This is a beautiful piece about the humility, beauty and discipline of Kyudo. I have trained in Kyudo for two years, and I am a total beginner (in middle age!) By the end of my life, I may have progressed a little but on the other hand I may not. Sensei Takeuchi is right. The more you are able to let go of wanting to succeed and wanting to improve, the more you enter into Kyudo spirit. It's a difficult thing for western people to accept.
You're not a beginner, you're an expert by now. The issue isn't your skill, but do the judges like you enough to increase your rank. You are aware that they fail people routinely not because of their skill, but to maintain the perception that it's hard. This is the lesson eventually all people learn, and when they do, they leave.
@@ConfusedCanuck I've progressed really fast on other japanese martial arts and earn my master title in less than 2 years. But in Kyudo, it requires a certain finesse that something i don't have. It was fun learning it but since I've moved here in the US, it's not a really popular martial arts and i just stopped practicing it.
True. Very relatable. 2 years of experience in kyudo is still a beginner, 5 years will bring you to a intermediate level. 10 years to be an expert. Very long time to take, compare to modern archery which, atleast 3 years to become an intermediate/decent level
Comments about missing the target are missing the point. Sensei Takeuchi is known for his accuracy - in filming him over many days he hit the target everytime. In his 8th dan test he hit the target every time. His accuracy is astounding yet he continues to fail the 8th dan test. Why is that? If you answer this then you know Kyudo. Hitting the target is important but it is just one part of Kyudo. Sensei Takeuchi told me he gains more insight into Kyudo on the very rare occasion when he misses the target.
+Empty Mind Films it is the pursuit rather than the accomplishment of a goal that is the soul of any art. As in 吹禅 (blowing Zen [sui zen]),the practice of playing shakuhachi flute is seen as a way to clear the mind and find the inner clarity we all seek. The archer's perfection and grace in the draw and release is a moment of that oneness that is sought. Truly amazing.
That whole "zen" thing is ridiculous. One and only reason for a weapon is to kill. Without accuracy, any archer is useless, everything else is secondary and an excuse. If you want enlightment, I'd say seek it in religion or meditation.
IamTenzin I am saying prioritizing zen in archery at the expense of its most important function is preposterous. Battlefield archery in Japan was never emphasized as heavily as in other country. There is a reason Japan has uncountable famous swordsmen and a pitiful number of famous archers in its ancient history. Archery was not their forte, close quarters man-to-man combat was. Japanese archery is overly and needlessly glorified.
i started karate at the late age of 59...and this year added Kobudo , and then during a visit to Japan , fell hopelessly in love with Kyudo....As a new student ...i am in awe....Truth beauty elegance and single minded commitment....i salute this man ..and honor him i turn 66 soon, and with my 1st month dusted...i train every day, and my love for this art grows.....i will test for shodan next year
Sensei Takeuchi isn't just of hitting the target.Its the perfection of how he begins the ritual of doing it and how he ends it.His insights must be of being 1 of the arrow that combines with the bow.Each step he does draws him to that insight of Kyudo.
+Antony Reyes Thank you for actually explaining what the goal is here. Every other comment is either someone crying about how he didn't hit the target, or someone crying about how those people "just don't understand the point." For someone like me who knows nothing about this and would very much like to know just what the hell that point is, you're a life saver.
I know nothing about archery, but I've taken open hand martial arts enough years to see the sheer amount of self discipline that man has when holding that bow. It's like watching a work of art.
This is amazing and very enlightening. Ironic as well for me, because I will be testing for shodan in karate next week. I started my journey in the arts 20 years ago, took a 12-year hiatus for spiritual reasons, and returned to it 5 years ago, thanks to my wife. So to hear this veteran of the arts express the same feelings I have right now is really something else.
I know I could never be Kyudo. I have never done this before and maybe never will. I can say, I have been to this place. Months of meditation and letting go can give you glimpse into this place but I've grown old now and my concentration has left me. I can visit this place no more. I miss it. If I try again, maybe years before I see it again. Maybe not enough days ahead. If you are young, please take time to find something that gives you a peaceful place inside. Let go of everything and it may find you. Love and peace to all.
Robert Palmore i know what you mean, the frenetic pace of life means i can't even find time to read at bedtime, never mind meditate, i have gone back to taekwondo after a 16 year lay off due to ill health and i am loving it, i have come to the opinion that i must have something for myself in my life, i am pretty selfless normally but to my delight my lovely wife and soul mate is supporting me in my hobby by coming to tournaments with me and i really appreciate that. I have found the physical fitness to be a struggle and i'm not as flexible as i once was but i am improving ona weekly basis, so it should come back. You sound like a really nice gent Mr Palmore, i hope you can find your inner peace again, it may just take time - the most valuable commodity.
I'm 28 and seen my mom and my uncle die and my uncle before he died told me to just go build my cabin (which was also his dream) so I have dropped everything bought some land on the edge of the quachita mountains and I'm living both our dreams of being self sufficient living off the land getting to experience the closest thing to true freedom in my opinion....
Greeting from Canada. I'm a multi-discipline archer, Compound, crossbow, traditional, recurve and English long bow. All have their specific skill sets and can be quite difficult. But after watching this man and his determination and his positive attitude, I find I have more respect for his art and style of archery. I don't quite understand the exact traditions in his art but definitely makes me want to at least try to achieve his level of patience and remaining positive while training.
I practiced archery from the age of 5 to 25. I never competed first because there were no boy's leagues at the time in my state and second, my "style" was illegal in the Olympics at the time so I did not pursue archery after the age of 25. I never used anything besides a long bow. My grandfather made me my first long bow when I was five. He made it from tree branches he cut from the back yard and within weeks I was consistently hitting the target from ten yards. By the time I was a freshman in high school I was hitting the bull's eye at 50 yards 100% of the time and doing it "shooting from the hip." The bow wasn't a weapon I held in my hand. The bow was part of me as much as my hand and arm and eyes were a part of me. I could feel when I didn't have the string tied correctly. I could feel the sun bend the bow just slightly and compensated for it in the way I held the bow. I adjusted for wind speed and direction purely on intuition. To me it had always been about one's ability to kill the enemy on the battlefield using the weapon provided. That is what the bow and the arrow are, weapons for a warier to use. Somehow this great and ancient skill has devolved into a so-called art form where form is superior to function. Form should only be a means to function not take importance over function. But today If you don't hold your bow "correctly" you can't compete. This is why I never competed. I was born in the wrong century. I should have been born when it only counted if you could kill your enemy not how pretty you did it. Archery should ONLY be a skill to prepare one for the battlefield. If one want's to compete to see how pretty one can do it one should take up dancing.
