Intermediate Kyudo: Zen Archery Intensive

Kyudo—Zen archery—is a formal practice within Japanese Zen training, not sport archery. The emphasis is on the meditative quality of the draw and release, the precision of posture and breath, and what happens when technique becomes transparent. This intensive at Fire Lotus Temple assumes you've sat sesshin or have an established meditation practice; it's not an introduction to archery, but an extension of sitting practice into movement and stillness.

The six-day format balances instruction in fundamental form (stance, grip, breathing, the sequence of the draw) with time for formless practice—sustained shooting where the mechanics become intuitive rather than self-conscious. You'll receive personalized feedback, which matters in a practice where small adjustments in alignment or breath shift the whole arc of the movement.

Kyudo is quiet work. Expect early mornings, structured practice periods, and the particular focus that comes from returning to the same action, the same target, for days. This is an intermediate offering, which means the pacing and depth assume you're not new to Zen practice or the discipline of sitting still.