In this interview, Hiveclass graphic designer Cauê shares his journey into the world of Kyūdō, the Japanese martial art of archery, and the personal growth it inspired. From the philosophy behind the practice to the physical and mental skills required, Cauê offers a deep dive into Kyūdō.
Readers interested in learning more can explore organizations like the American Kyūdō Renmei, an association dedicated to the study and practice of Kyūdō.
This conversation has been lightly edited for smoothness and clarity.
CC: Hi, my name is Cauê, I’m from Brazil, I live in São Paulo, and I will be talking about Kyūdō today.
TO: So, first things first, what is Kyūdō?
CC: So, Kyūdō is often referred to in English as “the way of the bow,” which is the literal translation of “kyū” (bow) and “dō” (way or path). It’s a martial art that originated in Japan, and it’s one of the most ancient martial arts. It started out of necessity, likely for hunting and warfare, but it evolved into a beautiful sport with many facets.
TO: So, firstly, can you pronounce it for us one more time?
CC: Kyūdō. “Dō” means “way,” as in “way of tea,” like the tea ceremony. They regard these practices as ways of discipline and self-cultivation, improving yourself a little bit every day through those practices and rituals.
TO: Is that what makes it different from, say, just straightforward archery?
CC: Hitting the target is not the main priority. The main thing is to perform the movements precisely, to hold yourself properly, and in harmony with everyone else. It’s a bit cryptic and poetic, but the idea is to be true to yourself. Mistakes can happen. You can drop your bow, or miss by a lot. But one needs to be at peace with the inevitability of error, so you don’t react too much. You don’t dwell on mistakes or panic.
TO: Mhm.
CC: So, the way you behave, walk, sit, everything, is dictated by truth, goodness, and beauty. These are the three core principles of Kyūdō.
TO: There are three main objectives?
CC: Yes, there’s probably a better word than “objectives.” It’s like the fundamentals or core ideas behind it. The three are: “Shin” (truth), “Zen” (goodness), and “Bi” (beauty).
TO: “Shin, Zen, Bi,” meaning truth, goodness, and beauty.
CC: Yes, exactly.
TO: What about in Portuguese?
CC: Verdade, bondade, beleza.
TO: How did you get into Kyūdō?
CC: So, back in 2019, I was very much overworked and lacked movement. I was focused so much on work that I realized I needed to change that and add some movement to my life. I also needed a set commitment every week to make myself unavailable for other things. I don’t have a religion, so I figured I needed to enroll in something that wasn’t work-related.
Then I had a job around the New Year for an event with 400 employees at an all-inclusive venue by the shore. They had traditional archery with recurve bows, and that was my first contact with archery. I was really impressed. I knew Kyūdō from documentaries, but I hadn’t researched it much before.
São Paulo is a big metropolis, so I thought, “There’s probably a Kyūdō dojo here,” and, indeed, there was. I emailed them, exchanged a few messages, and they were kind enough to let me in. It’s been like a family for me for almost six years now. They’re great.
TO: What does “dojo” mean?
CC: “Dojo” is the place where you train; the collective of practitioners in a particular martial art. It’s a generic term, so if you do karate or judo, you’ll be training in a dojo as well.
TO: So, you go to the Kyūdō dojo, and that’s the “way of the bow” school?
CC: Yes.
TO: You mentioned the other day that even your friends have noticed a difference in you since you started practicing Kyūdō. Can you say more about that?
CC: So, we live in a busy world. Everything is about being quick. We tend to feel overwhelmed and rushed. When you first go to a Kyūdō dojo, you’re eager to shoot and aim, but in reality, you start by learning how to walk, sit, turn. The atmosphere is very peaceful. People are calm, and there’s an element of observation. You learn through observation first, then try it yourself, and then repeat. You rely heavily on the eyes of your peers. You need someone to watch your posture and alignment to guide you. Through all this, I’ve become closer to virtues like patience and readiness of action. If you see something that needs to be done, you simply do it. Punctuality is also important—being a little early, not just on time.
TO: That’s what I always say. I say, if you’re not early, you’re late.
CC: Exactly. Before training, I try to have a well-balanced meal hours before. It’s helped me with my routine and managing frustration, especially since you don’t hit the target easily in the beginning. Then, when you do hit it, you try to keep a straight face, maintaining a steady mind. There’s a word for that—it’s “mushin.” Mushin means a state of mind that is present in the moment, not meditative, but without dwelling on past mistakes or thinking about what you’ll do after training.
TO: Mhm.
CC: It sounds simple, but there’s something called “target panic.” When you’re aiming, there’s a lot of strength and tension. Sometimes, you’ll hesitate at the very end, and that’s when it’s difficult to shoot. There’s a fear element too because if the string hits you, you’re doing something wrong.
TO: Right. That happened to me once. The string bruised my arm.
CC: Yes, super common. At the beginning, you use a very light bow, so it’s not too bad.
TO: Okay. So, I have one more question for you: If you were to name the top three or five skills, both physical and mental, what would you say are the top skills you’ve learned from practicing Kyūdō?
CC: It’s hard to list, but one thing I often think about is performing under pressure, when everyone is watching you. It can be tense, especially if there are visitors at the dojo or new people wanting to join. It’s challenging to do what you’re familiar with in front of others, but it’s a great skill to focus on what you’re doing, no matter the environment. It’s about focus and decisiveness. If you hesitate, your shot will likely miss.
TO: So, it sounds like a mixture of focus and confidence.
CC: Indeed, yes. It’s about decisiveness, confidence, and courage.
CC: The physical aspect is also interesting. We do warm-ups and stretching at the start, but the routine itself is demanding. You sit and get up repeatedly, and you need to remain still while moving both arms, which requires a strong core, legs, and knees. It’s counterintuitive, but you don’t use your arms to open the bow; you use your back.
TO: Mhm.
CC: You start to become more aware of your body over time. When you’re misaligned, you can feel it, and with practice, you learn to use the right muscles and maintain proper position to….
TO: Stay in alignment.
CC: It’s very useful to have a second pair of eyes to help. There’s a saying that the first 20 years of Kyūdō are the most difficult. It’s a saying about how long it takes to get good.
CC: Kyūdō is a practice that you can continue well into old age. In Japan, kids start practicing at grade school or university. They focus on target hitting and precision, and they’re really good at it. But as you get older, you focus more on the philosophy, the history, and all the other aspects.
TO: Mhm.
CC: Sometimes it’s mysticized with Zen and Shintoism. The bow is often used as a symbol in rituals, ceremonies and weddings or funerals. It has a bit of mysticism attached, but it’s still a sport with an ancient history.
TO: Do you have any last advice for someone looking to start practicing Kyūdō?
CC: It’s a beautiful sport, and it’s a personal journey. So each one will find ways of practicing it and what they love about it. The tip I would give is to listen more than we talk, because often when we start something, we’re super excited, and we want to add to the team and change stuff. Maybe that’s a little bit too much. It’s best to listen, and what I also say to my peers, my philosophy is to be there. You go to the training spot, you do your job and don’t dwell about it. Just keep on going and showing up. Then everything will fall into place eventually.
We hope you enjoyed this interview about how the martial art Kyūdō helps cultivate focus, patience, and self-discipline through its practice and philosophy.
Images used in this video interview courtesy of Gabriel Gomes.
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