About the dojo
Kyudo (弓道, "the way of the bow") is Japanese archery practised as a discipline: one arrow at a time, the same eight movements, the same breath. Renseikan Kyudojo teaches it every Sunday at the Japanese Art & Cultural Center (JACC) in San Jose, California.
練 ren is to train, to refine; 誠 sei is sincerity; 館 kan is the hall. A hall for refining sincerity. (Steve's own account of the name goes here.)
Students shoot in turn at the makiwara (a straw practice target at arm's length) and at the mato, 28 metres away. Beginners learn the eight stages of the shot, the shahō hassetsu, with a bow and arrows the dojo lends. Nothing is rushed; a Sunday has room for everyone to shoot.
Renseikan is a member dojo of the Northern California Kyudo Federation (NCKF) and the American Kyudo Renmei. (Founding year and lineage: to be supplied by the dojo.)
New students are always welcome. No uniform or equipment is required. No prior experience needed. New students should just walk in and observe class or take a free trial lesson at any time without making online appointments first.