When lived in Japan I had some brief training in archery, Kyudo. Here is Austin Texas there is a wonderful teacher at the Shambala meditation center teaching classes in traditional kyudo. I attended a handful of sessions with him. While I enjoyed the lessons and I loved the weapon, I found something lacking. You see in kyudo there is a lot of talk about the shot not being important. In the club here in town, all the lessons are firing into a straw bail just a few feet away. The emphasis is on the meditation. The message is that there is a dignity in the bow and such concepts as speed, accuracy, range and power are not addressed. The tradition I trained in does not even want to be thought of as a martial art, they are a meditation group.
I love and honor the modern expression of the art of kyudo. It is as wonderfully complex as the tea ceremony. I see the wisdom in their thinking and ways. I however am a budo man. I wish to learn more of the traditions of kyudo, but my true goal is something different. I am budoka and my Zen is the meditation in the pursuit of hitting a mark. Efficient, smooth and powerful motion is what seek with the bow. I want to play the bow like a deadly instrument and relish in the jazz that flows from arrows flying through space.
Today, like all days now, I shot the bow. First I work on technique. I shoot arrows for accuracy, with ever increasing range. Then I see how fast I can fire 10 arrows and still have the technique to hit the target from close range. I walked briskly and fired the bow while on the move. I worked on facing opposite the target then I turned and shot. I fired the bow while walking towards the target, and retreating from the target. You will never find these methods practiced in a modern kyudo dojo. I bet samurai archers who fought with the bow trained far different than the modern artists do.
I appreciate the traditional, but often I desire training outside the parameters of traditional thinking and practice. I personally seek samurai archery - battle and hunting archery. The zen evolves through a habit of striving for martial perfection. In my art meditation need not be the primary goal. It happens naturally with every practice. I do not want a non-martial version. I seek the martial archery. In my humble opinion the bow is a weapon, not a meditation pillow. I seek to honor it as such.
I really enjoyed this post. I too was a kyudoka (and aikidoka) in Japan, practicing the -do, but always on the lookout for any remaining kyudo-jutsu, which inevitably remained elusive.
ReplyDeleteI remember meeting a Shambhala kyudo practitioner a number of years ago. She was pretty adamant about the shot not being important. Now, I'm a pretty modest fellow, and held my tongue, but what I really wanted to say was, "Well, comparing your 6 months of practice with my 8 years, I'd guess you're far more proficient at not hitting the target than I."
This post has really made me think about my own practice. I tend to wander towards the meditative side of the arts for the sake of meditation, but it also takes me down a very strict and arbitrary path likened more to religion than budo. To me this is unnecessarily daunting, but to approach budo with an analytical and honest mind seeking ability as the target, all else will follow ... like meditation and enlightenment or whatever, hehe
ReplyDeleteThis is part of the controversy these days between certain "sects' Of Kyudo. One side says, it is Budo, the other says it is a form of meditation. As with the Martial arts of Shaolin which came from a Buddhist temple, it is both depending on the moment. This is the Way of Zen/Chan, it is whatever is needed at that moment. The State of meditation is not someplace you go to, it should be YOU all the time. While sitting or in combat. We say in Zen/Chan there is no duality. There should be no duality in Kyudo as well. Those who say it is only this or that have lost their balance. There are those who follow the middle way, it is the challenge to find them. Best Wishes, shoot well.
ReplyDeleteAll this "Talk" about it, stop talking about it, and "Practice"
ReplyDeleteIt is a controversial subject for many... when we aren't at daily practices.
ReplyDeleteZen made some nice observations in his prior comment.
I am discovering that there is a common thread that runs through all archery. I think it has to do with finding the balance that suits you... and having an open mind and an open heart!
Most importantly, keep shooting and enjoy it to the fullest.
Best wishes in your quest!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteWell, interesting post - thanks for sharing your views all of you.
I feel ultimately everyone who practices kyudo is free make of it what they wish. When you lift the bow and draw it you are alone in that - just you and the mato. Who is going to tell you what to do at that point?
