[FallJimerks]

having acquired a vague interest in bows'n'arrers after watching the kyudo in Kyoto the other year (AND SCARING MY WALLET LOOKING AT PRICES OF KIT... ) I have tried to find some kyudo forums.... but there doesn't seem to be any.... Anyone come across one in their travels?

[Crazykz]

Kyudo is more rare than some of the forms of kenjutsu and kendo and stuff like that so forums are going to be hard to find. Of course I am sure you knew this. My only suggestion would be to look for a Japanese forum, but I don't know what language skills you have, but that would be your best bet.

If we had a kyudo forum here, the only posts you would find would be pics of kyudo girls.

[Kimeoffessyr]

Kyudo is more rare than some of the forms of kenjutsu and kendo and stuff like that so forums are going to be hard to find. Of course I am sure you knew this. My only suggestion would be to look for a Japanese forum, but I don't know what language skills you have, but that would be your best bet.

If we had a kyudo forum here, the only posts you would find would be pics of kyudo girls.

and here I thought I was the only one who thought archery was a pretty sexy martial art.

If there were a cute kyudo girl on these forums, she'd be rejecting me right now.

[MwhwF6bp]

Here in New York there is a small and very dedicated group, Toko Kyudojo, run by a real nice guy named Jim Boorstein. Check them out at www.tokokyudojo.org They are affiliated with Zenko International (who also have a web-site though the exact address escapes me just now). If I recall, the sensei at Zenko, Shabata Sensei, has lineage directly with the family who makes yumi (bow) for the Imperial Family, and has done so for generations. In other words, they're the real deal.

I cannot recall if the web-sites have forums or not, I don't think so. BUT, if such forums exist, these two organizations would know about them. You might also check out a guy named Don Symanski; North carolina, I think. He's a Master Bow Maker and one of the few Americans I know of who is directly connected with the art in Japan. He is an equipment supplier, also has a web-site, the name of which alos escapes me (I'm getting really, really old!), but he's out there. Again, if such forums exist, Symanski knows about them. Good luck.

[KeettyGlots]

Yet more evidence of the rarity of kyudo outside of Japan. A group in NY, NC, and a few in Hawaii and probably CA. The list is almost complete for the states. Think of the commute to these dojos.

Other countries are probably similar.

[streMunford]

Yet more evidence of the rarity of kyudo outside of Japan. A group in NY, NC, and a few in Hawaii and probably CA. The list is almost complete for the states. Think of the commute to these dojos.

Other countries are probably similar.

I have heard of a group in Portland, Oregon but have no specific facts to share. Love to try it sometime, though.

[Adeniinteme]

One of my Wakaba dojo mates was a yondan or godan at kyudo. She used to practice in London before she got freaked out by all the questions the police hit her with when she was stopped on the tube with her kit.

[MannyLopez]

funny thing is, i spoke to dan deprospero about 13 yrs ago looking for kendo around nc. who would have known that kyudo is much more hard to fine, but it was right smack under my nose, and kendo no where to be find?

http://www.kyudo.com/

seems like they have been updating it recently.. last revised on april 1, 2006..

pete

[uaodnabnjz]

My naginata sensei here in Tally does it and they also do it at a dojo called Big Green Drum located in pensacola.

[Rtebydou]

funny thing is, i spoke to dan deprospero about 13 yrs ago looking for kendo around nc. who would have known that kyudo is much more hard to fine, but it was right smack under my nose, and kendo no where to be find?

http://www.kyudo.com/

seems like they have been updating it recently.. last revised on april 1, 2006..

pete

Arrrrgggghhhhhh. I lived 2 1/2 hours away from them for 9 years and didn't know.

[fuesquemill]

having acquired a vague interest in bows'n'arrers after watching the kyudo in Kyoto the other year (AND SCARING MY WALLET LOOKING AT PRICES OF KIT... ) I have tried to find some kyudo forums.... but there doesn't seem to be any.... Anyone come across one in their travels?

Hi There...