Kyudo: “way of the bow”, thus a discipline. I wonder if some of the commenters have grown in their understanding in the several years since their comments. This is not an archery contest; it is an art form, a meditation, at least as far as my uninformed mind can grasp. On an ignorance level: asking if he hit the target or commenting on how long it’s taking to attain a higher level, or saying that it’s all a scam would be the same as asking if tea served at a tea ceremony tasted better than “regular” tea. You’re missing the point. Btw, archery was at one time a samurai’s main skill, swordplay secondary, until the introduction of the Portuguese matchlock rifle in 1543. I wonder if he attained the level he was seeking? In my tiny little mind (at least in this area) I can see he has more to learn in relaxing and in perfecting the poetry of the draw, but then I’m not a judge, nor an expert.
Its always very impresive to see that traditional and honorfull working. All movments are looking absolutli peacefully. Just amaysing and impressive. (sry if my grammatik is not correct, im from Germany)
I have been often fascinated by these assymetric Japanese bows which must have amazing physics behind them. Then the amazing people too, knowing little about this myself it really looks like one of the ultimate grounded experiences to wrap the mind around.
It is amazing to see these martial arts preserved and practised so masterfully. I hope to move on to the traditional archery styles of my people after learning enough from modern recurves.
@@Kimozer Not that we know of. He was not successful in the following 3 years after our documentary. It shows how difficult the Hachi dan examination is.
the arrow must release itself. the archer merely facilitates its flight. the arrow's path is completely of its own accord. the archer does not see the target but finds it regardless. finally, the archer becomes the target, without trying to find its mark.
It is about the transcendent nature of thought. The performance of the shot is in sync with the mind of the archer. Conceiving all that is you in that moment and releasing it and becoming the shot. Very peaceful and liberating to lose oneself in the mechanical and technical artistry. That's just my 2 cents. I feel like the reason why he isn't reaching 8th dan is that he still hold's on to the moment too harshly. He doesn't seem to let go. He is fighting and struggling too much to be in the present. Then again I am just armchair bullshitting here. haha
At 7th/8th dan it's all about politics. Clearly this guy pissed off some higher ranking dude and will not be receiving his 8th dan while the other guy is alive. You'd think in an art that's so centered on reaching enlightenment you'd realize something that obvious pretty quick instead of stubbornly banging your head against the wall for 15 years.
You hit the nail on the head. Of course it's about the ego of the guy who is one rank higher, and that guy's mates. I think just the fact he keeps turning up to train says how truly good this 7th dan is. What a grade is someone else's validation. At the end of the day, you are who you are regardless of the grade, and you're only as good as you are today. Grades mean nothing if you aren't already that grade on the inside and on the floor.
And then give the spoilt brats above him the credit. Then they'll give him another stripe on his belt. Maybe those clowns should read Nitobe's book. Humility and honour are not in their vocabulary.
It's interesting that the concept of a pointy stick being launched using a bendy stick and string is so universal and can have so many different meanings depending on the culture of a civilization.
As far as I care, this is a martial art for warfare and since these weapons are obsolete, it's now more focused on the art and beauty aspect. What matters is if you can hit the target 10/10 times and how quickly you can draw, pull and fire with shots on target. That is what will save your life. Though as an art, I can appreciate what it has now become
@@Daylon91 Except it's considered a Martial Art in Japan so are they wrong? No. You do not know the meaning of what is considered a Martial Art so don't go preaching what you do not understand. Martial Arts is a set of skills/combat arts/sports etc that can be used in the form of either defense or offense so I can safely say Kyudo falls under that.
@@AnriDarkmoor you're correct and so are the Japanese on focus etc on the shot. I see that now. But u can be fast and accurate but yes I realized u must connect "spiritually" with the target or as I put it you hit the target in your mind before you hit it with your arrow
Although I have I may never achieve oneness of mind, body and spirit such as this, i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! But in all seriousness, this is amazing what this gentleman has already achieved, and is attempting to accomplish. i would like to kow if he passed the exam...
Aiming is not done by looking along the arrow much the same as a pitcher doesn't look along the ball in baseball or golfer doesn't sight down the ball. Having shot so many arrows you get to know where your arrows are going by feel.if your body, hands, bow and arrow are in the right position your shot will hit where it is meant to. That is why I love traditional archery so much no magnified sights, release aids or stabilisers just skill and many hours at the targets
I am a classically trained BlackBelt (Shodan) Training, in Amroe' prefecture' Japan and Okinawa, as well as California. I am an avid bow hunter and have discovered that the Archery is basically Choreographed horse mess. As well as the traditional fighting I spend 6 years earning my Shodan and then really began training having to discard a bunch to truly get to what works.
Kyudo is a good form of meditation. I must say the dedication towards the thousands years old sport is quite respectful. Also check out Korean archery my people treat the sport with as much respect but the combative side of things are much more alive in Korean archery
Jesus Christ My people used it to defend our culture and existence. It defended the country as a weapon in times of war and trained the mind and body when in times of peace. The combative side of the sport is all part of what makes it what it is.
Looks like Japanese Asymmetric Bow with Eastern Thumb Draw (you can hold extra arrows in either hand and the arrow is on the right) and a very far anchoring point. Totally different than Olympic-Style archery with a recurve, three-finger split draw, arrow on the left and anchor under the chin. And it looks like a form of meditation.
Not to mention that Dan grading is a relatively new concept before the 20 th century there was only one grade you got: menkyo Kaiden when you had mastered the art. Then you were on your own. But I can appreciate how this guy feels and going for the grade seems to really drive his development
Korean, Turkish and Hungarian bow styles also use the outside of the bow, as these bows are meant to be shootable from horseback - Using the string hand to hold the arrow against the bow has many advantages, but it's not easy to shoot accurately since you cannot look along the arrow. Look for "Thumb ring archery" videos, it's quite interesting :-) The bows are also ambidextrous, so can be shot either hand.
When I was 14 and a freshman in high school there was no boy's league but there was a girl's league and the coach let me practice as an unofficial mascot. By that age I didn't need to look down the arrow to line it with the target. The coach said that I was "shooting from the hip" and recommended against it but it was the only way I could hit the bull's eye every time. If you have decent eye sight and you practice the skill from a young age (I picked up my first bow at 5) you can get good at it. I was also good at darts to the point where for a while I was making a living as a hustler for a couple of years until the day I got beat up. Today archery is no longer considered a skill but an artform. Today you have to use an acceptable technique to hold your bow and arrow. On the battlefield it only matters how consistently you are accurate. It only matters if you can kill your enemy in battle not how pretty you hold your bow. You don't get points taken off if you are using the wrong bow either. I have only used long bows. I couldn't hit the side of a barn with a compound bow. the mechanics throw off my accuracy. Of course I haven't picked up a bow in 34 years so I probably can't hit the side of a barn with a long bow either.
like why would you complain about him being to slow? Its art and meditation stuff. It has nothing to do with fighting. If you wanna be effective in a battle you surely wont use a fucking bow.
