Kyudo is Japanese archery using a long bow. As with most ancient Japanese arts, there are several schools and traditions of kyudo. In general a new martial arts school, or ryu, is founded when a student in a ryu is given “menkyo kaiden” or the right of full transmission. That student can then go off and founds their own school, which will have distinct styles and movements from any other ryuha (school or movement).
We practice in the “Heki Ryu Bishu Chikurin Ha” school of kyudo, specifically in the Shibata lineage. Our school of kyudo has one teacher, Shibata Kanjuro Sensei XXI, the 21st generation of the Shibata family to practice Chikurin Ha.
The focus of the practice is on “cleaning the mind” rather than on marksmanship. The target becomes a mirror reflecting the quality of one’s mind at the moment of the arrow’s release. Our school emphasizes kyudo’s connection to meditation more than competition. We do not offer ranks, belts, or other markers of progress, but instead believe that kyudo is a form of standing meditation. It is often referred to as zen archery.
For hundreds of years in Japan, Kyudo has been considered the highest form of samurai training. Deeply rooted in a warrior tradition based on principles of harmony, dignity, and genuineness, Kyudo is not a sport.
In 1980 the 20th Kanjuro Shibata (1921-2013) established his first kyudojo in the west, in Boulder, Colorado (USA), at the invitation of the Tibetan meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Together, they founded Zenko International with the vision of propagating a culture of enlightened warriorship. They were aided by Sensei’s long-time student, Zen master Kobun Chino, Roshi (1938-2002). Now, since October 2013, the 21st Kanjuro Shibata continues in the leadership of Zenko International, and of this school of Kyudo.
Since 1980 Zenko has expanded to over 30 locations in North America and Europe. For more practice locations, see the Zenko International site.
Miyako
Matthew Zalichin received First Shot from Kanjuro Shibata Sensei, XX the first time it was offered at Karmê Chöling in 1981. He returned to Takoma Park and began arranging practice first in his yard, then at the Presbyterian Church. Sensei himself visited the area in 1986 when he formally established Miyako (Capital Tiger) Kyudojo as his center in the Washington DC area and created the dojo calligraphy.
In October 1988, Sensei returned to offer the first long distance instruction to invited Miyako students in Matthew and Susan’s backyard. In 1990, Matthew relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the kyudojo was led by Ken Rawie until he too left, in 2018, first for New Mexico and then to California.
Vivi Spicer, a student of Shibata Sensei XX for many years, took over Miyako after Ken’s departure. She moved practice from the church and a public archery range to her back yard where we practiced until her death in January 2026.
In February 2026 the dojo established a leadership council and drafted a constitution. In March 2026 we began practicing at Capital Aikikai with distance shooting as weather permits in Damascus, MD.