Try http://www.kyudo.org.uk/

For more... go to google and type in 'Kyudo UK'

Cheers

[h4z1XBI7]

There is a Zenko Intl group in Maryland as well...I've been meaning to get there the last month or two but haven't been able to.

Zenko US link: http://www.zenko.org/contact.html

Zenko Euro link: http://www.kyudo.org/html/main/dojo.html

[brurdefdoro]

Hi Tim,

There used to be a club here in Edinburgh run by a couple of my friends. At present there is only 1 person in Edinburgh who knows Kyudo and gets disheartened training on his own. There is a club in London, i think they are teh ones who are coming up to Edinburgh in june for the BKA Embu, there is normally a demonstration on the Saturday of various Japanese arts which include Kyudo.

Best wishes

David

[asharbiq]

You wonder why there is no forum? Here's an example of why.

Person 1: Hey, how did the arrow shooting stuff go?
Person 2: Okay.
Person 1: Okay.
Person 2: Could have done better.
Person 1: Yeah?
Person 2: Yeah.
Person 1: Okay.

[Xibizopt]

Here in New York there is a small and very dedicated group, Toko Kyudojo, run by a real nice guy named Jim Boorstein. Check them out at www.tokokyudojo.org They are affiliated with Zenko International (who also have a web-site though the exact address escapes me just now). If I recall, the sensei at Zenko, Shabata Sensei, has lineage directly with the family who makes yumi (bow) for the Imperial Family, and has done so for generations. In other words, they're the real deal.

Thanks for that info. It seems we have a local group in Ottawa also affiliated with Zenko International. The Zenko website, btw, is at www.zenko.org (the affiliated clubs are on http://www.zenko.org/contact.html).

I am curious though as to how official they are - after all, being a descendent of Masamune doesn't mean one is a Kenjutsu master. It seems that the current generation of Kanjuro Shibata is actually headmaster of Heki Ryu Bishu Chikurin-ha, so I don't doubt his qualifications.

Always nice to know what's around here. It's not Japan, but we're a bit lucky to find Iaido, Kendo, Jodo and Kyudo. I wish I could find some koryu jujutsu around here though...

[MauroDarudo]

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).

[drmarshallusa]

You wonder why there is no forum? Here's an example of why.

Person 1: Hey, how did the arrow shooting stuff go?
Person 2: Okay.
Person 1: Okay.
Person 2: Could have done better.
Person 1: Yeah?
Person 2: Yeah.
Person 1: Okay.

That's not very fair ... I'm sure there are interesting subjects to be discussed about kyudo, including techniques, gears, concepts and what not ... you could practically say the same for kendo then, hey how did the sword whacking stuff go? okay. okay. could have done better. yeah? yeah. okay ... -_____-
hehe I think I know that was suppose to be a joke ... but still man, I find kyudo quite fanscinating, especially the girls doing 'em

[Grenader]

That's not very fair ... I'm sure there are interesting subjects to be discussed about kyudo, including techniques, gears, concepts and what not ... you could practically say the same for kendo then, hey how did the sword whacking stuff go? okay. okay. could have done better. yeah? yeah. okay ... -_____-
hehe I think I know that was suppose to be a joke ... but still man, I find kyudo quite fanscinating, especially the girls doing 'em

Person 1: Hey, did you see that fascinating girl at kyudo practice?
Person 2: Yeah.
Person 1: Me too.
Person 2: Cool.
Person 1: I know. Totally awesome.
Person 2: Yeah.

[offinoNem]

having acquired a vague interest in bows'n'arrers after watching the kyudo in Kyoto the other year (AND SCARING MY WALLET LOOKING AT PRICES OF KIT... ) I have tried to find some kyudo forums.... but there doesn't seem to be any.... Anyone come across one in their travels?

Kyudo-ka are not a chatty bunch. Kyudo-L imploded some years ago.

I packed a bunch of info. into an on-line article on Kyudo at Fighting Arts.

HTH,

[ronaldasten]

The UK is phenomenally well appointed for Archery. As I found out After I left!

If there isn't much happening, it would be a good place to nurture a new club.

I have a friend here who is interested in starting Kyudo here in Sydney. A few years down the track unfortunately......