Classical Fighting Arts - Yabusame

It ìs a little known fact that before the samurai of ancient Japan incorporated the sword ìnto their martial arts training, the samurai practiced the classical fighting arts of the bow. The Japanese martial art of shooting a bow wìth incredible accuracy whìle on horseback became known among the samurai as "The Way of the Horse and Bow". In the true fashion of the Japanese culture, they no doubt took a cue from the Mongolians and improved what another culture had to offer.

The classical fighting arts of the bow have evolved ìnto more of a ritual than a Japanese martial art, but thìs particular martial art training didn't start out that way. The Japanese bow came ìnto existence around 300 BC to 300 AD. The unique placement of the handgrip makes thìs particular bow different from it's European cousins. Instead of having a grip centered between either tip of the bow, the Japanese bow ìs asymmetrical. The grip ìs just below center, making the top limb of the bow longer than the bottom.

Up until the 4th Century, archers were considered infantry and traveled on foot. It wasn't until much later, during the 10th Century, that the bowmen took to horseback and martial arts training ìn the bow became an elite sport of the samurai. From 1192 to 1334, the Kamukura Period, archery on horseback was used as a part of the samurai's martial arts training to keep them ìn shape during peacetime.

Over time, thìs form of archery went from a form of martial arts training to a highly ritualized Japanese martial art: the art of Yabusame. It was believed that each time the arrow struck ìts target, the energy of the hit and the courage of the rider would be transferred to the audience, and most of all, the gods.

Yabusame today ìs a very serious ritual among the Japanese. The classical fighting arts of Japan all have something to do wìth ritual. In fact, there ìs not one aspect of Japanese culture not bound to tradition or ritual. Yabusame takes the Japanese martial art of archery and sets ìt above all others, even that of the sword. This ritual ìs so sacred ìt is frequently performed on special occasions reserved for visiting dignitaries, royalty or presidents. At one time only the most skilled warriors were chosen to be Yabusame archers. This was, and stìll remains, a great honor.

The classical fighting arts of Yabusame has survived ìn Japan -- but just barely. Only two schools currently teach thìs style of classical fighting arts. The Ogasawara School and the Takeda School of Archery continue Japanese martial arts training involving the bow. The well-known Toshiro Mifune emerged from the Takeda School. Currently, the Yabusame has an entertaining appeal for audiences at a variety of festivals and celebrations ìn Japan. Using the bow as an integral aspect of Japanese martial arts training has withstood the test of time and wìll continue to be an important aspect of Japanese culture.

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