ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT IN KYUDO

(Source : Google Image)

HELLO ! I'M BACK !

How you doing ? I'm doing great but, somehow quite busy with few assignments that need to be submitted as soon as possible HEHE ! I hope you guys doing well and we almost reach to end of the semester! Wuhoo ~

In my previous blog, I'm sharing about Japanese Archery a.k.a Kyudo right ? I hope you guys can understand and catch what I'm trying to deliver HEHE ! I will try my best to improve my content ! 💪 The information below referred from International Kyudo Federation.

So, let's continue our exploration of Kyudo !

VENUE

Before we proceed to the equipment, we need to know where will be the venue for the Kyudo held. Kyudojo or dojo was a practice hall for Kyudo. For the Kyudo competition, they can use both dojo based on the tournament. There have 2 types of Kyudojo :

1. Kinteki-dojo (close range 28 meters)

2. Enteki-dojo (close range 60 meters)

(Source : Google Image)

[Example : Kinteki dojo]

(Source : Google Image)

[Example : Enteki dojo]

EQUIPMENT

Kyudo will not complete without their basic equipment. For example, if we want to play football, we need suitable shoes like boots to perform the best for the games. Same goes for Kyudo, if your equipment imperfect, you will get injuries and the Kyudo game will not happen.

1. Bow "Yumi"

In the past, the bow only uses natural glue known as Nibe which still used or made today. Nibe bow can be weak because of humidity and high temperature. So, they also warp or bent the bow in the summer months or in the rainy season in Japan. As to have good bow by using nibe bow, you need to protect the bow against moisture by wiping with a dry cloth before and after use. Besides nibe bows, they already have a modern bow made by synthetic resins as bonding agents. The modern bow also needs to be taking care of properly by wiping with a dry cloth. So, it is important that in caring for the bow one must always consider the correctness of the shape. Usually, the bow was measured 2 meters long.

2. ARROW "YA"

Arrow also needs to be protected from moisture. Then, to straighten the arrow from bent, the maker will use tameru (heat). So, in order to keep the arrow dry, place the arrow in dry places and clean the arrow from the dirt with a dry cloth. It is important to monitor from time to time to keep the arrows in their proper form or shape.

3. GLOVE "YUGAKE"

Yugake or glove in Kyudo has 3 types :

1. Mitsu-Gake (3 finger glove)

2. Yotsu-Gake (4 finger glove)

3. Moro-Gake (5 finger glove)

Doing Kyudo using glove is quite difficult to use and each type of gloves have their own characteristics. So, it is better for the beginners to be taught on how to use glove properly by the instructor. Basically, a glove can be used many years depends on how the user used and it is essential to take care of the glove properly, know the glove well in terms of function and characteristics. So, as the gloves easy to get torn by the frequently used, please avoid moisture and kept in dry places. If the gloves soak with sweat, please dry by direct sunlight or heat first before keeping in your belonging.

4. STRING "TSURU"

It is necessary to rub the string with magusune (woven pad) through friction before and after shooting and the kusune (resin) applied on the string will melt and permeate into the string to make it stronger. The weight of a string is established by the draw strength of the bow and the weight of arrows used. For example, a normal bow of 1.8 cm in thickness with a draw weight of 22 - 23 kg, and an arrow weight of 26 - 28 g will require a suitable string weight of 7 - 7.5 g.

CLOTHING

It is fundamental to use clothing which suitable to the time, place, and occasion. The archer must be wearing Wafuku (Kimono) or Kyudogi (Practice Clothing). The color of the Tabi (Japanese socks) should be in white and other items must be clean and follow the standards of etiquette. When shooting in Wafuku or Kyudogi which white is preferable, it is recommended that the hakama be a machidaka-bakama (trouser type). It is not advisable for a male archer wearing Wafuku with a kamon (family crest) to wear western-style underwear or a t-shirt underneath.

I think that's all for my sharing session about Kyudo. Kyudo is a new sport for me even though the fundamental of the sport same as the archery that we have known. It's a new knowledge that I would like to share with everyone since this sport was unique in their own ways on how they represent their culture and beliefs on the spiritual which they believe helps themselves to be better emotionally and physically. I would like to suggest you watch the anime that I have mention in my previous blog to get to know more about Kyudo.

SEE YA ON THE NEXT BLOG !

Short scene from Tsurune : Kazemai Koukou Kyuudoubu

"Beauty of Kyudo - Anime Popcorn"

(Source : Youtube)

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