Historically, that's how it's done. Notice that he also holds another arrow in his hand. Even the idea of the back quiver isn't historically sound. There are videos on this subject, you should watch them!
That's cool. I was just reacting to the overstatement is all. Change the description to what you just wrote and it actually sounds much more impressive
only one of 1000 kyudojin with the 1st dan will reach the 5th dan... only one of 1000 kyudojin with the 7th dan will reach the 8th dan in her first examination...
I learned kyudo when i was a exchange student in Tottori. I had a arm of a monkey they called it. It's the inner albue area that bends outward rather than straight. I gotta say, That spot got a real beating for a while. But I enjoyed the sport very much and it is actually harder than it looks! So many steps before shooting the arrow. For instance holding the arrow in at least 5 sec before shooting it.
To those who comprehend ... no explanation is necessary. To those who do not comprehend ... no explanation will suffice. I am 70 years old. I have trained in the Martial Arts from the age of 20. I have studied many Arts along the way; from East and West, hard and soft, inner and outer, jitsu, sport, and Do. It has been my experience that it is from the hard-nosed ‘jitsu guys’ corner that the greatest intolerance arises for that which does not comfortably snuggle up in their predetermined POV. You wanna be tough ... go for it. You wanna just play around ... go for it. If you want Higher Mind ... go for it. It’s one grand universe. There are a lot of styles. Know what you want. Go for it. And graciously grant others the same courtesy. ... jussayin’
Allow me to thank you folks at Empty Mind. The quality, beauty, and richness of your videos is absolutely ‘Top Drawer.’ I treasure them and share them all the time with others. You are making an extraordinary contribution to the world. The Arts, like a well lived life, is mostly an “inside job”. Heartfelt Thanks, David Brown Aikido 3rd Dan
I agree with you that many other budo have grading systems with higher numerical gradings. But what the 8dan grade itself represents in this particular case is indistinct of the arbitrary number which it was assigned. 8dan and the subsequent hanshi title is very much the modern equivalent of menkyo kaiden. Forgive the slight overstatement in the text.
0:20 "i took the 7th dan grade 17 years ago." then at 0:34 (while talking about 8th dan) "i have been attempting this grade for 15 years." i have very basic knowledge of kyudo but im almost certain you have to be 7th dan for ten years before trying to move up to 8th dan. based on simple math, the longest he could be attempting 8th dan is seven years. edit: very sorry; the qualifications i mentioned above are for kendo. to not shame my family name, i will perform seppuku .
@@emptymindfilms oh, great cause i couldnt find anything besides a butter knife to perform the ritual. my family's name would be even more shamed if ppl found out that their son chose the dullest knife for seppuku. i thank you from the bottom of my cervix that nobody found my ignorance as disrespect.
archery is all about one thing,hit its not some slow technique that need very many frustrating wait or arts its about war and in battlefield one second decision can turn the tide of battlefield
There is much to be graded on, Individual technique, (8 Steps of Shooting) Footing, setting the Torso, readying the Bow, Raising the Bow, Half draw, Full draw, Release and Zanshin (Remaining spirit). There is what we call Tai Hai the actual ceremonial form, you have to not only know the steps, when to stand when to shoot etc but you must be able to show control over every single little movement you make. Then there is Kihon (basic Movements) sitting standing walking turning bowing etc Then there is the three and five cross relationship, is the body and bone stable enough for a good, clean, strong, straight shot, Timing in the overall movement, Breath, Focus, It looks like nothing much is happening but believe me there is a storm in there somewhere. Then after all that you have to control your mind and its thoughts. I have been studying Kyudo for nine years now. I hold high grades in three other Japanese martial arts and I must admit that Kyudo has been the most difficult to master and I don't think I will master it in this lifetime!
Do Kyudo skills translate into modern archery? What I'm wondering is, could Takeuchi Masakuni pick up a compound bow and hit some targets, or is it a whole different animal?
I would say it would be a little difficult at first. They are not shot the same way. The bow's are not the same and the tension is not quite the same. It's tilted to be shot from horseback. That being said, Kyudo is not about targets. It's about Zen. Inner peace, virtue, and beauty. No other archery is really like this.
If you mean that there is a bow and you release an arrow to a target, then yeah. That is superficially the same as any other archery. Kyudo is more than just archery though. They have combined a physically-mental task and added meditative aspects to...draw out or...further a persons mind. It really is a beautiful concept in action. :)
I do not want to be meant but the only thing I can think of watching this is: How weak those bow must be for them to be able to draw over their heads and old the string back for a so long. I do not know japanese archery, but I have used euro style traditional bow often enough to know that anything over 50 pounds is hard as hell to old for a long time and 50 pounds is far from what would be normal strenght for a european war bow. Most european bows that were used for war were around 70-80 pounds and 100-110 for English archers, in some case we found 150 pounds bows wich was insanely rare. Even 150 pounds english longbows were only scratching plate armore, so what would have been the use of something like kyudo, since it is a martial art and it means art of mars, wich mean arts of war.
It's farily common to draw 50lb bows in Kyudo, but as you age, you probably won't go over 40. Most senseis around this age draw 40lb bows, or something close to that. It's all about technique, you don't need much physical strength.
I don't practise kyudo but I'm practising iaido. And I don't get how hitting the target could be something not important. I understand that you don't WANT to hit it, but that it's more like everything you do should result in hitting it. I understand that hitting it doesn't mean you did well, and that you can miss it despite almost everything was perfect. But it's budo, so the "pursuit" serves an "accomplishment" which is winning a fight, killing an enemy. The only reason you search for grace and all that ceremonial is that it's supposed to lead you to victory. Even if you learn more from trying than from succeding.
If you do perfectly you will hit. The whole bow is so imperfect that you need to learn every single step by heart, then it will work automatically. If you concentrate on hitting it will distract you from the proper movement.
+neoDarkSquall With Kyudo and Budo focusing on whether or not you hit is for new students. Once you have done decades of training hitting no longer becomes a question. Then you are searching more for that perfect calm in the moment. You are trying to still your brainwaves as much as possible. Most people have Beta brain waves all the time which are very chaotic and constantly jumping from thing to thing. Meditation like Kyudo can change the waves to Alpha which are much calmer and can lead one to enlightenment. This is the theory behind this sort of thing as I have been taught. I have not mastered this calm state of mind. Not many do.
