Kyudo
Kyudo, also known as Japanese archery or even Zen archery, is like most martial arts, a combination of spirituality and of discipline. Where one ends and the other begins are indistinguishible. As a novice, I would not hesitate a guess. I had the opportunity many years ago to take a class in kyudo. I was not taught how to aim. I didn't shoot an actual arrow until I'd been practicing for 8 weeks. And even then, it was far too soon.
There are only eight stages. Only eight. But I think a lifetime can be marked through the steps. To perform the last stage, perhaps my favorite, one must simply watch the arrow as it flies through the air. I tell this to you first, because I think kyudo's essence is captured there. And another extraordinary aspect of this art, is that the bow string (tsuru) is pulled back by a single notch on the archery glove (yugake). All the power of the body-length bow (yumi) is held in check by the tiniest of contact. The body does the rest.
The steps (translations are very loose and based on my experience/research and not actual knowledge of Japanese):
Dozukuri: readying the posture Ashibumi: planting the feet
Yugamae: preparing the bow
Uchiokoshi: raising the bow
Hikiwake: first draw of bow
Kai: full draw of bow
Hanare: release
Zanshin
Equipment: descriptions of the equipment used.
Resources/Bibliography: places to go to find out more about kyudo -- online and off.
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Last Updated: August 13, 2000