DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - how come there isnt a kyudo section here?

**MauroDarudo** · 04-24-2006, 12:21 PM

This might not seem such an alternative, but you could also consider "conventional" western archery.

Although I'm a newbie to Kendo, I'm an established archer, and I do find certain "cross-training" aspects. Also, to some extent if you can shoot a bow well, then you can shoot a bow... any bow, an archer is an archer, whatever style.

Well, eventually, anyway (does take practice at first...), like Kendo archery of whatever is a discipline requiring practice and effort..

I started out shooting trad (i.e. English not American) Long-bow, but now I shoot modern recurve Olympic style to a pretty reasonable standard. However, I also have a range of other "play" bows, including a Mongolian replica, also long-bows and "primitive" bows and arrows that I make. Yes, I can also shoot off the thumb in asiatic/Japanese style too (boy, did that hurt until I worked out how to make and fit a thumbring). I also see that basic fibreglass Kyudo bows can be got from the usual archery suppliers, but I can't really justify £200 on ANOTHER bow just yet...

Point is, the basics are the same. Believe it or not, there is still a strong sense of etiquette in (GNAS) archery, even more so in the British Long-Bow Society. Also there is similarity of basic discipline- if you don't believe me, just remember the York/Hereford/Ladies & Gents FITA rounds (the main championship rounds outdoors) can take about 6-7 hours to shoot- 12 dozen arrows, and you have to shoot "each arrow as if it were the first, each as if it were the last." Does wonders for being able to maintain calm concentration under pressure.

I also see that you are in Darlington, there is at least one archery club in Darlington, and the Durham and Northumberland Archery Association (DNAA) is very friendly and active- I have shot at some of their open County meetings when on hol in the North of England, excellent days and great people.

Useful links are:
http://www.gnas.org/
http://www.dnaa.co.uk/
http://www.askarts.co.uk/longbow.html
http://www.kyudo.org.uk/ukka.html

OK, I'm biased, but without much easily accessible Kyudo in the UK, if you want to complement Kendo with archery- you could always try our way too, eh?

Either way, if you do decide to do a form (ANY form) of archery, good luck on your path of "progress towards perfection."

"So long as the new moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold in the hearts of men." (J. Maurice Thompson).

04-24-2006, 12:21 PM	#16
MauroDarudo Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 290 Senior Member	This might not seem such an alternative, but you could also consider "conventional" western archery. Although I'm a newbie to Kendo, I'm an established archer, and I do find certain "cross-training" aspects. Also, to some extent if you can shoot a bow well, then you can shoot a bow... any bow, an archer is an archer, whatever style. Well, eventually, anyway (does take practice at first...), like Kendo archery of whatever is a discipline requiring practice and effort.. I started out shooting trad (i.e. English not American) Long-bow, but now I shoot modern recurve Olympic style to a pretty reasonable standard. However, I also have a range of other "play" bows, including a Mongolian replica, also long-bows and "primitive" bows and arrows that I make. Yes, I can also shoot off the thumb in asiatic/Japanese style too (boy, did that hurt until I worked out how to make and fit a thumbring). I also see that basic fibreglass Kyudo bows can be got from the usual archery suppliers, but I can't really justify £200 on ANOTHER bow just yet... Point is, the basics are the same. Believe it or not, there is still a strong sense of etiquette in (GNAS) archery, even more so in the British Long-Bow Society. Also there is similarity of basic discipline- if you don't believe me, just remember the York/Hereford/Ladies & Gents FITA rounds (the main championship rounds outdoors) can take about 6-7 hours to shoot- 12 dozen arrows, and you have to shoot "each arrow as if it were the first, each as if it were the last." Does wonders for being able to maintain calm concentration under pressure. I also see that you are in Darlington, there is at least one archery club in Darlington, and the Durham and Northumberland Archery Association (DNAA) is very friendly and active- I have shot at some of their open County meetings when on hol in the North of England, excellent days and great people. Useful links are: http://www.gnas.org/ http://www.dnaa.co.uk/ http://www.askarts.co.uk/longbow.html http://www.kyudo.org.uk/ukka.html OK, I'm biased, but without much easily accessible Kyudo in the UK, if you want to complement Kendo with archery- you could always try our way too, eh? Either way, if you do decide to do a form (ANY form) of archery, good luck on your path of "progress towards perfection." "So long as the new moon returns in heaven a bent, beautiful bow, so long will the fascination of archery keep hold in the hearts of men." (J. Maurice Thompson).
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