+Capncoolguy Sorry but the world is not that black and white. You could say if you have a gun then why isn't the point to kill people. Ever heard of competitive target shooting. The point of things like Iaido and Kyudo is internal perfection not external aggression.
very interesting. he fails probably for the same reason I miss easy shots in instinctive archery - I want it too much and it shows. It's when I'm 'there' and not 'here' that I do my best. Anyone judging this form of archery within a pragmatic context of application beyond it's own performance really isn't paying attention. The archery here is merely a vehicle for the mind to focus on and open.
I was an archer of sorts 40 years ago. There is only one point to archery. To kill the enemy on the battlefield. The only judgement should be based purely on how consistently you are accurate. If you have a pretty technique but can't hit a damned thing what use are you? At 14 I could hit the bull's eye from 50 yards 100% of the time. At 14 I could hit the target with my eyes closed. I was doing trick shots mentally calculating the wind and sun (yes how much sunlight affects the temperature of the arrow which affects how it slices through air) pointing the arrow up and having it turn and go downwards and still hit the target, usually the bull's eye. I was disqualified from competition for not being a girl. There was no boys league in our state at the time. Archery was considered an all girl sport. The coach joked about arranging for a sex change just to get me on her team. I could not compete in the Olympics because they said I held the bow incorrectly and would be disqualified. This was when I first realized that the skill of archery had devolved into an artform that had nothing to do with one's ability to kill the enemy on the battlefield but rather how pretty you can project the arrow from the bow. That was 1985 and I have not picked up a bow since.
@@nunyabiznez6381 That's as shallow as it is naive. You said it so yourself, hitting the target is easy. You can do it consistently as a teen. Pretending to be a warrior on a battlefield that doesn't exist anymore is even more pathetic and delusional. The obvious path forward, which the Japanese know how to do with perfection, is utilizing something like the Bow to sharpen yourself, as a person, beyond just a skilled archer. Being a skilled archer is just the very early beginning, and all of these guys are, and have been, for decades. They consistently hit the target while getting everything else right. You just hit the target, while getting everything else wrong. So what are you? A fictional archer in the wrong time, a kid playing at the range?
If you have a point to make fine but don't misquote me. I NEVER said hitting a target was easy. I practiced for thousands of hours to get to that level. My comment stands as is. Getting everything else wrong? The only right is hitting the target. You're whole argument is form over function. This is like making a vase that can't hold flowers.
@@nunyabiznez6381 What argument could you possibly have when you have never practiced Kyudo? If you can hit a bulls eye every single time at 14, you *have* to mean it's either easy or you're a genius. Most kids in Japan shooting 100 arrows a day also hit it consistently. It's not hard. Doing it for hours is not a measure for difficulty. If you can get it at 14, it's child's play. As for what Japanese archery is all about, I couldn't begin to tell you what it means, as you aren't interested in learning about it. It's not form over function, though you already have your answer, so it'll remain forever a mystery, or just a bunch of silly people slowly missing their targets for no reason. Your loss either way.
I thought that Kyudo training was impossible for foreigners. However, it seems that the spirit of Kyudo was transmitted to Europeans. I saw the French archery lessons and felt so.
I don't know what the criteria or condition is to be fulfilled for any of the levels of achievement.I have not read anything about it.But I have to say in my more or less ignorant view that,this man performs quite collected and peaceful.
Damascus Steele You're completely wrong! I myself am training Kendo (Japanese Martial Art) and we always carry the shinai (sword or katana) in our left hand. We also always strike with our left and never with our right hand. If you use your right hand you'll never be able to cut through your opponent.
8th Dan? wow.. thats a lot..... I only like to shoot arrows and bring out more of my body, it's nice to see people with this much patience and persistence.
Knowing the target and hitting it when no one was looking, was the target still hit? Some say no, but in fact it was. Therefore, you should always have an audience…but too big of an auidence can break your concentration. I am very interested, and have many questions to these and other styles.
I know that I'm going to get a lot of flack for my comment here but, I have to express my feeling about this: Watching Zen archery is close to watching Paint Dry, wow! so exciting!
This is a beautiful piece about the humility, beauty and discipline of Kyudo. I have trained in Kyudo for two years, and I am a total beginner (in middle age!) By the end of my life, I may have progressed a little but on the other hand I may not. Sensei Takeuchi is right. The more you are able to let go of wanting to succeed and wanting to improve, the more you enter into Kyudo spirit. It's a difficult thing for western people to accept.
+kate king We were born and raised in competition, about anything and anyone, anywhere, by any means.
You're not a beginner, you're an expert by now. The issue isn't your skill, but do the judges like you enough to increase your rank. You are aware that they fail people routinely not because of their skill, but to maintain the perception that it's hard. This is the lesson eventually all people learn, and when they do, they leave.
kate king Nice
@@ConfusedCanuck I've progressed really fast on other japanese martial arts and earn my master title in less than 2 years. But in Kyudo, it requires a certain finesse that something i don't have. It was fun learning it but since I've moved here in the US, it's not a really popular martial arts and i just stopped practicing it.
True. Very relatable. 2 years of experience in kyudo is still a beginner, 5 years will bring you to a intermediate level. 10 years to be an expert. Very long time to take, compare to modern archery which, atleast 3 years to become an intermediate/decent level
Comments about missing the target are missing the point. Sensei Takeuchi is known for his accuracy - in filming him over many days he hit the target everytime. In his 8th dan test he hit the target every time. His accuracy is astounding yet he continues to fail the 8th dan test. Why is that? If you answer this then you know Kyudo. Hitting the target is important but it is just one part of Kyudo. Sensei Takeuchi told me he gains more insight into Kyudo on the very rare occasion when he misses the target.
What draw weight is his yumi ?
+Empty Mind Films it is the pursuit rather than the accomplishment of a goal that is the soul of any art. As in 吹禅 (blowing Zen [sui zen]),the practice of playing shakuhachi flute is seen as a way to clear the mind and find the inner clarity we all seek. The archer's perfection and grace in the draw and release is a moment of that oneness that is sought. Truly amazing.
That whole "zen" thing is ridiculous. One and only reason for a weapon is to kill. Without accuracy, any archer is useless, everything else is secondary and an excuse. If you want enlightment, I'd say seek it in religion or meditation.
Steven Kim Which gross oversimplification of the whole idea. The idea of Zen is to find enlightenment in anything.
IamTenzin
I am saying prioritizing zen in archery at the expense of its most important function is preposterous.
Battlefield archery in Japan was never emphasized as heavily as in other country. There is a reason Japan has uncountable famous swordsmen and a pitiful number of famous archers in its ancient history. Archery was not their forte, close quarters man-to-man combat was. Japanese archery is overly and needlessly glorified.
I strive everyday to become better at my hobbies, it’s what makes life fulfilling.
Wait till you see how fast he can charge his ultimate
noelsoong777 kek
Bruh Ashe be like
“Ryuuga wagateki wo kurau!”
