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44. Target archery,: With a history
 
45. ZEN AND THE ART OF ARCHERY
$39.45
46. Toxophilus -The School Of Shooting(History
 
$138.32
47. Archery, from golds to big game
$25.00
48. The Traditional Archers Handbook
$25.22
49. Archery
 
$1.00
50. Archery (Know the Sport)
$1.09
51. Basic Essentials Archery (Basic
$21.54
52. Archery in Earnest
 
$12.79
53. Archery Today: Technique and Philosophies
 
54. Power archery
 
55. Target Archery
$18.38
56. American Archery; A Vade Mecum
 
57. Target Archery (Physical Education)
$4.04
58. Basic Illustrated Archery (Basic
$9.96
59. One Arrow, One Life: Zen, Archery,
 
60. Archery at Home: How to Practice

41.
 

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42.
 

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43.
 

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44. Target archery,: With a history of the sport in America
by Robert Potter Elmer
 Hardcover: 524 Pages (1946)

Asin: B0007E3G78
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Editorial Review

Product Description
Target Archery is the ultimate history of American archery from the earliest days through the 1940s. With 84 illustrations, it provides a detailed account of everything from bowwoods to bows and the development of steel bows. ... Read more


45. ZEN AND THE ART OF ARCHERY
by Eugen Herrigel
 Hardcover: Pages (1953)

Asin: B000JOKN36
Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars
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Customer Reviews (1)

5-0 out of 5 stars One of the Great Ones
The arrow finds the target before it is released.

This is nothing like western analysis or linear thinking. ... Read more


46. Toxophilus -The School Of Shooting(History of Archery Series)
by Roger Ascham
Hardcover: 192 Pages (2008-11-04)
list price: US$39.45 -- used & new: US$39.45
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1443739073
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Editorial Review

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Toxophilus -The School Of Shooting (History of Archery Series) Roger Ascham This work comprises of two books combined together: The First Book of the School of Shooting and The Second Book of the School of Shooting. They are written in the form of a dialogue between Toxophilus 'A lover of the bow' and Philogus 'A lover of learning'. In the discussion Toxophilus justifies his love of archery as a pastime, puts forward his reasons for retaining the bow as a weapon of war instead of the newly favoured hand gun, and he gives practical instructions on the technique of shooting in the bow. Contents Include Chronicle of the life, Works, and Times of Roger Ascham Apologia The Royal Arms Dedication to the King Henry VIII To All Gentlemen and Yeoman of England The First Book Of The School Of Shooting The Second Book Of The School Of Shooting The Table Of Contents Of The First Book Of The School Of Shooting The Table Of The Second Book Of The School Of Shooting Glossary of Old Words Imprints of the first two editions of Toxophilus Originally published in 1544. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more


47. Archery, from golds to big game
by Keith C Schuyler
 Hardcover: 569 Pages (1970)
-- used & new: US$138.32
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0498069613
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48. The Traditional Archers Handbook
by Hilary Greenland
Paperback: 128 Pages (2002-02-01)
-- used & new: US$25.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0952462761
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49. Archery
by Charles James Longman, Charles Hawkins Fisher, Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon Dillon
Paperback: 606 Pages (2010-04-22)
list price: US$45.75 -- used & new: US$25.22
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 1149188871
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Editorial Review

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more


50. Archery (Know the Sport)
by John Adams
 Paperback: 48 Pages (1996-07)
list price: US$5.95 -- used & new: US$1.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0811728307
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
This informative introduction to the sport of archery provides the novice with step-by-step guidance to joining a club, purchasing and hiring equipment, and learning to shoot correctly and, above all -- safely. It discusses the various forms of archery, looks in detail at vision and sighting, and emphasises the importance of good nutrition in this deceptively energetic activity. Contents: Introduction; Equipment; Getting Started; Safety; The Correct Way to Shoot; Summary; Helping Yourself; Checking the Basic Sequence; Identifying Errors; Forms of Archery; Nutrition; Vision and Sighting; Conclusion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

4-0 out of 5 stars Really Good For Basics
This book is absolutely great for describing the basics of Archery.It walks the reader thought all of the begining steps to enjoying the sport.Additionally, it encourages people not to rush out and buy equipment.Taking your time in purchasing archery equipment is critical to making sure that you get stuff that you like and stuff that fits you.The book could be a little better when describing how to aim.It doesn't talk about reference points or point of aim.Otherwise, the book is great.

