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Way of the Bow and the Horse
By FightingSpirit.Biz
Apr 3, 2006
Way of the bow and the horse: although not originating in Japan, it took on its full meaning when the samurai warriors used the bow as their principal weapon. After experimenting with a number of materials, the distinctive shape of the Japanese bow was finally established with a double curve. Measuring almost 9ft (2.7m) in length, it is far longer than any other national bow and is held as much of a status symbol as a battle implement. There are also many rituals attached to the arrow, from Shinto origins of purification, to the exacting rules by which they are made. Three types of bowmanship are taught: standing, sitting and on horseback. In common with all the martial arts, the standing form includes two aspects viz the physical training (kyu-jitsu) and the spiritual training (shado).
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