Haha 😄
🤣
i started karate at the late age of 59...and this year added Kobudo , and then during a visit to Japan , fell hopelessly in love with Kyudo....As a new student ...i am in awe....Truth beauty elegance and single minded commitment....i salute this man ..and honor him
i turn 66 soon, and with my 1st month dusted...i train every day, and my love for this art grows.....i will test for shodan next year
Looking at your videos it seems your still going strong. Nice
Sensei Takeuchi isn't just of hitting the target.Its the perfection of how he begins the ritual of doing it and how he ends it.His insights must be of being 1 of the arrow that combines with the bow.Each step he does draws him to that insight of Kyudo.
+Antony Reyes Thank you for actually explaining what the goal is here. Every other comment is either someone crying about how he didn't hit the target, or someone crying about how those people "just don't understand the point." For someone like me who knows nothing about this and would very much like to know just what the hell that point is, you're a life saver.
I know nothing about archery, but I've taken open hand martial arts enough years to see the sheer amount of self discipline that man has when holding that bow. It's like watching a work of art.
This is amazing and very enlightening. Ironic as well for me, because I will be testing for shodan in karate next week. I started my journey in the arts 20 years ago, took a 12-year hiatus for spiritual reasons, and returned to it 5 years ago, thanks to my wife. So to hear this veteran of the arts express the same feelings I have right now is really something else.
I know I could never be Kyudo. I have never done this before and maybe never will. I can say, I have been to this place. Months of meditation and letting go can give you glimpse into this place but I've grown old now and my concentration has left me. I can visit this place no more. I miss it. If I try again, maybe years before I see it again. Maybe not enough days ahead. If you are young, please take time to find something that gives you a peaceful place inside. Let go of everything and it may find you. Love and peace to all.
Robert Palmore i know what you mean, the frenetic pace of life means i can't even find time to read at bedtime, never mind meditate, i have gone back to taekwondo after a 16 year lay off due to ill health and i am loving it, i have come to the opinion that i must have something for myself in my life, i am pretty selfless normally but to my delight my lovely wife and soul mate is supporting me in my hobby by coming to tournaments with me and i really appreciate that.
I have found the physical fitness to be a struggle and i'm not as flexible as i once was but i am improving ona weekly basis, so it should come back.
You sound like a really nice gent Mr Palmore, i hope you can find your inner peace again, it may just take time - the most valuable commodity.
If I could suggest Tai Chi. Very good moving meditation. Best of luck.
I'm 28 and seen my mom and my uncle die and my uncle before he died told me to just go build my cabin (which was also his dream) so I have dropped everything bought some land on the edge of the quachita mountains and I'm living both our dreams of being self sufficient living off the land getting to experience the closest thing to true freedom in my opinion....
Like you I don't have the time left but I find I am far more able to concentrate than in my youth.
Greeting from Canada. I'm a multi-discipline archer, Compound, crossbow, traditional, recurve and English long bow. All have their specific skill sets and can be quite difficult. But after watching this man and his determination and his positive attitude, I find I have more respect for his art and style of archery. I don't quite understand the exact traditions in his art but definitely makes me want to at least try to achieve his level of patience and remaining positive while training.
I practiced archery from the age of 5 to 25. I never competed first because there were no boy's leagues at the time in my state and second, my "style" was illegal in the Olympics at the time so I did not pursue archery after the age of 25. I never used anything besides a long bow. My grandfather made me my first long bow when I was five. He made it from tree branches he cut from the back yard and within weeks I was consistently hitting the target from ten yards. By the time I was a freshman in high school I was hitting the bull's eye at 50 yards 100% of the time and doing it "shooting from the hip." The bow wasn't a weapon I held in my hand. The bow was part of me as much as my hand and arm and eyes were a part of me. I could feel when I didn't have the string tied correctly. I could feel the sun bend the bow just slightly and compensated for it in the way I held the bow. I adjusted for wind speed and direction purely on intuition. To me it had always been about one's ability to kill the enemy on the battlefield using the weapon provided. That is what the bow and the arrow are, weapons for a warier to use. Somehow this great and ancient skill has devolved into a so-called art form where form is superior to function. Form should only be a means to function not take importance over function. But today If you don't hold your bow "correctly" you can't compete. This is why I never competed. I was born in the wrong century. I should have been born when it only counted if you could kill your enemy not how pretty you did it. Archery should ONLY be a skill to prepare one for the battlefield. If one want's to compete to see how pretty one can do it one should take up dancing.
Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau!
私も弓道をしていますが、行射の時になかなか雑念が抜けず、苦悩しています。とても示唆に富んだ動画だと思います。ありがとうございます。
Kyudo: “way of the bow”, thus a discipline. I wonder if some of the commenters have grown in their understanding in the several years since their comments. This is not an archery contest; it is an art form, a meditation, at least as far as my uninformed mind can grasp. On an ignorance level: asking if he hit the target or commenting on how long it’s taking to attain a higher level, or saying that it’s all a scam would be the same as asking if tea served at a tea ceremony tasted better than “regular” tea. You’re missing the point. Btw, archery was at one time a samurai’s main skill, swordplay secondary, until the introduction of the Portuguese matchlock rifle in 1543. I wonder if he attained the level he was seeking? In my tiny little mind (at least in this area) I can see he has more to learn in relaxing and in perfecting the poetry of the draw, but then I’m not a judge, nor an expert.
no one cares
@@gazeintotheabyss7390 You did apparently
this dude sound so chill , he is the calmest man if ever seen . i love hs voice 2
he is the reql hanzo main
Its always very impresive to see that traditional and honorfull working. All movments are looking absolutli peacefully. Just amaysing and impressive.
(sry if my grammatik is not correct, im from Germany)
@Rian Porter He is using a yotsugake (four-fingered glove). So, most likely his draw weight is over 20kg (~45lbs).
I have been often fascinated by these assymetric Japanese bows which must have amazing physics behind them. Then the amazing people too, knowing little about this myself it really looks like one of the ultimate grounded experiences to wrap the mind around.
It is amazing to see these martial arts preserved and practised so masterfully.
I hope to move on to the traditional archery styles of my people after learning enough from modern recurves.
No he did not pass in Kyoto this summer. Takeuchi sensei will take his next 8th dan examination in November. We wish him luck. Thank you for asking.
I am willing to know.. after 7 years (now) , did he win the 8th Dan ??
@@Kimozer I went looking and it appears that sadly he has not yet won the 8th Dan
@@Kimozer Not that we know of. He was not successful in the following 3 years after our documentary. It shows how difficult the Hachi dan examination is.
I wish this could be published as a video instead of a short. The title and description of the short completely blocks out the subtitles.
breath taking... wish we would have kyudo dojo here...
That dedication. I would have a third of that. I admire him a so much.