5-0 out of 5 stars Must for the starters
A must read for archery enthusiasts, taking up the sport. The book lays out the basics, and something really important for the beginners, "common mistakes or pitfalls". Gives a good direction of where togo and what not to do in a hurry of taking up the sport. Very goodtoddler's steps. ... Read more


51. Basic Essentials Archery (Basic Essentials Series)
by Beth Habeishi, Stephanie Mallory
Paperback: 80 Pages (2003-12-01)
list price: US$7.95 -- used & new: US$1.09
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0762730455
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
For a generation, the Basic Essentials series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether readers are planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, thesebooks tell them what they need to know.

In Basic Essentials Archery readers will learn the history of the sport, essentials of archery equipment and gear, safety, technique, equipment care and maintenance, target shooting, and competition.

Other books in the Basic Essentials series include Animal Tracks, Backpacking, Camping, Canoe Paddling, Canoeing, Cooking in the Outdoors, Edible Wild Plants & Useful Herbs,
Fly Fishing, GPS, Hypothermia, Knots for the Outdoors, Map & Compass, Climbing Ice,
Minimizing Impact, Mountaineering, Rescue in the Backcountry, Photography in the Outdoors, Rafting, Sea Kayaking, Sit-on-Top Kayaking, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Solo Canoeing, Solo Hiking, Survival, Weather Forecasting, Whitewater Kayaking, Wilderness First Aid, and Women in the Outdoors.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

3-0 out of 5 stars Every bit as basic as the title implies.
Basic Essentials Archery is exactly that - the basic essentials.If you've been shooting for 6 months or more, stop reading now.You already know everything in this book.If you are considering archery for the first time, read on.

Construction: this 64-page book includes table of contents, index, and glossary.The chapters are laid out in a logical progression.Editing is good overall, though some simple grammatical errors (including several occurrences of unnecessary hyphens) were missed.

Style: Beth and Stephanie write in a conversational style that is easy to read and lends itself to understanding with minimal effort.Ideas are presented in a logical, organized fashion, and I never had to reread a sentence to understand the point.

The authors do not always seem to take their audience seriously, as they frequently point out the obvious:

"... once you have mastered the basics of archery, you can even shoot by yourself." (p. 49)

Content: Few pages, largish type, and frequent illustrations make BEA a very quick read.I am slow reader, and I finished it in 2 sittings.

The book opens with a brief historical intro, providing some simple illustrations of archery's impact on history.While the history lesson is vaguely interesting from an academic standpoint, it is irrelevant to any audience looking for elementary archery information for competition or hunting.Even if you want the history lesson, chapter one is shallow enough that it probably contains nothing you don't know already.I suggest skipping this chapter.

Chapter two is a more logical introduction, as it presents the three common bow types (long, recurve, compound), and illustrates their components.This is a good source of terminology, but nothing you can't get for free on the Internet (or just pick up by talking with other archers).

The authors offer the dubious suggestion that you can buy enough equipment to get you started for $100.This may be enough to pick up a used bow on eBay, but even then you don't have a string, arrows, a target, armguard, or finger tab.

If you want to learn about archery equipment, consider the excellent Hunter's Friend Bow Selection Guide (http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm).This will give you more information and a much better understanding than the material presented in BEA chapter 2.

Chapter three briefly glosses over how to store and clean your equipment.

Chapter four is an introduction to archery safety.This is one of the better chapters in the book, and provides a good grounding in what not to do.Unfortunately, it offers a few dubious pieces of advice:

"Cracked bow arms: If a crack doesn't get fixed, the bow could break under the tension of your draw and cause an injury." (p. 26)

This statement implies that a cracked limb can be repaired.The only safe remedy for a cracked limb is replacement.There is no way to make the limb as strong as it was before the crack.

