Kyūdō

弓道

Way of the bow

Kyūdō is the Japanese martial art of archery originating with the samurai class of feudal Japan. It is practised in many different schools, some of which descend from military shooting while others from ceremonial or contemplative practice. Therefore, the emphasis is different. Some emphasise aesthetics and others efficiency. Contemplative schools teach the form as a meditation in action. Kyūdō practice, as in all budō, includes the idea of moral and spiritual development. In kyūdō the primary aim is not to hit the target, as in Western archery, but to achieve through spiritual and physical training an intense concentration on the act of shooting and a style expressing perfect serenity.

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Equipment 🎯

• Bow
  In kyūdō the archer uses a traditional asymmetrical bow (yumi) about 2.3 m long with a grip about one-third of the distance from the bottom.
• Arrow
  Arrows (ya) are traditionally made of bamboo, with either eagle or hawk feathers. Currently the feathers are obtained from non-endangered birds such as turkeys or swans.
• Glove
  The kyūdō archer wears a glove yugake on the right hand, typically made of deerskin. There are different types of gloves with the three- or four-finger variety being the most commonly used.
• Clothing
  The standard practice uniform consists of a white keiko-gi (practice top), hakama (type of traditional Japanese trousers), obi (belt), and white tabi (split-toed socks). There are some subtle differences in the uniforms worn by men and women.

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