Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: YosemiteBen on February 02, 2014, 01:00:41 pm
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Morning all -
Whilst I was watching the postings of Primitive Tim I saw in the side board a video for Kyudo - Japanese Zen Archery with the offset long bow. If you have not seen it you may want to check it out.
JW, JapBow - If either of you shared this before how'd I miss it?
Ben
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thanks for watching!
I don't think I could kyudo. They take FOREVER to shoot! lol I watched this video. My white man mentality couldn't deal with it. I just want to shoot it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE4J4XPr8uA
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kyudo is the way samurai shot their bows.
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Its not all about the "Zen"... Not all Japanese archers take that long to shoot, lol.. It is a warbow afterall.. Zen, historically speaking, is a fairly new concept... Brian
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Thanks! Nice video.
I understand the idea of being focused and
calming your spirit, which I agree should be
important to any archer... HOWEVER, I think
I may have been here too long because I have
come to believe that the obsessive focus on
detail, and the "correct" way to do things is
a clear crutch. The Japanese can become
mentally impaired by this rigid dogma and are
often unable to adapt to new situations.
Archery dojo, yes...workplace, NO THANK YOU!
Spontaneity and improvisation are definitely
two ideas the Japanese could work on!
After all, there's more than one way to skin
a tanuki! (and I know)
Japbow.
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I know some probably do but most folks I have meet that said Zen guided their
arrow didn't shoot very well. ;) ;D ;D ;D
Pappy
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Pappy...Lol!
Maybe after 30 years of Kyudo training you
can hit the target every time and achieve an
enlightened state of oneness, BUT...
Feel and muscle memory will do for me. If I
miss, I just nock another darn arrow!
Japbow
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Like most Japanese martial activities, in Kyudo (say cue-doh) it's not so important you hit the target perfectly, but how you conduct yourself while doing so.
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thanks for watching!
I don't think I could kyudo. They take FOREVER to shoot! lol I watched this video. My white man mentality couldn't deal with it. I just want to shoot it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE4J4XPr8uA
Its worse than a compound shooter right? haha.
I assumed the really slow stuff was more ceremonial. I don't know how historically accurate it is but that guy on The Last Samurai could sure shoot his bow fast. I love that movie.
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Howdy, I study kyudo, though I occasionally wonder why. Historically Japanese archery was primarily about accuracy, distance, penetration, and troop maneuver. Not that much different than English warbows. I think of the 8 basic steps in shooting a yumi as a Japanese Manual of Arms. After the Portuguese introduced firearms to Japan there was a conscious effort to maintain archery in a temple/ court setting. So modern Kyudo is ~ 1/2 martial art and ~ 1/2 etiquette lesson. The perception that hitting isn't important is false, but in kyudo, accuracy needs to be proceded by correct action. And, correct action leading to a hit is considered to show a strong inner spirit! Developement of proper spirit is also part of other Japanese martial arts like the Aikido I also practice.
The modern Yumi is fickle and the ~ 40 inch draw with a floating anchor is not an easy technique to master. So............ yes a great number of practitioners can't hit for beans, and may cover up by saying "it isn't important". But as one of the local Senseis told at a tournament last fall, "that's bullshit!"
That said I find it an enjoyable pursuit. The equipment and style is unique and beautiful and the shooting is graceful. Japanese culture is certainly different than any of the US cultures. Yes I believe there are some distinct cultures here in the US. I think I would have great difficulty living in Japan. Ron
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Thanks for the explaination Ron.. Reminds me of my Aiki trainig. We had a saying; Right thought=Right action... Brian
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... accuracy needs to be proceded by correct action. And, correct action leading to a hit is considered to show a strong inner spirit! ...
That is a very apt statement that a lot of people in my company should take to heart. It was a bad day at work, and now I just want to go bend a stick.
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Like most Japanese martial activities, in Kyudo (say cue-doh) it's not so important you hit the target perfectly, but how you conduct yourself while doing so.
Kinda like many of us hunt. It is not about getting the biggest, bestest, fastest, whateverest. It is about how you conduct yourself on that hunt.
And a big part of that conduct leading up to the actual release of the arrow, is practicing until there is absolute in where the arrow will go. Not faith, belief without proof or evidence. But sufficient practice that there is a reasonable assurance of outcome.
Was this the video of the two young ladies at the college in Hawaii?
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JW, not a bad analogy. Especially since the more mystic side of Kyudo is based mainly on Shinto ( not Zen/ Budist) practice. Shinto is heavy on the local spirit (Kami) which seems very naturalistic. Ron
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yes it was JW - led me to watch some other vids on the matter.
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I used to see a guy in a bar I frequented a few years ago, he was kinda a jerk, but he said that he had just gotten some "master" rank in the art of kyudo. He told me that it was intended for shooting into dark halls when being attacked. That the archer had to listen to the attackers coming and shoot when they were a certain distance away. 90 feet I think he said. Any truth to this? Just what I heard. I read the Zen of Archery once, then heard it was a crock of crap later. ::) I don't mind watching the girls shoot kyudo. How about that ninja dude on youtube that shoots his bow sideways? Anybody seen him? Or the real fast girl w/ the flipped/thumb down draw? I degrees....
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if he really was a "master" he wouldn't be spouting of about it in a bar dp, seams foolish that the art of kyudo is meant for what was said
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if he really was a "master" he wouldn't be spouting of about it in a bar dp, seams foolish that the art of kyudo is meant for what was said
+1
Jon
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if he really was a "master" he wouldn't be spouting of about it in a bar dp, seams foolish that the art of kyudo is meant for what was said
He wasn't really "spouting". ;D We were just talking about it and he told me he was going to his next level shoot. The next time I saw him I questioned him about it. Like I said, he was always abit of a snobby ass. That's why I would ask him about it. To get under his skin. >:D Jack asses and PBR sometimes gets me rascally. >:D ;) dp
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PBR will do that, lol 8)
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PBR will do that, lol 8)
It don't take too much if there's a smart @$$ around to get me rascally. ;D ;D
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Well DP - you want rascally come hang out with me n my wife - well see if you can keep up! ;)
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Sounds Fun Ben!! If I ever make it that far West I'll be sure to look you up. Or you can take some time off and come to the Classic in May. I don't get to rascally, but I do a heck of a job keeping up...or at least staying up. ;D Several on here can vouch for me on that, and I them. ;)