I have been searching for a Japanese hobby that I can really get into. I have tried ikebana (flower arranging) and it is very relaxing but I need something more challenging. Kendo is far too aggressive and I don`t love the idea of being attacked by people with large sticks, and combat sports are not really my forte. Calligraphy is beautiful and a wonderful art skill to learn but I want something that involves physical activity, and I am not at all familiar with Kanji yet so even the basics are too difficult for me. I think I found the perfect hobby that combines history, physical activity, art and just all around awesomeness into one discipline: Kyudo (Japanese Archery).
I tried looking for classes online but everything is written in Japanese because they don`t have a lot of foreigners interested in the sport. Usually ALT`s can get into a sport when the school offers it as an after school club but because my schools are in the city and they don`t have a field for shooting they do not have a kyudo club. I asked one of my fellow teachers about it and she was kind enough to set up an appointment with the president of the kyudo association in Niigata. He does not speak any English so when I went I brought a friend who could translate who was also interested in studying the art of kyudo. I am always surprised at how much you can convey without language, there were so many things that I could understand through gestures and pictures, but I was still grateful I had a translator. In order to learn kyudo I have to join the association and pay a one year membership fee and I can use all of the equipment and gear. I start beginners lessons in January when I come back from my visit to Canada. I am so excited! It looks incredibly intense and skillful, some of the members have been pupils for 50 years and they still miss the target! The president, Hiramatsu-San was very adamant that it is not only about hitting the target, the study of kyudo is largely about building character and being calm and balanced. The philosophy he was describing reminds me a lot of yogic values. A person must focus on their practice and not compare themselves to others and should not worry about competition but rather have acceptance for where they are in the moment. Both involve finding inner peace and focus that follows you in your everyday life and having integrity to commit to your practice. There are a number of sequenced steps and motions that you have to go through and each involve practice and concentration, and calm breath is of the utmost importance in both. Both require control of the mind and an opening of the spirit to improve and grow. In the form, posture and balance are crucial and strength is drawn from the core and from zen breathing. Perhaps I am drawn to kyudo because it shares a similar philosophy to yoga which has been an important activity in my life to maintain health, happiness and balance. I am so glad to have found something that I can learn in Japan that I will help me grow as a person and is something I can take with me back home and anywhere I go on my life path. Most importantly it is totally BADASS! :)
I tried looking for classes online but everything is written in Japanese because they don`t have a lot of foreigners interested in the sport. Usually ALT`s can get into a sport when the school offers it as an after school club but because my schools are in the city and they don`t have a field for shooting they do not have a kyudo club. I asked one of my fellow teachers about it and she was kind enough to set up an appointment with the president of the kyudo association in Niigata. He does not speak any English so when I went I brought a friend who could translate who was also interested in studying the art of kyudo. I am always surprised at how much you can convey without language, there were so many things that I could understand through gestures and pictures, but I was still grateful I had a translator. In order to learn kyudo I have to join the association and pay a one year membership fee and I can use all of the equipment and gear. I start beginners lessons in January when I come back from my visit to Canada. I am so excited! It looks incredibly intense and skillful, some of the members have been pupils for 50 years and they still miss the target! The president, Hiramatsu-San was very adamant that it is not only about hitting the target, the study of kyudo is largely about building character and being calm and balanced. The philosophy he was describing reminds me a lot of yogic values. A person must focus on their practice and not compare themselves to others and should not worry about competition but rather have acceptance for where they are in the moment. Both involve finding inner peace and focus that follows you in your everyday life and having integrity to commit to your practice. There are a number of sequenced steps and motions that you have to go through and each involve practice and concentration, and calm breath is of the utmost importance in both. Both require control of the mind and an opening of the spirit to improve and grow. In the form, posture and balance are crucial and strength is drawn from the core and from zen breathing. Perhaps I am drawn to kyudo because it shares a similar philosophy to yoga which has been an important activity in my life to maintain health, happiness and balance. I am so glad to have found something that I can learn in Japan that I will help me grow as a person and is something I can take with me back home and anywhere I go on my life path. Most importantly it is totally BADASS! :)
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