Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (dutchwarbow) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:14:51 GMT

that's for sure

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Oengus) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:02:00 GMT

And better-looking contestants.

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Rod) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:42:32 GMT

It's very like bare boss practice with dress regulations...
Rod.

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (dutchwarbow) — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:11:37 GMT

"if you are shooting too acurately, your sensei may talk to you about focusing too much on the target"

for me, this takes away every logical aspect behind archery.

15-20kg is similar tot the average drawweight of the modern recurves... maybe a little more. Seems to be about perfect for close range target archery. Glad there's those shooting 130's
after a second thought, I don't think...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Mr Kinjo) — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:20:10 GMT

ahaha yes, first picture really is funny. Though, I really glad it did not break....

Well yes, light weight yumi is typical for Highschool student. Most I have seen are 15~20kg range.
They seem to shoot rather fast in these videos, though, I must say not as fast as they seem. The arrow falls quite fast but hit with lots force.
Good archer can shoot fast arrow even if the owner shoots slow with it. Technique is very important.

Most yumi used these day are...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Ichi) — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:17:43 GMT

Since the main focus in kyudo is the mind, the bows for practice are very light. To repeat the motions over and over again with that slow draw requires a very light bow. Beginner bows are available with as low as 7 kg or 15 pound draws.

From what I understand you would shoot a low weight bow only a few feet until your sensei thought you were ready to progress. I have even read that if you are shooting too acurately, your sensei may talk to you about focusing too much on the...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (dutchwarbow) — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:42:07 GMT

I did some research. There's still some warbowarchers in japan, shooting 130# yumi's... Just like we have a couple of warbowarchers next to our recurve archers, weelie guys and longbowarchers, they have their small group of warbowarchers in the major group of targetarchers. The only difference, they keep it traditional in both ways.

a 130# yumi sounds like a nice future project

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (French Crow) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:53:35 GMT

dutchwarbow wrote:
I wonder how much those bows draw? looking at the way those girls shoot, the time they hold, I'd say no much more than 25#. But they seem to shoot pretty fast.

They are young ladies. I read somewhere that kyudo male archers currently draw about 50 lbs at 35". Beauty and perfection of movement is what matters.

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (kiltedcelt) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:01:03 GMT

I'm with Nick on this one. I find Yumi bows very interesting but I personally have little interest in Kyudo. I'd be much more interested in Yumis as they were originally used by the samurai. The English guy, Mike-something on the the Military Channel show 'Weaponmasters' was shooting a Yumi bow from horseback in one show. Looked like a lot of fun. Someday I'd like to make a Yumi, but alas - a bit complex for me at this stage in my bowyering career. I did however find a...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (dutchwarbow) — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:05:22 GMT

I totally agree with Rod. This way of archery is very interesting, probably way better for your spirit, and your body, but I somehow prefer the bow as a weapon, instead of as a form of meditation. quote simon stanley: 'I'm more interested in the martial aspect of the bow'.

I wonder how much those bows draw? looking at the way those girls shoot, the time they hold, I'd say no much more than 25#. But they seem to shoot pretty fast.

Nick

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (French Crow) — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:38:22 GMT

Szabi, you're right about the bow ! I found also it had an odd shape but didn't see why...
That manual looks great, thanks.

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (sz nagy) — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:10:09 GMT

The bow on the first pic is strung backwards...
It think the book by Feliks Hoff (Kyudo - the way of the Bow) is excellent, and here's a really good stuff online as downloadable pdf.
http://www.shuitsukankyudojo.de/texte/manual.pdf
Szabi

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Pathfinder78) — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:34:52 GMT

Cute girl. And she's pointing her toe to the camera

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (French Crow) — Sat, 30 May 2009 11:02:04 GMT

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (toxophileken) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:09:51 GMT

Just saw the video Tom added. I may have to move to Japan... Is there anything more beautiful than a female archer?

Ken

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (toxophileken) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:25:56 GMT

I was just reading from a table for you guys. Your info is much more detailed! Thanks very much, Alex. We need to save this info on yumis, for sure.

Ken

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Bowman AKA THE HUNTER) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:06:08 GMT

Ahh so Ken san knows quite a bit about the materials, good work Ken!

Anyways, The bamboo used for the back is always left untreated by heat but belly and core laminations were heat treated.The backing is 1 1/8" wide and 1/8" thick at handle and tapers in thickness very slightly to the top tip but tapers to almost nothing on the...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (Rod) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:16:45 GMT

I've had this book for quite a while and particularly like it for some of the historical background but can't say that I am taken with the over elaboration of etiquette in the post war form of Kyudo.
I would be more interested in traditions representing how the fighting and hunting bows were practiced for actual use.
Not to say that some of the mental and physical comment is not relevant or interesting, but I would rather read Daisetz Suzuki or Yagyu Munenori and carry on...

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (greenchicken) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:59:07 GMT

I stand corrected on subject of wood side to the core. Here is a link to a page that has a construction x-section:

x-section

Re: The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (toxophileken) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:30:38 GMT

Hi Jonah. I don't remember there being much construction info to speak of in the book, only shooting technique. There are a couple of photos of bows under construction, and an illustration showing cross sectional construction of bows from various eras. There is a small section on straightening the bow if it gets crooked.

The illustration on page 38 shows that there is a bamboo belly and back, arranged horizontally (as per normal laminated bows). Between them are laminations on...

The enchanting art of Kyudo

feeds@yuku.com (BillOregon) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:06:41 GMT

If any of you have become enchanted the Japanese meditative archery form known as Kyudo by watching YouTube clips (as I did), I recommend you order a copy of "Kyudo, the Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery," by Hideharu Onuma. I just got mine from Amazon, and have only skimmed it but it looks wonderfully informative. Guys, this is a whole new dimension to shooting with simple, traditional tackle. I've had Japanese archery on my periphery, especially the odd shape of the...