"Get someone else to stand in front of the target or prop a bow or quiver on it so no one will try to shoot at that target as you look for arrows that you've overshot." (p. 31)

I won't explain why it's a bad idea to stand in front of an archery target.I can only wonder why the authors would suggest something so obviously unsafe.

Some suggestions are provided without explanatory details:

"Make sure that the bowstring (or bow cables for a compound bow) is positioned properly." (p. 27)

No details are offered to explain proper string position, or how to achieve it.

Chapter three ends with a brief summary of strength and flexibility training.This would have been a really useful section, but the authors assume you are already familiar with strength training terminology.Unfortunately, exercises are presented with no explanatory detail:

"To develop the muscles in your shoulders, try lateral raises as well as bent-over dumbbell flies."(p. 33)

No attempt is made to explain this exercise or how to perform it.

Chapter five is actually a pretty useful reference.It explains the T-form shooting posture, explains three different shooting stances (open, closed, and regular), wrist angle, and finger placement.This chapter includes a simple step-by-step shooting method, and some basic troubleshooting suggestions.These are all useful details that I have had surprisingly little luck finding on the Internet.

The book's final chapter provides a rudimentary explanation of several types of competition.By the time you are thinking about competition, you will have left this book far behind, and that's just where I intend to put mine.

-sean henning

5-0 out of 5 stars Ideal for New Archers!
Children and adults who are new to the sport of archery will find this book extremely helpful.This brand new, reader-friendly paperback by Habeishi and Mallory includes a variety of information -- from a brief history of archery to the tools you need to get started in the sport, practice safely and effectively, and properly use, care for and store archery equipment. I highly recommend this read to anyone who has never picked up a bow and arrow or to those who haven't attempted a shot since 7th grade physical education.

2-0 out of 5 stars Very Basic...
This book is excellent for someone who is just starting the hobby of archery and who has not yet learned ANYTHING about different types of bows, arrows, and shooting stances.The authors have done a very good job of making the fundamental concepts of archery easy to understand for someone who has never dealt with them.For anyone else involved in the hobby, this book is very basic and is probably below your level of skill. ... Read more


52. Archery in Earnest
by Roy Matthews MBE, John Holden
Paperback: 112 Pages (1997-07-01)
list price: US$39.95 -- used & new: US$21.54
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 186126089X
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Editorial Review

Product Description

Archery in Earnest, a complete study of archery techniques and practice, will stimulate archers at all levels to look at their performance in a new light. Topics covered include a fundamental assessment of archery technique; a study of the method and mental approach of a champion archer; picture sequences of top archers in action; tournament tactics; and equipment and tuning explained. A new perspective on shooting, Archery in Earnest is a book for all modern competitors.
... Read more

53. Archery Today: Technique and Philosophies in Action
by John Kember-Smith
 Hardcover: 160 Pages (1988-09)
list price: US$24.95 -- used & new: US$12.79
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0715387928
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54. Power archery
by David J Keaggy
 Paperback: 96 Pages (1968)

Asin: B0007EPDN8
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55. Target Archery
by Robert P Elmer
 Hardcover: Pages (1946-01-01)

Asin: B001OSZGM4
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56. American Archery; A Vade Mecum of the Art of Shooting With the Long Bow
by Robert Potter Elmer
Paperback: 126 Pages (2010-10-14)
list price: US$19.82 -- used & new: US$18.38
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 145880626X
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Editorial Review

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: National Archery Association of the United States in 1917 in 345 pages; Subjects: Archery; History / General; Non-Classifiable; Sports & Recreation / General; Sports & Recreation / Archery; Sports & Recreation / History; ... Read more


57. Target Archery (Physical Education)
by M.L. Klann
 Hardcover: 128 Pages (1970-06-24)

Isbn: 0201037653
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58. Basic Illustrated Archery (Basic Essentials Series)
by Beth Habeishi, Stephanie Mallory, Lon Levin
Paperback: 80 Pages (2008-03-04)
list price: US$9.95 -- used & new: US$4.04
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0762747560
Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description

Teaches the basics of equipment and gear, safety, technique, care and maintenance, target shooting, competition, and background history of archery.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

1-0 out of 5 stars Basic Essentials Archery, Uhhh, No
This seems to be an update of a previous book of the same title and two of the three authors. I bought the original version for review in the magazine I edit, Archery Focus. I bought the newer version thinking it a different book, which it is ... somewhat. Possibly the third author was added in an attempt to fix all of the mistakes in the first effort.

