Welcome to the website of the

Barako Kyudo Group

Barako means ‘Rose Tiger’.

This name was given by Kanjuro Shibata XX Sendai, our teacher who died in 2013. The organizations Zenko (US) and Oko (Europe), which he founded, are now run by his son, Kanjuro Shibata XXI Sensei.

At the Barako Kyudo group, Japanese archery, or kyudo, is practised as a form of ‘meditation in action’. Barako kyudo stands in the century-old tradition of the Heki ryu Bishu Chikurin ha: the school of Heki, according to the teachings of the monk Chikurinbo from the Bishu region. This school goes back directly to the kyudo practice of the samurai. In this form, kyudo serves to practise ‘inner warriorhood’: shedding the ego, cleansing the mind and practising an open heart.

Hitting the target is not paramount. Kyudo is a mirror for the soul, challenging you to rise above basic desires and emotions, such as the ever-present hope that you will hit the target flawlessly, and the fear that you will not succeed. This produces a beautiful paradox that can be thought of as a Zen koan: a philosophical challenge, expressed in the form of a seemingly unsolvable question: ‘How can you hit the target without the target affecting you?’

With this question, you can always keep busy. In addition, kyudo is technically complicated, confronting you with new learning opportunities at unexpected times, both physically and mentally. Our form of Kyudo has no degrees or dan; the pursuit of mastery lasts a lifetime, and it is an art not to lean on achievements but to keep searching for perfection. In the words of Kanjuro Shibata XX Sendai, ‘Never forget your beginner’s heart.’

The group consists of a core group of around 20 people and a number of regular participants, and has roughly equal numbers of male and female members. Our kyudo practice is ‘serious and casual’: we are fond of tradition, but do not engage with it dogmatically. This does not alter the fact that ‘meditation in action’ is at the heart of our kyudo practice.

Once a month (except July and August), the group meets at our regular practice location at Ridder van Catsweg 256a in Gouda. These days are open to those who have done their first shot. Those who have no experience but are interested can come and watch and get acquainted, provided an appointment is made in advance.

The Barako group aims to hold an introductory weekend twice a year for beginners to do their first shot. These weekends take place in April and November. The first shot training lasts for two days. That may seem long, but practice shows that those two days are needed to learn the shooting technically and get a taste of the meditation.

The Barako weekend programmes are open events, to which both complete beginners and experienced students, both domestic and foreign, are welcome. See the agenda for the dates of the next introductory weekend. The cost is €150 (including lunch and teaching materials). The programme of each weekend starts at 10:00 on Saturday morning. Beginners coming for their first shot will be guided separately by experienced students. There is always plenty of class material available for beginners. Own material is usually purchased only after some time, as it must personally fit a practised hand.

Kyudo can be practised by people from 8 -80. You do not need to be in excellent shape or very strong; there is a bow for every strength. In principle, it is possible for everyone to independently attend the practice days and (international) programmes after the introduction weekend.

You can download an information sheet with frequently asked questions and answers here.

You can download more information on membership and fees here.