Japanese Martial Art Longbow Archery
Kyūdō is the japanese martial art of archery.
Japanese martial art longbow archery. Yumi is the japanese term use for traditional asymmetrical japanese bows. Originally a samurai discipline and heavily influence by shintoism and zen kyudo integrates technical skill with the development of a completely focused and disciplined mind. Meaning way of the bow the japanese martial art of longbow archery 5 kendo. There are different kinds of bows and each of these has a specific purpose.
Kyūdō 弓道 is the japanese martial art of archery. I recently went to japan to experience and document kyudo the ancient art of japanese archery it literally means the way of the bow and is considered by many to be the purest of all the martial arts. As of 2005 the international kyudo federation had 132 760 graded members. With its origins in the tradition of the samurai and meaning way of the sword a japanese martial art and form of fencing using bamboo staves 5 ascham.
Shorter bows were used to practice kyudo and kyujutsu or japanese archery. Once known as kyūjutsu the archery of medieval hunting and war over time it evolved into today s way of the bow the aim of kyūdō is to train the. Japanese bows martial art of archery. Kyūdō is based on kyūjutsu art of archery which originated with the samurai class of feudal japan.
Over the course of japanese history under the influence of shinto beliefs confucian morality and buddhist philosophy including but not limited to zen the technique of archery flowered into an art form where archery is practiced as a way of seishin tanren or spiritual forging. Kyudo the way of the bow is one of japan s oldest and most honored martial traditions. Although the samurai are perhaps best known for their swordsmanship with a katana kenjutsu kyūjutsu was actually considered a more vital skill for a significant portion of japanese history. This was an important weapon used by samurai warriors during feudal japan.