Kyudo and Kyujutsu are different things, people. Just like Kendo and Kenjitsu.
the arrow must release itself. the archer merely facilitates its flight. the arrow's path is completely of its own accord. the archer does not see the target but finds it regardless. finally, the archer becomes the target, without trying to find its mark.
'Tsurune' made me watch this video!!🙂 Have anyone watched Tsurune?💕🙃
The purity, excellence, and magic of this inspirational video is s
It is about the transcendent nature of thought. The performance of the shot is in sync with the mind of the archer. Conceiving all that is you in that moment and releasing it and becoming the shot. Very peaceful and liberating to lose oneself in the mechanical and technical artistry. That's just my 2 cents. I feel like the reason why he isn't reaching 8th dan is that he still hold's on to the moment too harshly. He doesn't seem to let go. He is fighting and struggling too much to be in the present. Then again I am just armchair bullshitting here. haha
Beautiful. Standing Zen.(Ritsu- Zen)
Now in 2020, has he achieved the 8th dan rank?
At 7th/8th dan it's all about politics. Clearly this guy pissed off some higher ranking dude and will not be receiving his 8th dan while the other guy is alive. You'd think in an art that's so centered on reaching enlightenment you'd realize something that obvious pretty quick instead of stubbornly banging your head against the wall for 15 years.
You hit the nail on the head. Of course it's about the ego of the guy who is one rank higher, and that guy's mates. I think just the fact he keeps turning up to train says how truly good this 7th dan is. What a grade is someone else's validation. At the end of the day, you are who you are regardless of the grade, and you're only as good as you are today. Grades mean nothing if you aren't already that grade on the inside and on the floor.
yeah. If he wants to pass he should open some more schools or get some more students in . That kind of thing...
And then give the spoilt brats above him the credit. Then they'll give him another stripe on his belt. Maybe those clowns should read Nitobe's book. Humility and honour are not in their vocabulary.
Tunti Turpaan l9l ur. mom
Tunti Turpaan, ur mom.
It's interesting that the concept of a pointy stick being launched using a bendy stick and string is so universal and can have so many different meanings depending on the culture of a civilization.
Because In every civilization man has had to ask himself “aye bruh I wanna stab this dude but he’s all the damn way over there “
@@korypotter6956 bruh
As far as I care, this is a martial art for warfare and since these weapons are obsolete, it's now more focused on the art and beauty aspect. What matters is if you can hit the target 10/10 times and how quickly you can draw, pull and fire with shots on target. That is what will save your life. Though as an art, I can appreciate what it has now become
@@Daylon91 Except it's considered a Martial Art in Japan so are they wrong? No. You do not know the meaning of what is considered a Martial Art so don't go preaching what you do not understand. Martial Arts is a set of skills/combat arts/sports etc that can be used in the form of either defense or offense so I can safely say Kyudo falls under that.
@@AnriDarkmoor you're correct and so are the Japanese on focus etc on the shot. I see that now. But u can be fast and accurate but yes I realized u must connect "spiritually" with the target or as I put it you hit the target in your mind before you hit it with your arrow
T'ai chi is a martial art too.
Although I have I may never achieve oneness of mind, body and spirit such as this, i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
But in all seriousness, this is amazing what this gentleman has already achieved, and is attempting to accomplish. i would like to kow if he passed the exam...
Aiming is not done by looking along the arrow much the same as a pitcher doesn't look along the ball in baseball or golfer doesn't sight down the ball. Having shot so many arrows you get to know where your arrows are going by feel.if your body, hands, bow and arrow are in the right position your shot will hit where it is meant to. That is why I love traditional archery so much no magnified sights, release aids or stabilisers just skill and many hours at the targets
Wonderful film. Inspirational.
Make this simple. It is all in his head. In his mind he already made the shot. The body must follow
Known not by his arrows but by his aim a good archer is...
this appeared in my recommended feed because I wanted to master the dragon.
Ryu ga waga teki wo kurau!!!
I need healing...
Nana JuIchi was waiting for someone to say it
Nana JuIchi lol
by the time they finished their draw the sun has set
pride is what make men men just accept his flaw in accuracy not all humans are perfect we still have flaw
I am a classically trained BlackBelt (Shodan) Training, in Amroe' prefecture' Japan and Okinawa, as well as California. I am an avid bow hunter and have discovered that the Archery is basically Choreographed horse mess. As well as the traditional fighting
I spend 6 years earning my Shodan and then really began training having to discard a bunch to truly get to what works.
3:06 유요와갓테키요쿠라에
Kyudo is a good form of meditation. I must say the dedication towards the thousands years old sport is quite respectful. Also check out Korean archery my people treat the sport with as much respect but the combative side of things are much more alive in Korean archery
Unless you're in the hunger games, there's no combative side to archery.
Jesus Christ My people used it to defend our culture and existence. It defended the country as a weapon in times of war and trained the mind and body when in times of peace. The combative side of the sport is all part of what makes it what it is.
Commitment. Intentional Fortitude.
Qualities in people that I hold sacred. Qualities that I love.
Looks like Japanese Asymmetric Bow with Eastern Thumb Draw (you can hold extra arrows in either hand and the arrow is on the right) and a very far anchoring point. Totally different than Olympic-Style archery with a recurve, three-finger split draw, arrow on the left and anchor under the chin. And it looks like a form of meditation.
Not to mention that Dan grading is a relatively new concept before the 20 th century there was only one grade you got: menkyo Kaiden when you had mastered the art. Then you were on your own. But I can appreciate how this guy feels and going for the grade seems to really drive his development
So has he got his 8th Dan yet?
In the background is a craigslist ad for a used bow, good price too.
Korean, Turkish and Hungarian bow styles also use the outside of the bow, as these bows are meant to be shootable from horseback - Using the string hand to hold the arrow against the bow has many advantages, but it's not easy to shoot accurately since you cannot look along the arrow. Look for "Thumb ring archery" videos, it's quite interesting :-) The bows are also ambidextrous, so can be shot either hand.
When I was 14 and a freshman in high school there was no boy's league but there was a girl's league and the coach let me practice as an unofficial mascot. By that age I didn't need to look down the arrow to line it with the target. The coach said that I was "shooting from the hip" and recommended against it but it was the only way I could hit the bull's eye every time. If you have decent eye sight and you practice the skill from a young age (I picked up my first bow at 5) you can get good at it. I was also good at darts to the point where for a while I was making a living as a hustler for a couple of years until the day I got beat up. Today archery is no longer considered a skill but an artform. Today you have to use an acceptable technique to hold your bow and arrow. On the battlefield it only matters how consistently you are accurate. It only matters if you can kill your enemy in battle not how pretty you hold your bow. You don't get points taken off if you are using the wrong bow either. I have only used long bows. I couldn't hit the side of a barn with a compound bow. the mechanics throw off my accuracy. Of course I haven't picked up a bow in 34 years so I probably can't hit the side of a barn with a long bow either.