There is little to recommed here. Much of the photography (including the cover of the original version) is not only unhelpful but also incorrect and misleading. The same can be said for much of the technique advice.

We did not review the book in Archery Focus as we avoid negativity in its pages, but I do not want to see beginning archers wasting their money on this book. Go take a lesson from a certified coach instead. ... Read more


59. One Arrow, One Life: Zen, Archery, Enlightenment
by Kenneth Kushner, Jackson Morisawa
Paperback: 128 Pages (2000-08-01)
list price: US$16.95 -- used & new: US$9.96
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: 0804832463
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars
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Editorial Review

Product Description
One Arrow, One Life is the ultimate study of kyudo (the art of traditional Japanese archery) and its relation to the ideals and practice of Zen Buddhism. But it's much more: It also serves perfectly as an informal manual of practice for anyone who wants to bring a living, moving Zen into the activities of everyday life. Beginning with a solid introduction to the foundation techniques of both kyudo and zazen-breathing, posture, and concentration-and quickly moving on to the subtleties of advanced practice, Ken Kushner then ties it all together into a personal testimony of the pervasiveness of Zen in everyday life. For those interested in Zen and moving meditation, kyudo practitioners of all levels, as well as students of the Way of martial arts, this volume, beautifully illustrated with line drawings by Jackson Morisawa, is an indispensable guidebook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

5-0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air
Since Eugen Herrigel's classic on Zen and the Art of Archery I have not come across with a book that ignated my heart. In a world where technology, sophistication and complexity abounds, this simple story shoots an arrow of love straight to the heart of the reader. Kushner shares his story of how he decided to learn the art of kyudo and the insights of his zen practice, his difficulties, his findings, his struggles and joys. He connects remarkably well the teachings of his kyudo teachers with that of his Zen practice. An easy to read small book which faithfully conveys the message of love, simplicity and authenticity enabling the reader to easily travels back in time Kurshner and experiences his first steps of his learning journey. A must reading for those interested in catching the spirit of zen and kyudo and not just the technique.

3-0 out of 5 stars Spiritual Mastery Through Archery?Maybe, Maybe Not...
Hey, kids, look at this!
We have here yet another book presenting the enlightened teachings of the inscrutable East for the benefit of us bumbling Westerners...How many books on Zen, martial arts, Eastern culture, etc., assume some Asian master has unlimited hidden pearls of wisdom and you, poor reader, are the Western cultural bumpkin who badly needs an extreme make-over? (Answer: too many). Many "devotional" types of books on Eastern cultures, and this book is certainly one, assume this popular mentality; and it is common to see Western authors dabbling in Eastern disciplines perhaps being guilty of holding overly-romantic notions of their esteemed adopted cultures. Even Hollywood likes to get in on this act :-). And this mentality is reinforced by many native Asian teachers themselves, who likely see little reason to discourage Westerners from portraying the East in some kind of exotic, mysterious fashion.
So do you see the pattern yet?Yes- you are correct:East = inscrutable wisdom; West = unsophisticated bumpkins.
And yes, W.W. II veterans, you ALSO are correct:it is precisely the same mentality that cost Japan that war!

The problem with this type of mentality lies in the rather naive, romantic portrayals of Eastern culture. The descriptions of these cultures in "devotional" books tend to be overly-enthusiastic, and sociological problem-areas are seldom, or never, reflected upon. We'll touch upon this idealized, overly-romantic vision later.

