We always welcome anyone who would like to observe our practice. Although it is not required to notify us of your visit, we recommend contacting us ahead of time to confirm our class schedule. Observing our practice is free of charge.
- Students who have previous experience practicing kyudo may participate in our regular classes at any time.
- Students younger than 15 years old will not be permitted for safety reasons.
- Students between 15-18 years old require an adult chaperone.
- Students who have very little or no experience in kyudo must complete the following requirements before joining regular practice:
- Observe a regular class at least once (free)
- Complete our annual Beginner Course
If you have some experience in kyudo but are not sure whether you need to take the Beginner Course, please contact us and let us know when and where you practiced kyudo and for how long. We will assess whether you need to take the course.
Beginner Course 2027
We hold our Beginner Course once a year, usually during the summer. Our 2026 Beginner Course has concluded, and 2027 Beginner Course dates are to be announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I get started with New York-New Jersey Kyudo Renmei?
Beginners may only join our regular practice after completing our Beginner Course. If you are a beginner with no prior kyudo experience and dates for the Beginner Course have passed, you will need to wait until the next Beginner Course the following year. In the mean time, you are welcome to observe classes free of charge.
If you have some kyudo experience but are unsure whether you need to take the Beginner Course, please contact us and let us know when and where you practiced kyudo and for how long. We will assess whether you need to take the course.
Kyudo practitioners with prior experience are welcome to join our regular practice at any time. We recommend letting us know of your arrival ahead of time in order to confirm our class schedule and location.
- What should I know before taking the Beginner Course?
The Beginner Course is a 5-week commitment. Attendance is mandatory for all 5 weeks in order to successfully pass the course and allow participation in regular practice. This is both to prepare you for regular practice and to ensure your safety and the safety of your fellow members.
All equipment will be provided during the course. There is no requirement to purchase a uniform or any kyudo equipment for the beginner course. For more information about our recommendations regarding kyudo equipment, please read the additional information about equipment below.
Please come to class wearing a top with no buttons, zippers, or ties on the front, dark pants that are comfortable to move in, and white socks or white tabi. Please remove any earrings, necklaces, rings, and watches before practice.
- When can I purchase my own kyudo equipment?
After you have completed the Beginner Course and are ready to join regular practice, the first piece of equipment we recommend investing in is a yugake, a specialized glove used to pull the bowstring. During the Beginner Course, you will be using class practice gloves that are very different from a yugake. The practice gloves are soft and do not have the wooden insert present in the thumb of a proper yugake, so you will not be able to have proper form in your right hand until you are practicing with a yugake. Therefore, if you’ve decided that you are ready to commit to kyudo, a yugake is the first item we suggest purchasing, with a uniform being the next. A kyudo uniform helps with posture as well.
We have class arrows and class bows available for members without their own to share. There is no rush to purchase these items for yourself in the beginning. If interested, you may purchase arrows first, but we do not recommend purchasing a bow until you have had at least one year of consistent practice. Please consult the sensei before purchasing any kyudo equipment to ensure that you choose equipement with specifications that are right for you.