The Takeda School of Horseback Archery
The Takeda School of Horseback Archery (Takeda ryu)
About Takedaryu
The Takeda School of Horseback Archery (Takedaryu) is a school which has been maintaining the traditional Japanese horseback archery, of which original form emerged in the 8th century. The school follows the regulation and teachings established in the 12th century. The school trains horseback archers and does horseback archery demonstrations throughout the country as well as overseas.
The school is a martial arts school, whose philosophy and action follow Bushido, which means "the way Samurai follows". Thus, one who belongs to the school is required to respect God, ancestors, as well as other people, and to act with manners.
What is Japanese horseback archery?
Japanese horseback archery is called Kisha , which means shooting arrows from horseback. There are three forms of Kisha , called Kisha-no-mitsumono ,which includes: Yabusame, Kasagake, and Inuoumono.
Yabusame is the most well-known and the most formal form of Kisha, since it is held at shrines as ceremony. Minamoto no Yoritomo, who became the first leader of Bushi society and established Kamakura Bakufu in the 12th century, ordered to compile a formal Yabusame ceremony regulation book. The book is named "Yabusame-shahou". Takedaryu follows this formal regulation book so that the traditional Yabusame ceremony has been kept and performed exactly the way it has been from the ancient time.
Kasagake used to be a competition to sharpen warrior's horseback archery skill. While Yabusame has three targets(three same-sized targets on the left hand side of the course) and the archer shoots on the way down the course, Kasagake has different sizes of targets each of which is set at different height, and the archer shoots both ways. The first target on the way down the course has fence on both sides, thus there is only a second to aim and hit the target. Returning back down the course, the archer shoots small shingle targets which are set close to and angled from the ground on both sides of the course. This requires skill and experience, as well as continuous practices.
Inuoumono is not in practice anymore. Actual dogs were used as targets, so it was practical and effective practice to sharpen horseback riding skill as well as shooting skill.
Other horseback martial arts
Takedaryu not only trains horseback archery but includes Yari(spear-fighting), Tachiuchi(swording), Naginata(pole swording) on horseback in its teachings. Occasionally Takedaryu performs that martial art demonstration.
