get the arrows.

The Shajo

The Shajo is the shooting room where archers and Sensei are held. On the right side of the Shajo (when looking at the targets), is the Kamiza, a space reserved for the Sensei and a kind of small altar, the Tokonoma.

There is often a calligraphy reproducing a quote related to Kyudo, a photo of a deceased Japanese Sensei and a floral composition.

The firing lines, Shai, and starting lines, Honza, are spotted by pieces of wood located on the far right, on the ground. Other pieces of wood can materialize the entrance and exit of the Shajo.

The Targets

There are two types of targets in Kyudo, Makiwara and Mato.

The Makiwara is a firmly bound bundle of straw, placed on a support at the height of the archer's face. It is the target with which we start in Kyudo, before being able to shoot in Mato, but it is also the ideal target for improvement. The archer stands about two meters away and trains in the precision and accuracy of his gestures. This type of training allows you not to be disturbed by the concern to be efficient in terms of the goal to be achieved. It is therefore easier to focus on the perception of your form and gestures in front of a Makiwara.

The Mato -the target itself- is a circle of wood covered with paper. The most common is the one of 36 cm in diameter (about the width of the human pelvis), and is used for shooting at 28 meters, the most common shot (Kinteki). The Mato are arranged on the Azuchi, a sand mound sheltered from the Matoba. In a gymnasium, Azuchi is artificially reconstituted using plates of a particular material.

Above the targets, we often find the Azuchi no Maku, a curtain decorated with calligraphy.

The Mato are separated by 1.80 m (from center to center); they are fixed about a fist (10 cm) above the ground (the center is thus 27 cm from ground level), and inclined about 5°.

There is also a larger target, 1.50 m in diameter, used for long-distance shooting ( Enteki shooting, usually 60 meters).

And there is still a very small target of 9 cm in diameter, used for special, more festive occasions. It can be golden or silver, and whoever touches it wins.

Other equipment

A dojo is a sober and refined place, where there is actually little equipment. Apart from bow rack (Yumitate) and arrow box (Yatate), you can find mirrors, very useful for archers to see and correct their position on their own when training at the Makiwara.

Kyudo Uniforms and Equipment

All our archery equipment & Kyudo uniform are imported from Japan, there are various online Japanese archery shops that one can purchase equipment from. We will help you!

At first you can lend equipment from our Dojo however as we have a limited amount of equipment to lend, you will eventually need your own uniforms and equipment.

As Kyudo is a Japanese art we wear Japanese training clothing, similar to that of Kendo and Aikido. Uniform is worn during training, tournaments and examinations. We will get your sizing and assist with this. Please, do not purchase uniforms and equipment without assistance from us.

Uniforms differs from Male to Female, Junior to Senior. All equipment is ‘fitted’ to the student.

Uniforms

Hakama

The Hakama (袴) is a type of traditional Japanese garment designed as pleated, skirt-like pants that is worn over any type Kimono or kikogi . Nowadays, Hakama is mostly worn as formal outfit for special occasions or as part of the standard gi (uniform) for Japanese Martial arts like Kyudo, Aikido, and Iaido.

Kikogi

Keikogi (稽古着) (keiko, 'practice', gi, 'dress' or 'clothes') is a traditional uniform (short-sleeved shirt) worn for training in Japanese martial arts and their derivatives.

Tabi

Tabi are traditional Japanese socks featuring a separation between the big toe and the other toes. Tabi are secured to the feet by tabs located on the back of the footwear.

Obi

The obi, wide sash or belt made of satin, stiff silk or cotton material worn since ancient times in Japan to secure the kimono or hakama. They have no fastening, and instead are tied together in a bow or other attractive knot.

Munate

Female archers also wear a chest guard called a munate, which is generally a piece of leather or plastic which is designed to protect the breast from being struck by the bowstring during shooting.

Equipment

Yumi

Yumi (弓) is the Japanese term for a bow. As used in English, yumi refers more specifically to traditional Japanese asymmetrical bows, over two meters in length, used in the practice of kyūdō and kyūjutsu, or Japanese archery.

Ya (矢, arrow) is the Japanese word for arrow, and commonly refers to the arrows used in kyudo (弓道, Japanese archery). Ya also refers to the arrows used by samurai during the feudal era of Japan. Unlike Western arrows, the ya is close to a meter long or longer. Traditional ya are made from natural materials, usually bamboo, while modern ones may use aluminum or carbon fiber.

Kake

The special glove for Kyudo is called a kake or yugake. The archer wears the kake on his/her right hand and draws the string.