If you want to hit it then train to ...
If at your dojo that style of practice just is not possible what may help is to find a new dojo, or better still a ryu that suits you better.
If you want to learn to shoot and everyone else wants to learn to meditate...
If shooting is secondary to meditation...
If hitting is not important...
Then, why hang a mato at all?
Why use an arrow?
...or a bow?
The Yumi is unique in its construction and it requires a great deal of skill to use it effectively. That skill comes from training not from meditation.
My feeling is that training for correct technique will produce not only hits but truth, beauty and ultimately a state of mushin.
Practicing correct technique is what trains the mind and the form (hassetsu) is the vessel for that traditional knowledge
Form is not an end in itself - even less a path anywhere else.
Form quickly becomes hollow when it is detached from its original purpose.
Concentrating merely on "meditation" is detaching form from purpose and renders it useless.
Saying "hitting the target does not matter" detaches all meaning from drawing the bow.
It is no shortcut to spirituality it is just a shortcut to poor technique.
It would be nice to think kyudo was born in a temple but it wasn't.
The technique and the mental conditioning came from the battlefield and from a time when hit or miss meant life or death.
Even in the kyudo dojo today... the mato 28 metres away ...roughly the distance at which archers engaged on the field (two opposing rows of spear carriers in front of them, each with a reach of 3 ken plus room to maneuver)
The mato diameter too is based on the average torso.
The target is set low as most shooting was done in wari-kiza (and facing sideways) to present less area to hit.
Arrows were shot low and straight at the opponent (not "rained down" en masse from a distance - it was more like dueling with arrows).
The effect of arrows flying low and being aimed clearly and deliberately at you was terrifying. And if you missed you were unlikely to get the opportunity to shoot again.
Technique and mental conditioning to make each arrow count to the fullest was vital.
Of course today combat is an irrelevance and kyudo training is more cerebral, almost abstract, and the day-to-day practice of heki-ryu is much like any other ryu in that respect. There is however, still a stronger emphasis on technique and on honoring the tradition that the school stems from. The idea of shooting every arrow as though your life depended on it still remains with some who practice it.
I would suggest trying Heki-to-ryu maybe if you are looking for that type of practice. It is by many regarded as one of the most "practical" ryu and it traces its roots directly to the battlefield (to bushakei -footsoldiers specifically) and "kan chu kyu" (translates somethig like: always hit the target with power) is still its motto.
Heki ryu is one of the ko-ryu and goes back to the late 15th century and while the style has been altered a little to take account of the fact that we practice in peace time (without helmet for example) the core teachings have been passed down unchanged.
Sorry this turned into a bit of a rant...
Still, I hope you take the point: you can find all kinds of things in kyudo, all of them are valid but not all are right for everyone.
So just find teachers who suit you.
Don't take the ANKF, even less Zenko, as the last word in kyudo.
Kyudo has traditions that are much older than the current fashion. Zen Kyudo a la Herrigel & co for example is not even a century old. Heki ryu is over 500 years old.
please bear in mind "zen-kyudo" is a relatively recent invention.
ReplyDeleteKyudo-as-Zen as an idea is barely a century old.
Heki Ryu for example is about 500 years old and in the mokuroku written down by Yoshida Shigekata around 1500 its principles of shooting are set out.
These have been passed down unchanged since then and still form the basis of teaching in SOME heki-ryu branches (heki ryu insai ha for example)
Koshiya (shootig technique used in warfare) if you want to learn it "properly" is also still practiced by some heki branches (eg satsuma heki ryu and insai ha)
If you want to learn to shoot rather than meditate look there.
Kyudo came from the battlefield not a temple.
The target hangs 28m away - roughly the distance at which archers engaged in battle.
The diameter is based on the human torso.
The mato hangs low as shooting was mostly done in wari-kiza and arrows were shot low and straight at the opponent (not "rained down" in indiscriminate volleys from afar)
It was more akin to dueling with arrows.
You faced your opponent, took aim and shot.
