The 59th National Kyudo Competition in Kyoto

Some of you have already known that I started practicing Kyudo 弓道, the Japanese Archery since the end of last year. I definitely have become fond of this martial arts. (I actually do have a special blog for this, but it's in Thai ;-)) <-- for Thai friends, follow this link)

This past Saturday, there was a Kyudo National competition being held here in Kyoto.　(Actually, the event ran from Friday, May 2 til Tuesday, May 6, having the first two days for competition and the last three for examination) One of my sensei participated at the competition on Saturday, so I went to see.

Competition hall @ Miyako-Messe
Kyodo Practitioners came from all over Japan. Some from abroad. Age ranges from probably high school students till, I don't know the upper bracket. All the ojichan, obachan are just amazing!

waiting hall
waiting hall
bowstring case
Marching in the positions - 有段者の部
Even obachan can start Kyudo!
the target (36 cm) is placed 28 meters away.
All participants are assigned a number in which determines their order to compete. They are later grouped into a group of ten who walks up the stage together and then splits into a group of five on the stage. Each stands in front of their target and compete in order from right to left.

two batches of five
setting the arrows
my sensei :)
reading to let go the arrow
There are score keepers by the targets and behind the shooting stage. Circles are marked for those hitting the target, while crosses are for those that are off. Each participant has only two chances to shoot and the whole set of 5 people need to finish 10 shootings in 6 minutes.

Kyudo target