Today the local Jedi took a group archery lesson. Though it’s not a typical Jedi skill, it is a great one for practicing your control over mind and body. You have to learn to let go of the target and instead focus on yourself. It’s very difficult to correct the mistakes that send arrows in every direction. Each arrow probably had a different mistake and that is why they are all over the place. Instead one must focus on making the body do exactly the same thing for each shot and trying to get each arrow to follow the exact same path. Once the arrows are all very near each other, it’s then an easy task to move your aim to the center of the target. You cannot hope to master the target until you have mastered yourself.
I started archery when I was just a teenager. I probably shot my first arrow when I was 16 years old (more than 20 years ago). Now I shoot western archery maybe once or twice a year. But I also now take Kyudo (Japanese archery). Though there is competitive archery using western style and bows in Japan, many Japanese take Kyudo in high school and college. Kyudo has lost much of it’s martial origins and focuses more on zen meditative movements. There are competitions in Kyudo, but you get scored at least as much on your comportment as on your ability to hit the target.
For today’s lesson I alternated between the two bows. I shot the Japanese yumi without the zen trappings. I was a little worried about switching back and forth since the techniques and styles are so different, but I really didn’t have too much trouble. I did notice that I was a much better shot with my western bow. It does help that my western bow has a sight on it and my anchor point for my draw is more consistent.
All in all it seemed that everyone had a lot of fun and hopefully everyone learned something too. I know we’re all going to be sore tomorrow. If you get a chance, take an archery lesson – you’ll be amazed what you find out about yourself.
