Kyudo is a traditional Japanese martial art, the way of the bow, and it is performed contemplatively, almost as a form of meditation. Modern kyudo practitioners are called kyudoka.
The bow used in kyudo, called a yumi, looks rather different to bows from elsewhere in the world, being unusually long in the upper limb. Yumi are traditionally made of bamboo, wood and leather but these days some archers use bows incorporating synthetic materials such as glass fibre.
Although kyudo is primarily viewed as a path toward self-improvement, there are kyudo tournaments where archers engage in competition.
