Kyudo has a lot to offer: it can be meditative, challenging, and a way to make friends and to deepen your knowledge about Japanese culture. Our Beginner's Class meets each Sunday from 3:00 - 5:30pm with a short tea break. 

First-time participants are required to notify Maria-sensei, complete the participation waiver, and schedule your attendance prior to attending a Beginner's Class.  

Instruction in Japanese archery

Kyudo is taught as an ongoing class. During the Beginner's Class, we will start with the basics of showing you about kyudo equipment (bows, arrows, gloves, attire, targets), the kyudo shooting space (dojo, matoba, yamichi, and 28-meter vs makiwara shooting), and we will get you learning the Hassetsu, the 8-stages of shooting with the Yumi, the Japanese bow.

At first, you will shoot using a stretchy band, then a rubber-yumi (gomu-yumi), while you learn the proper shooting form. You will also learn how to move to coordinate with others in the kyudojo. There is a lot to learn before you will be shooting arrows. 

Winter preparation:
During the winter season, please wear warm exercise clothing, including warm socks (even double socks), since we take off shoes in the kyudojo and it is chilly when the doors are open. Wear layers to stay warm, but nothing that can get caught in a bowstring. 

This class continues to build upon the foundations of kyudo learnt during the Beginner's Classes. Students will refine proper shooting form, practice taihai group shooting with other students, practice group tournament timing, and ongoing dojo and equipment maintenance. Our Group Practice & Instruction Class meets each Sunday from 10:00am - 1pm with a short tea break. 

• Open to registered students who have been sensei-approved and/or have completed the Beginner Class level

• Students have demonstrated competency and consistency in the Hassetsu foundation forms, and have been promoted to shooting distance (28-meters)

• Must be a registered member of Redwood Kyudojo.

Registered students of Redwood Kyudojo are not required to notify the sensei of attendance for this class.

This is for registered students who have been approved by the sensei as having met the minimum forms and standards of kyudo, as well as, have been cleared to shoot 28-meters without direct supervision. This is a good time for these students to have additional self-practice time.

As this is an additional informal practice time, students are required to notify the sensei, and/or a designated senior student, of your attendance. There is no formal instruction during open practices. Kyudo is a lifelong journey and every arrow is a new arrow. Do not be surprised to find the sensei practicing during this time as well.

This is for registered students who have achieved a rank of yondan or higher, and sandan students who have received special sensei approval to participate. The Senior Practice sessions focus on advanced shooting, kyudo sharei, shooting whilst wearing kimono (yondan and above), and kaizoe supporting roles. Some Senior Practices may be more targeted allowing godan and above students to learn how to teach/train others in learning kyudo.

• Students must have sensei approval to attend Senior Practice days. 

• Attendees are asked to contribute US$5 per session.

• As a shared NCKF session, event location may change from Redwood Kyudojo. Check the Redwood Kyudojo: Classes & Events calendar for updates.