But for now let's play along. Now that we are hip to the formula, we can proceed to read these types of books and soak in the pearls from the East, as dutiful Western devotees sitting at the feet of the...waitaminute, this is archery...as devotees cocking an arrow...under the enlightened watch of the master.Are you ready, grasshopper? Notice here you have an ordinary white guy throwing out the pearls below, unfortunately breaking the stereotype of a sagely Asian master...but reality is, as long as I'm writing this review and you're reading it, you're the grasshopper and I'm the theoretical endless fountain of wisdom - deal with it :-).

First, a little discussion on the "Ways". What is a "Way"? Many know that various disciplines in Japan, both the fine arts as well as the more-well-known martial arts, have a "Do" suffix attached to words, such as cha-do (way of tea), sho-do (way of the brush), ju-do, karate-do, aiki-do, ken-do, iai-do, etc. etc. Disciplines even without the "Do" suffix could be included in the general scheme of things here as well, such as ikebana (flower arranging) and Noh theatre. The implication here is that these disciplines really have an ulterior purpose- ideally seen, they can be vehicles toward personal development and spiritual insight. In theory, anyway... The "Do" suffix implies certain assumptions, particularly that each of these relevant disciplines - if practiced correctly in their highly condensed, ritualized form, under a genuine master- can help students attain a realization of the "infinite", or Absolute. So we move from a finite practice as a springboard into the infinite- so to speak.Stated differently, these practices can be viewed as training vehicles designed to point the individual toward Zen ideals of personal enlightenment (difficult in any case, but we're speaking "in theory" here).

Now here we are specifically interested in kyudo, "way of the bow". Authors Ken Kushner and Jackson Morisawa are both kyudo practitioners, which means they practice a form of Japanese ritualized archery. Kushner has been at the Chozen-ji school in Hawaii since 1978, and main author Morisawa is a kyudo instructor, one of the co-founders of the kyudo training there. As other reviewers have noticed, this book is not a "how-to" book, per se, but rather a series of "lessons" on how to view life, ideally, through the insights gained from practicing the discipline of kyudo. [Readers wanting a more detailed "how-to" type of book are better-served looking at other books, such as Morisawa's own "Secret of the Target" (rather hard to find these days), or "Kyudo:Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery" by Hideharu Onuma et al.]

This isn't your feudal-period battleground archery, please note; remember what we discussed above on the "Ways". Rather, kyudo is a highly refined ritual, where each step has been broken down and highly formalized. Each action in the sequence needs to be performed with the proper physical technique (waza) along with the proper psycho-spiritual awareness (shin). Hence, the ideal is a perfect combination of body and mind harmonizing completely into the action itself, whatever that may be (this is starting to look like a New-Age buzz session, forgive me for a moment). So here, in essence, is the goal of all the various "Ways"... And various background conceptions out of Japanese culture bear in on this general theme, such as "zanshin": a hard-to-define term (lit. "remaining mind/spirit") meaning something like an "all-pervasive spiritual awareness". Students of the martial arts know that such a "global" awareness should extend far beyond fighting, even to one's everyday events. Indeed, one's own general state-of-mind in every daily task- no matter how seemingly trivial- should exhibit this "global alertness"- one should be brushing one's teeth with "zanshin" :-). Also, we don't want any 'breaks" or "gaps" (Japanese: suki) in our actions- any break in concentration or physical form shows a lack of "zanshin", and likely will be rewarded with a rebuke from a severe-looking Japanese instructor (OK, a bit too much stereotype here for the sake of description). Closely watch a seasoned Noh actor, if you have the opportunity, and observe how the performer, whether in motion or frozen in stillness, exhibits an intense "zanshin"- it's what defines a good actor vs. a poor one. Kyudo itself teaches similar life lessons on zanshin through certain sayings, such as "one shot, one life" (or more literally, "one shot and die"- issha zetsumei). In other words, each arrow involves the archer's entire life in that shot.Kind of like "giving 110%", even though it makes no mathematical sense to talk about giving past 100%... (I threw that cliche in for free, you'll hear it in sports all the time...which shows you how these well-meaning cliches easily turn into rhetoric).
Kushner's/Morisawa's book goes on to entail these types of lessons as "life perspectives", so readers interested in such lessons will find similar material presented in a sermon-like manner...But let's do remember to view these cultural exchanges realistically and not romanticize a particular teaching beyond what we should. Americans could easily find wise sayings which we could give to Japan, such as, "Friends don't let friends drink lite beer...".
That's right - every culture has its own sages.

