KYUDO - JAPANESE ARCHERY

(Source : Google Image)

HELLO !

How are you ? So, we already in half of 2020 right ? HEHE
Today I would like to share something new that I have discovered a few days ago ! YES, of course, it's about sport 😁

I decided to do some research on this sport which catch my eyes to it ! The most beautiful sport I have seen and I realized that this sport also is known as one of the martial arts. As you can see on the gif above, yes it is Archery BUT, this type of archery was originated and exist in the Land Of Rising Sun, Japan ❗ Japanese Archery or called as Kyūdō.

Kyūdō is the Japanese martial arts of Archery. The players in Kyūdō known as Kyūdōka. The words Kyūdō was based on kyūjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan. Now, Kyūdō has been practiced by thousands of people worldwide (Wikipedia, 2020). There also have Kyūdō association and club in Malaysia which is Malaysia Kyūdō Association and one of the popular clubs was Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Kyūdō Club. 

You can click this link for more information of Malaysia Kyudo Association :

https://www.facebook.com/MALAYSIAKYUDOASSOCIATION/

HOW DID I DISCOVERED ABOUT THIS SPORT ?

HEHE 😊 I discovered this sport through anime. I know it sounds childish but, it's true. The title of the anime was "Tsurune : Kazemai Koukou Kyuudobou". This anime shows a boy or name as Minato Narumiya interested to learn Kyudo after watching and listening to the sound made by the bowstring when an arrow is released which called "Tsurune" However, an incident happens during the middle school tournament that caused him to quit the sport and experienced "Target Panic".(MyAnimeList,2019).

So, throughout the animes, it has shows how Minato gain his confidence to shoot again and join the competition with his best friend, Seiya Takehaya and Ryouhei Yamanouchi. After watching this anime, I decided to share with you about these sports. 

(Source : Google Image)

I know it may be not enough in terms of information but, 

I hope you guys can gain new knowledge together with me ! 😁

Basically, it makes sense that archery helps to clear the mind and improve focus. The Japanese art of Kyudo connects all the elements such as focus, discipline, and precision. Translated from Japanese Kyudo means "The Way of The Bow" 🍃 and Kyudo also known as the oldest martial arts in Japan history that has been used in hunting, war, games, court ceremonies, and contests of skills. 

Kyudo is not like any other sport. The opponent is their target, which means you can enjoy it by yourself. It also can be practiced by men or women of all ages as each individual can use a bow that is just right in size and strength. Then, it also possible to practice in any weather and there is no specified rule on how long one should practice (International Kyudo Federation).

When you step into Kyudo practice hall or known as Kyudojo, the atmosphere is filled with spiritual which the archer was corporating with the sense of meditation into every shot. You cannot enter Kyudojo or easier called dojo without using proper entry or steps as it is to honor the tradition. Japanese writer Sayaka Matsuoka explored the Meishin Kyudojo in North Carolina for Indy Week. She recounts learning from the Kyudojo’s owner, Dan DeProspero, that the “proper way to enter the Kyudojo, DeProspero teaches me, is to remove your shoes, leave them on the stone, and then step onto the wooden flooring in your socks. Done any other way, it’s seen as bringing the outdoors into the space of the Kyudojo.” (Archery360,2016)

Practicing Kyudo will help you to let go of the outside world and focus on the present with a pure heart and mind. Members of the Kyudojo will shoot their arrows in order of their rank from the lowest will shoot first and the highest will shoot the last. So, each participant shoots once and sit down until their next turn.

Before entering the area of the shooting, the archer must remember the essential steps of shooting or known as Shaho (The Principles of Shooting). In the performance of shooting, the eight steps must be followed from the start until finish without separation. This step was like cycles because all the process of shooting must be referred to Shaho. The principles of shooting which is (International Kyudo Federation) :

1. Ashibumi (Footing)

2. Dozukuri (Forming the Torso)

3. Yugamae (Readying the Bow)

4. Uchiokoshi (Raising the Bow)

5. Hikiwake (Drawing Apart)

6. Kai (Full Draw)

7. Hanare (Release)

8. Zanshin (Remaining the Spirit Form)

(Source : Google Image)

(Source : Google Image)

Last but not least, Kyudo was considered a sport in some respect. You have opponents to compete with but, not fight against. There are victory and defeat, but competing is not the point. Any opponents must be respected. If you lose your calm by being distracted by the competition, you were assumed to abuse the spirit of Kyudo. A practitioner who does not get carried away in competition usually shows good sportsmanship (International Kyudo Federation).

For me, Kyudo was such a beautiful and interesting sport that must be tried at least once in a lifetime. It's an ancient spiritual practice that helps to build deep connections between the archers and their minds. If there is a chance on my side, I would like to try and experience Kyudo in the future.

"ONE SHOT. ONE LIFE. Preparing for 8th and Kyudo Grading - Empty Mind Films"

(Source : Youtube)

Next, I will show you the essential pieces of equipment in Kyudo !

See you in my next blog !

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