Japanese art of archery, Kyudo, attracts Vietnamese youngsters

It isn't easy to hold the bow and draw the string in the right position, but these young people are practicing Kyudo, the Japanese martial artof archery. The aim of kyudo is to train the mind and body by focusing on shooting an arrow with the proper timing.

Before practicing with a real bow, practitioners need to learn the rituals in kyudo such as meditation to create peace of mind. This period takes about 3 to 6 months. Before shooting arrows, archers must bow in front of a headstone to show respect, hold the bow, pause and then release the arrow. Archers also need to train their breathing to complement their shooting.

"Practicing kyudo makes me healthier. I also learned how to control my breathing and to maintain the necessary calm", Pham Ngoc Thach - a member of Hanoi Kyudo Club - said.

The accessories in kyudo, such as gloves and arrows, are imported from Japan and they are quite expensive. However, practitioners can use training equipment for free at the club. Archery is a meditative art that requires enormous concentration and control. It allows one to more easily see one's true self in the practice.