I’m very interested in learning kyudo and I’m willing to travel several hours to get to a dojo. After some research, I’ve found a non-federation dojo that is relatively close to me (~1.5 hours away, easy trip) and a dojo affiliated with the American Kyudo Renmei that is twice as far (~3 hours away, more intensive trip).

How important is it to attend an affiliated dojo? Are there any key differences? And for those with more kyudo experience, would you consider the extra effort and travel worth it and why (or why not)?

Thanks for any and all advice!

I'm quite new to Kyudo and have recently joined a club for it. At our dojo, we wear the white tabi, but I've noticed a practitioner wearing black ones. Is there a specific reason for this, or is it simply a personal choice made by the practitioner? (We don't have a very strict dress code.) When I tried to look up my question, I found a source mentioning darker tabi historically being used while traveling to minimize the appearance of dirt, so I was wondering if that might be why. Does anyone have any insight into this? Perhaps I'm just overthinking, but I wanted to know whether I've missed a cultural detail pertaining to this martial art.

How important is it to have a custom made yugake, in your opinion? Is it a lot more different than the basic sizes? Thanks :)

Hello fellow kyudoka,

I have been lucky to be able to practice kyudo with a shogosha sensei for a few months now, but unfortunately I'll no longer be able to practice at the dojo. My sensei said I could still practice if I had adequate space/facilities like an archery range (which is my plan) and would lend me the equipment to continue doing so. He's aware that taihai practice will not be possible in an outdoors range but said that many kyudoka globally have to make compromises since dojos (especially for kyudo) are incredibly rare.

That being said, have any of you practiced outdoors? What are a few things I should be aware of and what kind of setups did you have when doing so? I'll be allowed to use the 30m archery range bays but should I ask to set up a separate mato?

Thanks!

Essentially asking why is Kyudo absent from the Olympics and what are its perspectives in these terms, if anyone knows about it.

i am fairly new to archery and i have a turkish horse bow that i shoot regularly with mediterranean and thumb draw. im interested in buying a yumi because i find bows as a great way to learn history of a culture. i know there are dojos recognized by the federation but i was wondering what the difference is in recognition vs non reconditioned dojos. and im trying to find somone around the frederick county area in MD that would offer classes or atleast be relatively close by to speak to

I've practiced Chinese archery for about 7 years using the Gao Ying manual and a fellow Gao Ying practitioner recommended the anime Tsurune. I watched it twice and saw a kyudo practitioner shoot at the range where I practice. The movements and equipment were fascinating and I decided that I will learn kyudo.

I've only had one class so far and I went in with a "cup empty" mentality so I can learn all that I can, but I think I'm getting a bit too excited. I'm already window-shopping for equipment online. I have a friend who's a prominent and respected yumi builder who's encouraging me to start with a 17-18kg takeyumi since I already have a lot of experience with bows. My main bow in Chinese archery is about 55# and is made of fiberglass/bamboo. I also have a 70# strength training bow I use for conditioning. I own a couple of all-bamboo/wood bows too. I don't shoot them as much because they shoot well for about an hour then lose their cast until they rest again. My fiberglass/wood bow is much more consistent.

However, despite my experience with bows I can't help but feel like the wisest thing to do is to get a lighter carbon or fiberglass yumi. I don't want to come off someone who's getting way ahead of herself in class. I don't want to come across as someone who's reckless. I don't want to be "that student." We all know someone who's overconfident when they start archery. As a result, I'm keeping my previous archery experience on the down low. At the same time, I don't want a yumi that I'll outgrow quickly.

My gut tells me the best move is to start with a well-fitting yugake. Everything else will fall in place later. What do you folks think? Should I be forthcoming with my sensei about my previous experience? Again, I really don't want to seem like I'm overconfident.

I emailed them expressing interest in registering for their beginners courses. I was wondering if they would email me back, letting me know that I am registered. Also, if anyone has experience with them, what is practice like there and how are the people?

Hi, everyone!

I've been practicing kyudo for almost 2 years, shodan soon testing for nidan, and I'm about to buy my first yumi.

I've been talking to my sensei about this, who approves of me getting a bow. I'm buying a 4sunnobi, based on my Yazuka.

It's been really hard finding reliable information about bows, but I had my eye fixed on a Tokusei Sui. I understand it's a good entry point bow but I wanted to know if anyone had more information about it.

Being a carbon fiber bow, I was curious about the differences between fiberglass and carbon. The Tokusei Sui says super carbon ceramic and I don't understand what the ceramic stands for.

I understand that carbon is more fragile than fiber glass, and I am concerned I might break the bow, is that a possibility with these bows, or does it refer to improper use of the bow or wear and tear?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Bought an old bamboo kyudo bow and some arrows off an estate sale. The seller had no idea how old it was or what it's past has been.

That was fine with me as I was planning to use it for display only.

However it would be cool to shoot it someday. Is there a serious safety concern with shooting it assuming it has no cracks? Like, is there an age beyond which it's just better to retire a bow?

