The Centre Kyudo in Trégunc is hosting a public archery workshop this Sunday, offering beginners aged 12 and older an introduction to the traditional Japanese martial art of kyudo. The session will take place at the local sports hall dojo, providing participants with hands-on experience in both makiwara and target shooting techniques.
Instruction under Jean-Pierre Pilot-Maréchal
The association is led by 74-year-old Jean-Pierre Pilot-Maréchal, who has practiced kyudo for four decades. Pilot-Maréchal, who also holds a third dan in aikido, oversees the sessions in an intimate setting designed to accommodate both youth and adult students. According to the instructor, the curriculum emphasizes mental focus and serenity rather than physical competition or athletic output.
Focus on non-ego practice
Each session incorporates the display of Japanese calligraphy, which serves as a thematic reminder of the art’s underlying philosophy. Pilot-Maréchal explains that the practice is intended to move participants toward “the forgetting of self” and “non-ego,” rather than serving as a venue to demonstrate personal strength or physical performance. This approach, he notes, is intended to distance the archer from the desire to be validated through physical prowess.
Technical progression and range distances
Participants begin their training with the makiwara, a straw target specifically designed for practice at very close range. Once students demonstrate basic proficiency, they transition to standard target shooting. The center organizes these instructional workshops every six weeks on Sundays. During regular practice, archers utilize distances ranging from 2.50 meters for foundational work up to 28 meters and 80 meters for advanced training.
Event details for Sunday
The upcoming workshop is scheduled to run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time at the Trégunc sports hall dojo. The event is open to participants starting at age 12, maintaining the organization’s recurring schedule of hosting introductory sessions approximately every month and a half.
Frequently asked questions about the workshop
Is prior experience required to attend the Sunday session?
No, the workshop is specifically structured to be open to beginners aged 12 and older.
What is the primary objective of the kyudo training?
The training centers on developing concentration and serenity. The instructor emphasizes that the practice is not focused on physical performance or self-valorization, but rather on achieving a state of “non-ego.”
How often does the Centre Kyudo offer these training opportunities?
The association conducts these specialized workshops on a recurring basis, occurring approximately every month and a half on Sundays.