But even so, here, we're talking about a particularly Japanese cultural contribution that is unique, and SHOULD be celebrated. Japan indeed has much to teach the world in its own aesthetics and methods of learning ("from the body to the mind") in constant repetition of these ritualized forms. (Sometimes I see Japan somehow 200 years ahead of the rest of the world in aesthetic appreciation, like the country jumped into some kind of time-warp, but the culture also has its own set of expectations and frustrations for natives, which should be kept in mind).

An issue here concerns the practicality of this manner of teaching, where everything is seen through rose-colored glasses (Chozenji-colored glasses?). In the Chozen-ji view of the world, one doesn't have the proper view if one isn't seeing everything in terms of vehicles toward enlightenment. If this sounds a little over-the-top for the average person, it just may be :-). After all, we all know that famous maxim "words are cheap", and it is easy to teach admonitions which sound good in theory but are difficult to embody personally. Much of this type of "devotional" literature is in that category. People spout all kinds of philosophical stuff that sounds good, but then you look at their own lives...
The fault isn't that teachings, such as "one shot and die", don't have value, per se, but one should realize these are idealized sentiments that most folks will find rather difficult to put into every action. Do you brush your teeth as a means of Zen practice, reader?Why not? Answer: "because we're not Zen students and don't pretend to be, dummy". I hear ya. Do you know of anyone who puts their whole life, so to speak, into every action they do? How about the Chozen-ji crowd itself?Congrats, neither do I. The teachings sound lofty, but on a daily level, much of it remains somewhat rhetorical.
And I have to be honest here, once one moves out of the Japanese "fine arts" per se, and into the more-physical "martial" arts, these lofty spiritual teachings have little place in the mentalities of the majority of practitioners- Japanese or otherwise (aikido might be an exception). Yes, I know the "Do" suffix is tacked on the end of these disciplines as well, but practically speaking, the majority of martial artists around the world probably don't view their art specifically as a vehicle toward Buddhist goals of enlightenment. The "Do" aspect should thus be seen as a huge over-statement of reality, or at least as mere lip-service to ideals which aren't taken too seriously. Do you really think, for instance, that a world-class Japanese judoka practicing for the Olympics is thinking in terms of Zen enlightenment?Yeah, right... (Did you know that many Japanese citizens view suspiciously people who choose to become karateka, for instance- it doesn't enjoy a terribly refined reputation and practitioners are perceived as somewhere between thugs and country bumpkins?Oh yes. Not much spiritual enlightenment in this scenario...).And in the fine arts, one should be careful not to read too much Zen or Shinto into activities that many native Japanese see as essentially enjoyable hobbies. Native Japanese can be highly amused when a Westerner comes out spouting lofty sentiments about being one with the universe through Shinto or Zen...just as we might be amused at a Japanese holding romantic notions about, say, the wild wild West, with everybody wearing cowboy boots and cowboy hats, like on TV Westerns. Moral: don't try to over-spiritualize activities that for many natives are merely enjoyable cultural hobbies. Most Japanese aren't trying to become spiritual giants through these practices, and so Westerners guilty of trying to extract deep Zen or Shinto lessons out of common cultural events are being a bit romantic :-).
So I see the relevance of this type of literature - for most folks anyway - to be rather minimal. It should more properly be seen as the domain of a specialized group of students, seeking a particularly Zen experience through some kind of ritualized formal training.

