4 reasons to take archery classes in Japan

The shot of Archery in Japan, called Kyudo, is a martial art and is among the oldest in the world! It has been used as an instrument of war since the Yayoi period (500 BC – 300 AD) and practiced by samurai and ninjas.

During our trip in Japan, we decided to do several different and traditional activities such as a boat trip in Tokyo and a tea ceremony. The archery class in Japan was held in Hiroshima, a way to show what else there is to do in this city besides the Atomic Bomb Museum.

In this article I will tell you what this archery class in Japan was like and give you reasons why you should also take one during your trip!

Archery Class in Japan

As I mentioned earlier, the art of Archery is called Kyudo, being the oldest martial art in Japan.

We took a really fun and informative Kyudo class in Hiroshima. The name of the school is Sha-Raku, located a 10-minute walk from Peace Memorial Park. It’s inside a shopping mall, just climb a few stairs and you’re there.

As it is a private class in a small space, I recommend booking in advance, precisely because there are few times and places.

Why take this Archery class in Japan?

I give you some interesting reasons:

1 – Find out more about the history of feudal Japan, samurai and ninjas

2 – Practice Japan’s oldest martial art with a native instructor

3 – Learn step by step and shoot often

4 – Great value for money to live an authentic experience

>> Book your archery class in Japan here <<

kyudo target shooting japan — Faceira after hitting the target!

History of archery in Japan

The instructor told us several interesting facts about archery in Japan. In the past, the bow (yumi) was made of bamboo, wood and leather and was approximately 2 meters long with an asymmetrical shape, with the upper part being larger. than the bottom.

There are still bamboo bow makers, but it is a dying art and very few people still practice this noble profession. As it is a product that takes time to make and is also more expensive, there is not as much demand. For this reason, many opt for arches made from fiberglass.

A big difference between bamboo bows is the resistance in the string, which is approximately 20 kg. While in newer and smaller arches, made of fiberglass, the resistance is approximately 10Kg.

Arrows (ya) were traditionally made of bamboo with eagle or falcon feathers. However, today they use feathers from other animals such as swans or turkeys, and feathers from birds that are not in danger of extinction.

In the video below I tell you more about this archery class in Japan and the attractions in Hiroshima, click to watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AikfTNdPv8

Uniform for practicing archery in Japan

Just like other martial arts, there is a uniform for practice. The correct term is dogi (training clothing) and not kimono.

In Kyudo, as in Aikido, the Hakama, a pair of loose black pants, is used. It imitates a skirt and aims to hide leg movements. It’s usually quite complicated to tie around the waist, but there are simpler models with elastic.

Additionally, we wear gloves (yukage) to protect our hands during training. First, we use a thin cotton glove, followed by a leather glove, usually made from deer. These gloves only cover a few fingers, depending on the practitioner’s experience and the type of bow.

For example, a glove with only the thumb protected is generally used by beginners, while gloves with protection for 3 fingers are generally used for bows with less than 20 kg of resistance. 4 finger gloves are generally used for bows over 20kg as they are heavier to pull.

Japanese Archery class Japan — Japanese Archery Class

Purpose of Kyudo

The martial art of Kyudo takes into consideration presentation more than target shooting itself. It is an art that requires understanding of the body and also fullness of the mind.

Beginners of the art practice with rubber bows to train Hassetsu movements, the eight essential steps of archery shooting in Japan:

Ashibumi – Opening of the feet;
Dozukuri – Body posture;
Yugamae – Preparation of the bow (for shooting);
Uchiokoshi – Raise the bow;
Hikiwake – Opening of the bow;
Kai – Encounter (maximum extension position);
Hanare – Shooting the arrow;
Zanshin – Permanence of body shape.

Japanese martial art shooting bow and arrow — The 8 stages of Hassetsu

Beginners then train with a bow without an arrow to achieve a full draw of the bowstring. Only after obtaining permission from the teacher can training with arrows and gloves begin.

But don’t worry, during this archery class you can now shoot without worrying about these forms.

Another detail is that we keep both eyes to shoot. In Western practice, one eye is closed and the “best eye” is left open.

How was our experience

After we put on our training uniform, the instructor explained to us details about the materials and history of archery in Japan. He is very attentive and friendly, and he explained in English. Sometimes he used the translator when he wasn’t sure how to say something in English. I thought it was really good, because I was able to ask a lot of questions like that too!

Then we put on our gloves and picked up the bow to make the first shots. It is important to follow the position of your fingers step by step to make a good shot and also to avoid getting hurt. You also need to tie your hair up so it doesn’t get caught in the rope and cause accidents. Either way, the bow is not heavy to draw and if the string hits your arm, it will only hurt a little.

japanese archery class hiroshima — archery in Japan in Hiroshima

The Japanese archery class lasted around 1 hour and we were able to practice many times, we probably shot more than 20 times. We shoot sitting down, precisely because the bow hits the ceiling lol

Unfortunately I hit the target about 2 times, I need a lot more classes to be able to advance in practice. There was even a little competition and of course Jean won by a landslide T_T He did really well!

We really enjoyed this archery class in Japan and highly recommend it!

We found this experience in GetYourGuide, a platform that brings together activities with locations around the world and also sells tickets and tours! It’s a German company that I trust and always use on my trips. Now she has become a sponsor of the blog and our YouTube channel and we are very happy to share the best experiences with you!

Book your archery class in Japan here >>

I hope you enjoyed this Boat Trip in Tokyo article! Leave your comment if you have any further questions and check out our other articles about this beautiful country!