📌Do you know of Awa Kenzo?
📌阿波研造先生をご存知ですか？
I think he is one of the most important kyudo masters of the last century. For me he is an amazing and interesting historical kyudo figure. Since starting kyudo my sensei has often fondly mentioned him.

Born 1880 in Ishinomaki he studied kyujutsu, jujutsu, naginata, kenjutsu, and batto.
He was very famous for shooting strong or heavy bows.

Awa sensei was initially part of the Heki ryu Sekka ha school of kyujutsu and later joined Honda Toshizane sensei (the founder of Honda Ryu) to practice kyudo.

He is quite well known outside of Japan especially in Europe for being Eugen Herrigels sensei (author: Zen in the Art of Archery) and for the phrase issha zetsumei一射絶命 one shot one life .

He is said to be partially responsible for moving kyudo towards becoming a holistic and meaningful practice beyond pure bow skills and techniques.

I took a pilgrimage or ohakamairiお墓参りto where Awa sensei rests.

I was quite excited to be able to finally pay my respects to the person my sensei had often talked about. I thought about what I would say and what I would ask. I lit an incense and laid it at the foot of his headstone. I put my hands together and bowed.

For a moment I wondered what it would be like to go back in time and meet him.

Incense holds significant meaning during ohakamaeri. The smoke is said to connect the physical world with the spirit world, and purify the visitor and their surroundings.

Taking time to travel to Ishinomaki was a very precious memory for me as a kyudo practitioner.

If you would like to try kyudo and experience a day in the birthplace of Awa Kenzo please visit Ishinomaki Budo Tour tagged in this reel for more information

阿波先生は弓道の歴史において大切な方だと私は考えています。

自分の師匠から阿波先生のお話をよく聞いていきました。それがきっかけで阿波先生の出身地や生涯について調べ始めました。

元々日置流雪荷派の弓術家でしたが、1913年頃から本多利實先生（本多流の創始者）の元で弓道をしました。

阿波先生の事をご存知の方が世界中にかなり多くいらっしゃいます。実は阿波先生がオイゲン・ヘリゲル（『弓と禅』の著者）というドイツの方を指導していたことが大きな要因です。

阿波先生は「一射絶命（いっしゃぜつめい」という言葉で有名です。

日帰り旅行はとても素晴らしい体験で、もちろんどなたでもご参加できます。（英語/フランス語/日本語ガイドもいます)。

ツアーのご予約、お問い合わせは
@Ishinomaki_budo_tour のプロフィールにあるリンクまでご連絡お願いいたします。

#outdoors #japan