Thank you for your interest in kyudo in the Washington D.C. area. We practice in the Heki Ryu Bishu Chikurin Ha tradition of Japanese archery, a ryu (school) closely associated with zen and meditation. At Miyako, we practice archery as a form of standing meditation, a way to “polish the mind.”
Visitors are welcome to observe practice at any time. Please use our email, [email protected] to let us know you’re coming and introduce yourself.
We resume practice on March 8, 2026 at our new home, Capital Aikikai, in Silver Spring. We practice from 12:30-2:30 on Sundays.
The first step is to come observe a class. Please use the email button to let us know you’re coming and confirm practice day and time.
Next Steps
After observing a class, the next step is to undertake first shot instruction. We are not able to offer First Shot at this time, though we hope that changes soon! There are retreats in the region where you can take First Shot instruction. See our Schedule page for more information.
When visiting the dojo, please observe proper reiho (etiquette, or manners). The purpose of reiho is to clear your mind and focus you for practice while offering respect and thanks for the space, instruction, and fellow students.
Shoes are not worn inside, and the dojo has an area to leave your shoes. Socks or tabi are fine when visiting. No food or beverages are allowed in the dojo, and phones must be silenced during practice. No photographs are permitted without express permission. Wear comfortable clothes; you do not need the traditional hakama and gi to observe or begin practice.
In general we practice in silence except for instruction. When entering the dojo, locate shomen—the front wall, often the east wall (it usually has some sort of shrine or focal point). As you step into the room, you bow to shomen—hands at your sides bending from the hips with a straight back. After you bow, you may enter the practice space. We also bow when leaving the practice space.
The beauty of kyudo
