Yumi

[mystic_kendoka]

there are only 3 dojos in my country and all of them are too far..

so actually im not doing kyudo as such, i'll just be shooting japanese arrows with a japanese bow...

first i thought of european archery which would be easy to find classes for.. but the japanese yumi looks 500000000 times better...

[nysamurai]

Ahhhhhh. I understand. Access to qualified kyudo instructors is difficult, even here in the U.S., though we have greater access. But even here in NY, dojo and qualified instructors are not exactly falling off of trees!

However, be aware that with your problem of lack of qualified instruction, this may be even stronger reason not to purchase equipment. Mis-used or abused equipment, no matter how unintentional it may be, can be very expensive, AND very dangerous.

Try www.kyudo.com and Oko Kyudokai (a Eurpoean connection to Zenko) for more help. Good luck to you.

[litige]

there are only 3 dojos in my country and all of them are too far..

so actually im not doing kyudo as such, i'll just be shooting japanese arrows with a japanese bow...

first i thought of european archery which would be easy to find classes for.. but the japanese yumi looks 500000000 times better...

Try making your own bow. Maybe not a yumi, but a one piece bow. There's a lots of website on how to do it. It's maybe not as beautiful as a yumi, but it's gonna be your very own bow you builded with your very own hands... Plus you can make it really strong so you could go hunt with it. After a while and some bows, maybe you'll be able to do a Yumi. You are still pretty young, If you start now, you'll be very good after a while. Great hobby to get involed in.

[litige]

http://www.kyudo.com/asahiam-yumi.html

http://www.kyudo.com/akr.html

[mystic_kendoka]

do you know any of these websites that teach how to make a bow?

[mystic_kendoka]

I wouldn't get the bow to just fire it for the hell of it. The reason why I say this is because you hold a Japanese bow and use it differently. For example, you fire a Japanese bow with the arrow on the outside of the bow, where as a "normal" bow (for lack of a better word) has the arrow on the inside (side closer to your body). You draw the "normal" short bow straight back. You have to lift a JApanese bow up and then pull your arms apart as you bring the bow back down. There are other differences like these examples that will either result in you hurting yourself/someone else or even breaking the bow you spend so much money on and then have to repair it. Get instruction before you randomly use it or it will cost you (physically and monetarily).

i am aware of the differences and this is why i would rather have a japanese bow than a european bow.. i've read 2 detailed books on it plus R A Sosnowski's article on it... i think i know more than you think i do...

[not-I]

... i think i know more than you think i do...

FAQ: "Can I learn kendo on my own?" "No! You will only develop bad habits if you aren't under the supervision of an experienced kendoka."

Why should kyudo be any different?

Litige, i hope you were joking. From what i've heard, some kyudo dojo require you to swear an oath that you won't use your archery skills to kill or harm animals. And many countries have laws against that too.

[mystic_kendoka]

FAQ: "Can I learn kendo on my own?" "No! You will only develop bad habits if you aren't under the supervision of an experienced kendoka."

Why should kyudo be any different?

im not seeking to learn kyudo!

like i said

so actually im not doing kyudo as such, i'll just be shooting japanese arrows with a japanese bow...

i think kyudo is easier than kendo, of course it is impossible to do it properly on ur own, (when ur a newbie that is) kendo requires bogu, a motodachi or geiko partner etc. kyudo is easier to do on ur own, and wat is easier is tht im not seeking to do kyudo as such...

From what i've heard, some kyudo dojo require you to swear an oath that you won't use your archery skills to kill or harm animals.

are humans included into this category?

[litige]

Litige, i hope you were joking. From what i've heard, some kyudo dojo require you to swear an oath that you won't use your archery skills to kill or harm animals. And many countries have laws against that too.

oath or not, I would not use a yumi to hunt...I just it's not the kind of thing to do with this kind of bow.

But, I said he could hunt with an (spl?) handmade longbow.

[litige]

do you know any of these websites that teach how to make a bow?

http://www.compulink.co.uk/~courtney...gi/longbow.htm

http://www.jasondejong.ca/Archery/La...ing_Tools.html

http://www.thebeckoning.com/medieval...w/longbow.html

http://www.solartracker.com/archery/ (very nice site)

[nodachi]

I wouldn't get the bow to just fire it for the hell of it. The reason why I say this is because you hold a Japanese bow and use it differently. For example, you fire a Japanese bow with the arrow on the outside of the bow, where as a "normal" bow (for lack of a better word) has the arrow on the inside (side closer to your body). You draw the "normal" short bow straight back. You have to lift a JApanese bow up and then pull your arms apart as you bring the bow back down. There are other differences like these examples that will either result in you hurting yourself/someone else or even breaking the bow you spend so much money on and then have to repair it. Get instruction before you randomly use it or it will cost you (physically and monetarily).

[Serenity]

there are only 3 dojos in my country and all of them are too far...so actually im not doing kyudo as such, i'll just be shooting japanese arrows with a japanese bow...
first i thought of european archery which would be easy to find classes for..

I thought your mum has forbidden you to take up kyudo? Be lucky about those 3 dojo´s!! I think kyudo is very interesting, I would like to try it, but the nearest dojo is 600 km away in another country?!

I did the European archery a few times and it’s fabulous , so kyudo must be 1000 times better.

Kyudo equipment is quite expensive and there is much space needed to practise (do you have enough space?) Archery is a dangerous sport, please be sure to be very carefully…

Serenity

P.S. I wish I take up kyudo.