They, of course, shot back. That is why technique and mental stability were all important. If you missed because you let your emotions or the pressure to hit get the better of you you most likely did not get a second chance.
Technique and mental control were vital here.
Hit or miss meant life or death.
All elements of shooting taught in kyudo have a direct and specific purpose which relates to shooting - body geometry, stance, breathing, mind.
The aim is to train correct technique and mu-shin (much as in other martial arts - kyudo is no more "zen" than kendo just because it is quiet).
Each little detail in the form of kydo has meaning for shooting. The form (hassetsu etc) is the vessel that carries the ancient knowledge about shooting.
Detatching the form from its original meaning is to render it hollow and pointless.
That is exactly what kyudo-as-meditation does.
Yes, the desire to hit needs to be quelled as it interferes with the shooting - but hitting is important . That is why we hang a target, use an arrow etc...
Saying accuracy does not matter is no shortcut to spirituality, it is a shortcut to poor technique.
If you wish to practice kyudo as it was intended by those why invented it, shoot each arrow as though your life depended on it.
please bear in mind "zen-kyudo" is a relatively recent invention.
ReplyDeleteKyudo-as-Zen as an idea is barely a century old.
Heki Ryu for example is about 500 years old and in the mokuroku written down by Yoshida Shigekata around 1500 its principles of shooting are set out.
These have been passed down unchanged since then and still form the basis of teaching in SOME heki-ryu branches (heki ryu insai ha for example)
Koshiya (shootig technique used in warfare) if you want to learn it "properly" is also still practiced by some heki branches (eg satsuma heki ryu and insai ha)
If you want to learn to shoot rather than meditate look there.
Kyudo came from the battlefield not a temple.
ReplyDeleteThe target hangs 28m away - roughly the distance at which archers engaged in battle.
The diameter is based on the human torso.
The mato hangs low as shooting was mostly done in wari-kiza and arrows were shot low and straight at the opponent (not "rained down" in indiscriminate volleys from afar)
It was more akin to dueling with arrows.
You faced your opponent, took aim and shot.
They, of course, shot back. That is why technique and mental stability were all important. If you missed because you let your emotions or the pressure to hit get the better of you you most likely did not get a second chance.
Technique and mental control were vital here.
Hit or miss meant life or death.
All elements of shooting taught in kyudo have a direct and specific purpose which relates to shooting - body geometry, stance, breathing, mind.
ReplyDeleteThe aim is to train correct technique and mu-shin (much as in other martial arts - kyudo is no more "zen" than kendo just because it is quiet).
Each little detail in the form of kydo has meaning for shooting. The form (hassetsu etc) is the vessel that carries the ancient knowledge about shooting.
Detatching the form from its original meaning is to render it hollow and pointless.
That is exactly what kyudo-as-meditation does.
Yes, the desire to hit needs to be quelled as it interferes with the shooting - but hitting is important . That is why we hang a target, use an arrow etc...
Saying accuracy does not matter is no shortcut to spirituality, it is a shortcut to poor technique.
If you wish to practice kyudo as it was intended by those why invented it, shoot each arrow as though your life depended on it.
Every student of Kyudo has their own personal views. If your thinking is so narrow, it doesn't matter if you have practiced for 6 months or 8 years, you will still be a student.
ReplyDeleteWhat does it matter to YOU if THEY prefer to think of kyudo in this manner? Stop thinking of what is "right" and "wrong". The only thing that matters is how you approach it. Kyudo refines your inner-self.
I was researching kyudo online and happened on this comment thread. I was wondering if there was a kyudo school in Austin TX (yeah, I know, that's wishful thinking). There is one proper-looking Japanese-y one in Apex, North Carolina. I know very little about budo and kyudo (hence the research). Yet I can't help but agree that shooting an arrow and not caring whether you hit the target just sounds jarringly wrong. It's like getting into a car, wasting petrol, and not minding whether you reach your destination. Actually that might explain why there are so many bad drivers on Austin roads.
ReplyDelete