The Way of the Bow — a meditative art rooted in precision, patience, and presence
Kyudo Kai of Florin is a non-profit 501(c)(3) recreational Japanese archery club promoting training, education, and cultural awareness of Kyudo in the Sacramento community.
Kyudo Kai of Florin was approved by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in August 2022. We hold practice in the basketball gymnasium of the Buddhist Church of Florin — a beautiful 100-year-old facility — and are grateful that the church granted us space to grow this tradition.
Approved by the BCF board of directors in the spring of 2022, the first class of Kyudo Kai of Florin launched in November 2022. Our club strives to provide education, training, and cultural awareness of Kyudo in the Florin community.
The Kyudo Kai of Florin mon (crest) was created by a Sacramento graphic designer to honor kyudo’s roots in the Florin community. The strawberry leaves remember the Japanese immigrants who settled in Florin to farm. Five arrows represent five pillars:
Kyudo means “the way of the bow” and is considered one of the oldest traditional martial arts in Japan — with roots dating to 7,000 BC. Rich with history, Kyudo evolved from early hunting and warfare into a ceremonial and deeply spiritual practice.
Influenced by Shinto and Chinese Zen, modern Kyudo is not simply about hitting a target. The focus is on developing inner spirit, respect for others, and harmony in the learning environment. Hitting the target is not the main objective — improving one’s form, spiritual awareness, and character is.
Kyudo is a lifelong journey. Masters well into their 80s will readily say they are still learning. One can become proficient in a short period, but achieving the “perfect” shot takes a lifetime of practice.
Kyudo’s shooting form is divided into eight stages (Hassetsu) — from initial standing posture through drawing, aiming, releasing, and the still moment after the release. Each stage is performed with full intention and presence. The form does not end with the arrow’s flight; the archer holds the final posture in stillness before returning.
The yumi is a Japanese asymmetrical longbow — among the longest bows in the world at over two meters. Its distinctive shape and the ceremonial way it is held and drawn are central to Kyudo practice. Each yumi is a work of craft, traditionally made from bamboo, wood, and leather.
Every Friday — 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
BCF Gymnasium — 7235 Pritchard Road, Sacramento, CA
Contact: kyudokaiflorin@yahoo.com
The KKF Mon — five arrows, five pillars
“Kyudo is deceptively simple. It takes a short time to become proficient, but a lifetime to achieve the perfect shot. Kyudo masters well into their 80s will profess they are still improving.”— Kyudo Kai of Florin
Practicing indoors allows a permanent year-round schedule regardless of season or weather. The range is set up inside BCF’s gymnasium — a 5-person indoor range approximately 28 meters in length, plus a Makiwara station for close-range warm-up and technique refinement.
ABC10 KXTV Sacramento featured Kyudo Kai of Florin in a news segment that aired on May 6, 2026 in recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month. A camera crew visited the dojo at BCF to cover the practice of this ancient Japanese martial art in the Sacramento community.
See More at KyudoKaiFlorin.com