Locations:
Our usual location is Outdoors, at:
Indoors: If the weather is bad, we cancel the
class.
Occasionally events might happen at the |
Practice Times:Sundays 11:30-1:30pm
Contacts:Ken Rawie (301) 649-4990 Ed Garrasi (301) 317-5965 |
What is Kyudo?
Kyudo is a form of meditation using traditional Japanese archery. It is sometimes known as "Zen Archery," but Kyudo is not necessarily Zen. So at Miyako Kyudojo, we simply call it "stand-up meditation." For more information about Kyudo in general, browse the local Washington, DC Kyudo page. Our teacher is Kanjuro Shibata, Sensei. His site has lots of pictures, a list of other locations for Kyudo, and cool info.
Would it be possible to come observe a practice?
Sure -- you won't be disturbing anything, and it's best to observe before you start, anyway. We practice every Sunday, 11:30 - 1:30.
What would I need to start?
Just your presence. The dojo has class equipment. You can learn the technique
at a weekend program (see "What about weekends" below), or in three or four
successive Sundays, at the regular practice.
Since we practice outdoors, what you wear should be practical for the weather. In the blazing summer, bring sunscreen, hat, and lots of water -- and in the winter, wear layers. We don't have an indoor location for bad weather, but if it's dry and it's not too cold, we'll be out there for sure.
Where Are Practices Held?
Directions:
We practice at the Adelphi Manor Archery Range (officially "MNCPPC Public
Archery Range"). It's on University Blvd. just west of the Univ. of Maryland
College Park, in an unincorporated area called "Hyattsville, MD." It doesn't
have a proper street address, but it's around 2600 University Blvd. East,
in the ADC map book. To make Google Maps point to the right place,
we had to give it "2860 University Blvd." Try the Google link below.
Try this Google Map link:
Besides looking at the map, click on the "Satellite" button and zoom in on the photo for a sense of place. It's in the Northwest Branch stream- park, down in the creek bottom. In the photo, look for a clearing in the trees just right of the creek, and just above the street. The little doo- dad across the street and on the other side of the creek is a sort of children's "splash pool." Driving by it, you'll see a baby blue dolphin sign. It's quite a landmark.
If you want to use Mapquest, try:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=2800%20University%20Blvd%20E&city=Hyattsville&state=MD
Driving directions from Baltimore:
This is just like coming from Northern Virginia (below), except you'll be coming south on I-95 to the Washington beltway (I-495). At the beltway, I-95 splits, going either west or south. Take the I-495 West option (a.k.a. the "outer loop," going counter-clockwise around DC, toward Silver Spring and Bethesda, etc.). Go one exit to Exit 28, for New Hampshire Ave, heading south toward Takoma Park.
Directions from Northern Virginia:
Take the I-495 beltway (the "inner loop," clockwise around DC) past Bethesda and Silver Spring, to Exit 28, New Hampshire Ave and Takoma Park. Go south toward Takoma Park.
Continuing from Exit 28:
Go about two miles south on New Hampshire to University Blvd, and turn left (east). Continue on University Blvd about a mile and a quarter. On the way, continue through a major intersection with Riggs Road.
When you're close, there'll be a stoplight at West Park Drive. Passing through the light, you will notice a park on the left and a public splash pool on the right, which has a sign that looks like a big blue baby dolphin. Get into the left lane and take the left-turn lane (without a stop light) into Adelphi Manor Archery Range.
Directions for Those Coming from the District of Columbia:
Exit the District on New Hampshire Avenue going north. Turn right (east) onto University Boulevard. Continue on University Blvd about a mile and a quarter. On the way, you will pass through a major intersection with Riggs Road.
When you're close, there'll be a stoplight at West Park Drive. Passing through
the light, you will notice a park on the left and a public splash pool
on the right, which has a sign that looks like a big blue baby dolphin. Get
into the left lane and take the left-turn lane (without a stop light)
into Adelphi Manor Archery Range.
Directions to the Shambhala Meditation Center
Occasionally Miyako Kyudojo will host events at the
Shambhala Meditation Center. They
are changing their location from Silver Spring to DC, and currently renovating
the new space. Please consult the Shambhala web site for construction progress,
alternate locations, eventual location, etc.
Class Fees: The instruction leading to your first shot takes three or four Sundays, and costs $75. After that it's a membership issue - $10 per class, up to a maximum of $230 per year, which is the annual membership. A membership year is January thru December, and the $230 can be prorated.
Equipment: We wouldn't recommend buying a yumi (bow) for at least a year. It'll take that long for your form to stabilize enough so that you will neither break nor outgrow your new yumi. We have a variety of class yumis for you to use until then. Yumis cost $400 and up. While you shouldn't buy a yumi too soon, there's another piece of equipment that can be bought as soon as you feel comfortable with the cost. It's the "kake," the glove used for pulling the tsuru (bow string). We have a variety of class kake, but only one of each size. New kake cost around $200. Because we have a lot of class arrows ("ya"), you probably won't want to buy any of these for a while, either, but they're cheaper. A practice ya is a little sturdier than the regular arrows, and has no feathers. It is probably the first ya people buy, for about $18 or $20. A pair of feathered ya start at about $25.
Clothing / uniforms: Not required. That said, the outfit is kinda cool, and it seems people seem to eventually want to buy one. Even the rankest beginner can wear one. It probably costs a couple hundred dollars.
And then there are all the tchochkes: tshirts, calligraphies, etc. etc.
To summarize, most people don't bring equipment to practice for as
long as they can stand sharing their favorite class equipment with others.
Class fees are $75 to start, then $10 per class afterward.
Another website to look at:
The Zenko International site
This has lots of pictures, a list of other locations for Kyudo, and cool
info.
Weekend Programs are listed on the Miyako Kyudojo website, at
http://users.erols.com/kenrawie/kyudo.html#Schedule