Introduction to Kyudo: Cultivating the Genuine Heart of Warriorship with Kanjuro Shibata XX, Sensei

Kyudo, or Zen archery, is an extraordinarily powerful and immediate practice for cultivating warriorship in the world.

Traditionally regarded as the highest form of samurai training, Japanese archery evolved over the centuries into a powerful path of cultivating meditative awareness and self-realization. Known as “standing Zen,” Kyudo, the way of the bow, polishes the heart so that our natural dignity and goodness can shine forth. In Kyudo, the target serves as a reflection of our quality of mind, rather than as a goal to be attained. Everyone is invited to attend: young and old, beginners and seasoned practitioners, individuals and families. Beginners receive instruction in the “seven coordinations.”

Kanjuro Shibata XX, Sensei, is a 20th-generation Kyudo master and 3rd-generation bowmaker to the Emperor of Japan. He is a master of the Chikurin-Ha, Heki School of Kyudo, which dates back to 15th-century Japan. Sensei was a close personal friend of the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who first invited Sensei to the West in 1980 to teach the etiquette and dignity of ancient Japanese warriorship to Western students. Together they founded Ryuko Kyudojo in Boulder, Colorado. Since then, he has traveled and taught extensively in the West, establishing Kyudo practice halls throughout North America and Europe.

For more information about Kanjuro Shibata XX, Sensei and the practice of kyudo visit Sensei's website www.zenko.org.

Extend Your Stay. We are offering a 25% housing discount for additional nights. Come early and relax before your program starts or stay an extra day or more after this program to savor your retreat experience.

Please arrive between 2 and 5pm on Friday, August 17. Program ends with lunch at 12:30pm on Sunday, August 19. View Detailed Program Information.