One last note. As I mentioned in another review of a Chozen-ji book, one should always do some background-digging on the characters involved in one's favorite religious path. In this case, we're talking about Sogen Omori, founder of the Chozen-ji school we're looking at here. Omori was indeed a famous Rinzai teacher in Japan, and his views of combining Zen training with physical movement, such as swordsmanship or the fine arts, is very influential. These insights, however, must be tempered with the realization that Omori himself was in reality a right-wing zealot in Japan with violent political views, as readers of Brian Victoria's books will know. A pity the lofty Zen teachings weren't exactly followed in his own life completely, which shows us that one should be cautious viewing any spiritual teacher as a "sage".
Other examples abound. In Kyudo, particularly, one can point out the example of the German Eugen Herrigel, whose book "Zen in the Art of Archery" became a Western classic (indeed, his book influenced these Chozen-ji authors as well). Unfortunately, Herrigel went on to became an ardent Nazi, which serves to prove that even though influential people may say nice spiritual things, they have as much trouble as anyone else trying to live these philosophies.
I don't write these comments to pick on the Chozen-ji school particularly, but only because they represent very clearly some common (rather simplistic) assumptions about "getting enlightenment from the East". I wish something like ritualized archery could turn everyone into a spiritual giant, but alas, human nature is pretty complex, and our biology always always seems to throw a monkey wrench into these spiritual projects :-).

2-0 out of 5 stars How one man learned the art
This book was an autobiagraphical approach as to who one man learned. In this way the book was not what I anticipated. I thought thst I would be reading a book about techniques not how one internalized techniques. The below book was what I found more helpful. Kyudo: The Essence and Practice of Japanese Archery (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior).

4-0 out of 5 stars My number two pick
I need to make this point clear: If you are looking for a technical manual on Kyudo to teach yourself how to do it, your wasting your time. You will never find a Kyudo book with information detailing all the little nuances, tricks, short-cuts, or even how to release the Ya (arrow). Why? Because Kyudo is a journey and figuring it out of yourself is part of that journey. You do this by first mastering yourself, then you can go on to mastering the bow. The best books on doing this are not technical manuals, but the personal narratives of Kyudo masters. You learn a lot more by learning of their journeys, trials, and tribulations through Kyudo. Through this you can make distinctions between your questions, the questions they had, and how they inevitably achieved those solutions, but for your questions, the answers lye only within yourself. This is the only way you will 'really' understand what it means when someone says, "The arrow exists in the target before it is shot."
As for personal narratives by Kyudo masters, this is one of the best.

3-0 out of 5 stars Will this Keisaku help?
His "Book Description" states....
"One Arrow, One Life is the ultimate study of Kyudo (the art of traditional Japanese archery)". Well I have never read any other book on Kyudo or Zen for that matter, but I can only hope this is not the "ultimate study of Kyudo". If I had to explain this to a friend I would say if you're interested in Kyudo you can read this book and get some information, terminology and Dr. Kushner's experience with Kyudo but don't expect to feel too enlightened when you're done. The book is very short, 111 pages and that includes a 2 page glossary. Also don't expect to be shooting any arrows with better precision after reading this; it's more about Zen then about Archery which is what I expected so I have no issue with that. I kept thinking when is he going to tell me about some great insight, something important about himself; about life or something I can relate to never experiencing the Zen Way before. Well instead I get stories about how to move a rock, how to pick weeds or chop wood and flows of mysterious energy. Good Grief. I am not a Zen cynic, I just think Dr Kushner's experiences seemed a little trivial and not very enlightening. He did not "open up his soul" to his reader....if he thinks he did then perhaps I missed it.Now what did I like, learning the terminology, especially I enjoyed reading about Koans ...."Unsolvable questions..." (Has a dog the Buddha nature or not?). So really it's about a 3 star book, a little light on the depth, experience and inspiration of Zen. And I say this with controlled breathing and no delusive thoughts. In the Way of Zen......" We must recognize these flaws before we can transcend them." ... Read more


60. Archery at Home: How to Practice Daily and Stay Sharp For Target Shooting, Field Archery, and Bowhunting
by G. Howard Gillelan
 Hardcover: 152 Pages (1980)

Isbn: 0679509003
Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

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