Try out traditional Kyudo archery under the guidance of an experienced archer. In the garden of a Buddhist temple, you have the opportunity to get to know the archery process and, after internalizing the individual steps, shoot a few arrows at the target yourself. What seems simple at first quickly turns out to be a real challenge. The traditional Japanese bows are among the largest in the world and can reach a length of up to 2.4 meters. In addition to the necessary pulling power, a good memory is also required: the shot follows a fixed sequence with clearly defined steps that must be executed in the correct order and with a certain amount of body tension.
But don’t worry: in the end, everyone has hit the target – and returned with a big grin.
The bow is one of the oldest hunting tools known to mankind. Of course, over the course of time, the bow and arrow also became part of warfare and thus a necessary tool in any battle. For the samurai, the bow developed into one of the most important weapons, especially as they often fought from horseback with ranged weapons such as the bow or pole weapons such as the naginata rather than the katana.
Nowadays, traditional archery is practiced in Japan as a […] meditative exercise
Nowadays, traditional archery is practiced in Japan as an almost meditative exercise. After all martial arts were banned by the victorious powers at the end of the Second World War, the beneficial effects of archery on the body and mind were later recognized. As the students learn to approach the target with concentration and discipline and have to look for mistakes in the practice or missing the target themselves, Kyudo is nowadays often an optional club activity for high school students. As certain sequences have to be followed and the aesthetic aspect also plays a central role, Kyudo trains both body and mind. As different bow sizes with different draw strengths are available, practicing Kyudo is possible for all age groups and regardless of gender.