6 years later... Where can we watch this documentary??
Visit emptymindfilms.com
beautiful form of archery .
Such Discipline 🙏🏻
Sir
Thank you for sharing.
what do you wanna do?? 0:55
that half kimono looks so cool
kejorafall hakama
like why would you complain about him being to slow? Its art and meditation stuff. It has nothing to do with fighting. If you wanna be effective in a battle you surely wont use a fucking bow.
Now that is dedication.
WTF? Why does he keep the arrow on the right side of the bow?
to save action.
Historically, that's how it's done. Notice that he also holds another arrow in his hand. Even the idea of the back quiver isn't historically sound. There are videos on this subject, you should watch them!
So different from iaido, maybe some day i will take this up as well.
In essence is the same.
inspirational
Lovely!
That's cool. I was just reacting to the overstatement is all. Change the description to what you just wrote and it actually sounds much more impressive
かげえ！！！！！！！！
only one of 1000 kyudojin with the 1st dan will reach the 5th dan...
only one of 1000 kyudojin with the 7th dan will reach the 8th dan in her first examination...
I learned kyudo when i was a exchange student in Tottori. I had a arm of a monkey they called it. It's the inner albue area that bends outward rather than straight. I gotta say, That spot got a real beating for a while. But I enjoyed the sport very much and it is actually harder than it looks! So many steps before shooting the arrow. For instance holding the arrow in at least 5 sec before shooting it.
To those who comprehend ...
no explanation is necessary.
To those who do not comprehend ...
no explanation will suffice.
I am 70 years old. I have trained in the Martial Arts from the age of 20. I have studied many Arts along the way; from East
and West, hard and soft, inner and outer, jitsu, sport, and Do.
It has been my experience that it is from the hard-nosed ‘jitsu guys’ corner that the greatest intolerance arises for that which does not comfortably snuggle up in their
predetermined POV.
You wanna be tough ... go for it. You wanna just play around ... go for it. If you want Higher Mind ... go for it.
It’s one grand universe. There are a lot of styles. Know what you want. Go for it.
And graciously grant others the same courtesy.
... jussayin’
Yes well said...
Allow me to thank you folks at Empty Mind. The quality, beauty, and richness of your videos is absolutely ‘Top Drawer.’
I treasure them and share them all the time with others.
You are making an extraordinary contribution to the world.
The Arts, like a well lived life, is mostly an “inside job”.
Heartfelt Thanks,
David Brown
Aikido 3rd Dan
@@davidbrown9920 Thank you - very much appreciated.
I agree with you that many other budo have grading systems with higher numerical gradings. But what the 8dan grade itself represents in this particular case is indistinct of the arbitrary number which it was assigned. 8dan and the subsequent hanshi title is very much the modern equivalent of menkyo kaiden. Forgive the slight overstatement in the text.
I wonder why it doesn't show what they are aiming at I want to see how accurate they are
-How many arrows did you shoot today ???
-4
Seriously tho... how can anyone not love this culture man.... japanese... such a rich culture.
0:20 "i took the 7th dan grade 17 years ago." then at 0:34 (while talking about 8th dan) "i have been attempting this grade for 15 years." i have very basic knowledge of kyudo but im almost certain you have to be 7th dan for ten years before trying to move up to 8th dan. based on simple math, the longest he could be attempting 8th dan is seven years.
edit: very sorry; the qualifications i mentioned above are for kendo. to not shame my family name, i will perform seppuku .
Yes we were about to point out this rule applies to Kendo - then you edited...
@@emptymindfilms oh, great cause i couldnt find anything besides a butter knife to perform the ritual. my family's name would be even more shamed if ppl found out that their son chose the dullest knife for seppuku. i thank you from the bottom of my cervix that nobody found my ignorance as disrespect.
@@emptymindfilms did he manage to pass the exam?
Nice👍
archery is all about one thing,hit
its not some slow technique that need very many frustrating wait or arts its about war and in battlefield one second decision can turn the tide of battlefield
It is not practical archery but method of self improvment.
I'm curious what you're graded on. It doesn't FEEL like there's much that can be done with it, but I've been wrong before.
There is much to be graded on, Individual technique, (8 Steps of Shooting) Footing, setting the Torso, readying the Bow, Raising the Bow, Half draw, Full draw, Release and Zanshin (Remaining spirit). There is what we call Tai Hai the actual ceremonial form, you have to not only know the steps, when to stand when to shoot etc but you must be able to show control over every single little movement you make. Then there is Kihon (basic Movements) sitting standing walking turning bowing etc
Then there is the three and five cross relationship, is the body and bone stable enough for a good, clean, strong, straight shot, Timing in the overall movement, Breath, Focus, It looks like nothing much is happening but believe me there is a storm in there somewhere. Then after all that you have to control your mind and its thoughts. I have been studying Kyudo for nine years now. I hold high grades in three other Japanese martial arts and I must admit that Kyudo has been the most difficult to master and I don't think I will master it in this lifetime!
Jade Fraundorfer I found my sensei on UA-cam by watching old Kyudo videos! Awesome :D
How come we never see if they even hit a target?
Do Kyudo skills translate into modern archery? What I'm wondering is, could Takeuchi Masakuni pick up a compound bow and hit some targets, or is it a whole different animal?
+Ken Wehrheim Different styles, but the use of the bow remain the same, it wouldn't be hard to translate skills over
I would say it would be a little difficult at first. They are not shot the same way. The bow's are not the same and the tension is not quite the same. It's tilted to be shot from horseback.
That being said, Kyudo is not about targets. It's about Zen. Inner peace, virtue, and beauty. No other archery is really like this.
+Hush The Geek so basically the similarities are entirely superficial?
If you mean that there is a bow and you release an arrow to a target, then yeah. That is superficially the same as any other archery. Kyudo is more than just archery though. They have combined a physically-mental task and added meditative aspects to...draw out or...further a persons mind. It really is a beautiful concept in action. :)
plaguelock Clearly those bows have a draw weight
I do not want to be meant but the only thing I can think of watching this is: How weak those bow must be for them to be able to draw over their heads and old the string back for a so long. I do not know japanese archery, but I have used euro style traditional bow often enough to know that anything over 50 pounds is hard as hell to old for a long time and 50 pounds is far from what would be normal strenght for a european war bow. Most european bows that were used for war were around 70-80 pounds and 100-110 for English archers, in some case we found 150 pounds bows wich was insanely rare.
Even 150 pounds english longbows were only scratching plate armore, so what would have been the use of something like kyudo, since it is a martial art and it means art of mars, wich mean arts of war.