Assume I would get all new arrows.

Hey everyone.

I live in Hiroshima and have been wanting to find a kyudojo at which I can study, but I can find is a kyudo shooting range. Would any of you be able to help with figuring out how to find a dojo around the city? Thanks, I'm looking forward to giving it a go!

Hello everybody,

I want to buy a new hakama but the price buying directly from Japan is quite expensive to me. There is a local shop in my place that make and sale hakamas for Kendo practioners. I asked the shop owner about the possible differences between the clothes for Kyudo and Kendo but she don't know.

So I would like to ask you guys here if you know about that? Can I use the hakama of other budos to practice Kyudo?

Thank you in advance.

I'd love to learn Kyudo, I have been looking for a yumi, all my Google searches seem to lean on Tozando. Since I am new to the art, I'd love to know what everyone thinks of Tozando. Especially if you own one. The yumi that has caught my eye is the Aoi. Anyone have one of these bows? If so, let me know what you think? Will it stand up to misuse if I foul up my form? Or worse yet, dry fire from someone with know knowledge of archery? Thank you all for your time.

Hi everyone! I'm planning to start with Kyudo in about 2 months as a complete beginner.

Since I have some time left, I wonder if there is something I can do to prepare before my first class?

My name is Felipe, I'm 31 years old, and I'm Brazilian. The nearest kyudo dojo is an hour and a half away from my home, with Sunday training sessions. I already practice kendo and iaido. Additionally, I am a philosophy teacher, focusing on research in philosophy of art and ADHD. What tips do you have for me to start?

Note: I don't intend to abandon kendo and iaido

Hello everyone, I just wanted to know if there were any Kyudo equipment shops that sell uniforms and/or practice Yumi in Taiwan?

A friend of mine is traveling there in March and I was hoping that they had equipment in Taiwan that are equal to the shops in Japan. preferably shops that you could walk into that have equipment on the shelves for sale.

We were at the Florda National Cemetery among family and friends, reflecting about our loved one who lived a life of training, teaching, love and great patience. I will forever be grateful for your wisdom and kindness.

Thank you Garrasi, Sensei

Hi, I had just started practicing kyudo. I have a gomuyumi and we have loaner bows at the dojo. However I would like to practice at home more realistically before I get my own yumi. Where can I buy a yumitarou in the US?

Thanks in advance!

It's all of a sudden happened, even when I use my gomi yumi. The gomi yumi string hits my face, while the bow string catches my ear upon release...every time. It's painful and scary, so much that instinctively, I'm no longer doing full draw or doing other strange adjustments to try to prevent an injury. I'm looking to know who has experienced this before and what are some corrections you've implemented that prevented further injury?

I was doing dry exercises to properly draw the bow and the string slipped out of my hand. The Bow Inverted itself. Will my bow be okay?

I'm looking into possibly buying/making a gomuyumi to practice at home since I have low cielings and (as of now) no makiwara. I want to use it mainly for 2 things, 1 is practicing my draw into kai keeping my wrist relaxed and 2 is yugaeri practice. Is it possible to get yugaeri with a gomuyumi or is it something unique to the full size yumi? I was able to semi consistantly achieve yugaeri on a 15k bow before moving up in draw weight to an 18k. The new bow has a different grip padding and with the added weight im having to relearn my tenouchi and holding kai for long periods gets pretty tiring.

Hello Everyone,

So I might be going to Japan for a few years, and I would like to continue my training there.

Does anyone know of a website or place I can go to find all the kyudo dojos in Japan or in certain areas?

I attended a workshop with Shibata-San in Kyoto where we built a 35KG yumi. I have one tsuru on it but it’s used and I am worried About it breaking soon. I am wondering where to find tsuru strong enough to suit the yumi. Can anyone link a website where I can order online? Thank you

As the title states, I'm interested in learning Kyūdō even though there's nowhere near me that teaches it. I've been in a kendo/kenjutsu school for around 8 years, and have also been learning Naginata with another instructor for the past 6 months.

I've always loved archery, and have been interested in Kyudo forever, but haven't been able to find any place that teaches it nearby. I've recently given thought to selling my old competition compound bow to fund a Yumi, but that doesn't help with almost any other aspect.

First off, I don't have enough land to practice anything beyond about 10m distance, and even then, I'd be worried about doing archery in a suburban neighborhood.

Second, even though I've found a few places somewhat local that make Yumi, I haven't found anywhere that makes arrows for Kyudo at the length I would need (around 42-45")

And finally, I don't know enough Japanese to buy a Kyudo Kyohon unless it came translated in English already, and I'm not the best book only learner.

Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated!

In series of silly beginner questions; I've just recently started Kyudo and so far I've been practicing with gomuyumi. Upon the release, it is touching my cheek and as a result, hits my cheek after the release.

Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? I am able to alter my form and avoid this, but I am not sure if I should.