In order to better understand the thought and purpose of the practice of Kyudo and Iaido in the Academy, we’d like to post an excerpt from an interview to Onuma Sensei, concerning issues of the utmost importance. In fact, it contains insights and hints that unequivocally lead back to a purer and more authentic vision of the traditional disciplines in question, which are too often trivialized as mere gestures or sports movements.

“… The bow and arrows are an integral part of the kyudoka in the same way as his body. One does not hold the bow with his hands, but also with his mind and spirit. The spirit of Kyudo is the non-ego. While practicing, one is aware of what is going on around us, but nevertheless we should not be impressed or disturbed by it. A kind of detachment from our surroundings is necessary.

The Energy must circulate freely. We must have the feeling that our feet take deep root in the ground and our head rises to the sky. Our mind must wrap around the bow to its ends.”

moreover …

“… Kyudo has been called “Standing Zen” or Religion without words. This means that once arrived at the highest level, the practitioner must empty his mind of all verbal thought: his shooting is pure.

He does not think about technique or simply make ritual movements. He does not shoot to win a prize or to impress those around him. He shoots for God.No spectator can witness him, but everyone can be impressed by the purity and beauty of his shot, the goodness of his heart and the nobility of his character … with his throw he gets to communicate these qualities without uttering a single word. That is why we say that Kyudo is a wordless religion.”