It's farily common to draw 50lb bows in Kyudo, but as you age, you probably won't go over 40. Most senseis around this age draw 40lb bows, or something close to that. It's all about technique, you don't need much physical strength.
I don't practise kyudo but I'm practising iaido. And I don't get how hitting the target could be something not important. I understand that you don't WANT to hit it, but that it's more like everything you do should result in hitting it. I understand that hitting it doesn't mean you did well, and that you can miss it despite almost everything was perfect. But it's budo, so the "pursuit" serves an "accomplishment" which is winning a fight, killing an enemy. The only reason you search for grace and all that ceremonial is that it's supposed to lead you to victory. Even if you learn more from trying than from succeding.
If you do perfectly you will hit. The whole bow is so imperfect that you need to learn every single step by heart, then it will work automatically. If you concentrate on hitting it will distract you from the proper movement.
+neoDarkSquall With Kyudo and Budo focusing on whether or not you hit is for new students. Once you have done decades of training hitting no longer becomes a question. Then you are searching more for that perfect calm in the moment. You are trying to still your brainwaves as much as possible. Most people have Beta brain waves all the time which are very chaotic and constantly jumping from thing to thing. Meditation like Kyudo can change the waves to Alpha which are much calmer and can lead one to enlightenment. This is the theory behind this sort of thing as I have been taught. I have not mastered this calm state of mind. Not many do.
Kutulue Wow, this is really interesting! Thanks for sharing it
neoDarkSquall if you have a.sword why isnt the point to kill people？
+Capncoolguy Sorry but the world is not that black and white. You could say if you have a gun then why isn't the point to kill people. Ever heard of competitive target shooting. The point of things like Iaido and Kyudo is internal perfection not external aggression.
by the time he fires an arrow any prey will be long gone.
1st dan - 1 minute to shoot an arrow.
8th dan - 8 minutes to shoot an arrow.
So what exactly are you tested on?
One hundred little things. Hitting the target on both your shots is just one of them.
very interesting. he fails probably for the same reason I miss easy shots in instinctive archery - I want it too much and it shows. It's when I'm 'there' and not 'here' that I do my best.
Anyone judging this form of archery within a pragmatic context of application beyond it's own performance really isn't paying attention. The archery here is merely a vehicle for the mind to focus on and open.
I was an archer of sorts 40 years ago. There is only one point to archery. To kill the enemy on the battlefield. The only judgement should be based purely on how consistently you are accurate. If you have a pretty technique but can't hit a damned thing what use are you? At 14 I could hit the bull's eye from 50 yards 100% of the time. At 14 I could hit the target with my eyes closed. I was doing trick shots mentally calculating the wind and sun (yes how much sunlight affects the temperature of the arrow which affects how it slices through air) pointing the arrow up and having it turn and go downwards and still hit the target, usually the bull's eye. I was disqualified from competition for not being a girl. There was no boys league in our state at the time. Archery was considered an all girl sport. The coach joked about arranging for a sex change just to get me on her team. I could not compete in the Olympics because they said I held the bow incorrectly and would be disqualified. This was when I first realized that the skill of archery had devolved into an artform that had nothing to do with one's ability to kill the enemy on the battlefield but rather how pretty you can project the arrow from the bow. That was 1985 and I have not picked up a bow since.
@@nunyabiznez6381 That's as shallow as it is naive.
You said it so yourself, hitting the target is easy. You can do it consistently as a teen. Pretending to be a warrior on a battlefield that doesn't exist anymore is even more pathetic and delusional. The obvious path forward, which the Japanese know how to do with perfection, is utilizing something like the Bow to sharpen yourself, as a person, beyond just a skilled archer. Being a skilled archer is just the very early beginning, and all of these guys are, and have been, for decades. They consistently hit the target while getting everything else right.
You just hit the target, while getting everything else wrong. So what are you? A fictional archer in the wrong time, a kid playing at the range?
If you have a point to make fine but don't misquote me. I NEVER said hitting a target was easy. I practiced for thousands of hours to get to that level. My comment stands as is. Getting everything else wrong? The only right is hitting the target. You're whole argument is form over function. This is like making a vase that can't hold flowers.
@@nunyabiznez6381 What argument could you possibly have when you have never practiced Kyudo?
If you can hit a bulls eye every single time at 14, you *have* to mean it's either easy or you're a genius.
Most kids in Japan shooting 100 arrows a day also hit it consistently. It's not hard. Doing it for hours is not a measure for difficulty. If you can get it at 14, it's child's play.
As for what Japanese archery is all about, I couldn't begin to tell you what it means, as you aren't interested in learning about it. It's not form over function, though you already have your answer, so it'll remain forever a mystery, or just a bunch of silly people slowly missing their targets for no reason. Your loss either way.
What drawweight does these japanese bows have?
Does anyone know the background music or song name ?
And the result?
15 years without raising precision?
Its not about precision. He is hiting the target every time but ist not a goal.
I thought that Kyudo training was impossible for foreigners. However, it seems that the spirit of Kyudo was transmitted to Europeans. I saw the French archery lessons and felt so.
How powerful of a draw weight?
I don't know what the criteria or condition is to be fulfilled for any of the levels of achievement.I have not read anything about it.But I have to say in my more or less ignorant view that,this man performs quite collected and peaceful.
Damascus Steele You're completely wrong! I myself am training Kendo (Japanese Martial Art) and we always carry the shinai (sword or katana) in our left hand. We also always strike with our left and never with our right hand. If you use your right hand you'll never be able to cut through your opponent.
I have to wonder, will people do the same thing with M16's or AK47's in 200 years?
8th Dan? wow.. thats a lot..... I only like to shoot arrows and bring out more of my body, it's nice to see people with this much patience and persistence.
The last part is obviously patience 🙄
Fire the thing my good man .
and here i am trying to put a thread in the needle...and they say its a hard job
Kind of sad knowing he failed so many times...must be depressing.
Adrian Klumb. every failure is a step closer to success. if you never fail it is because you are not trying .
Knowing the target and hitting it when no one was looking, was the target still hit? Some say no, but in fact it was. Therefore, you should always have an audience…but too big of an auidence can break your concentration.
I am very interested, and have many questions to these and other styles.
When I closed my eyes the audience ceased to exist and I still hit the target. I was 14 and that was 45 years ago when I could still see well.
Did Sensei pass his hachidan??
1:17 , dude in the back low-key curious and not tryna show
and no target was hit that day
What kind of music is this?
Holy shit I thought the move they were using were only in anime...this is fucking beautiful
I know that I'm going to get a lot of flack for my comment here but, I have to express my feeling about this:
Watching Zen archery is close to watching Paint Dry, wow! so exciting!
In KungFu or shooting (bow or gun), if you feel exciting, then you are probably lose or death.