05/22/2026
2026 Ottawa Kyudo Seminar
Photo credit: CorgiMark Photography
From May 16–18, the Ottawa Kyudo Association had the privilege of hosting the 2026 Ottawa Kyudo Seminar led by Laurence Oriou Sensei and Charles-Louis Oriou Sensei, both Kyoshi 6-Dan.
Held at the Carleton University Fieldhouse on May 16–17 and concluding with a smaller practice session at Blessed Sacrament Church on May 18, the seminar welcomed 31 participants and 10 junior observers from Ottawa, Montreal, and Edmonton, ranging from Mudansha to 4-Dan.
The seminar was honoured to welcome Nobuyuki Yoshihara-san, Director of Information and Culture at the Embassy of Japan, who provided opening remarks on the first day and observed portions of the event. His presence highlighted the growing relationship between Ottawa’s Japanese cultural community and the continued development of kyudo in the region.
For Ottawa Kyudo Association, this seminar represented an important milestone in the dojo’s development. It was the largest seminar hosted by the dojo to date, the first to include practitioners travelling from outside the region, and the first to feature international guest instructors. It was also the first Ottawa event to incorporate both taihai and kinteki in a format approaching the atmosphere and expectations of a proper shinsa environment.
More than simply a technical seminar, the event served as an important step toward building the organizational experience, infrastructure, and community foundation required for future national and international events aligned with ANKF standards.
Each seminar day began with a demonstration by the sensei before moving into hitote gyosha, lectures, and guided instruction. Participants were divided between separate shajo focusing on shooting and taihai instruction, allowing practitioners to receive more focused guidance throughout the weekend.
A recurring theme throughout the seminar was the relationship between correct process and natural outcome. The sensei emphasized tenouchi, relaxation of the hands, taihai harmony, tsumeai and nobiai, and the importance of dojo connection and awareness of others. Participants were repeatedly reminded of the danger of becoming overly attached to the mato, and how fixation on hitting often caused shooting to deteriorate compared to the more natural and correct shooting seen during makiwara practice.
Several teachings strongly resonated with participants throughout the weekend:
“If you want progress in Kyudo, you must change.”
“You don’t make yugaeri, you create the conditions for a beautiful zanshin.”
“Shooting is not about you. Your job is just to open the bow. The bow’s job is to shoot.”
“Train as if you’re in shinsa. Do shinsa as if you’re just training.”
“Recognize the limiting thoughts in your mind, and replace the negative with positive.”
The final practice day at Blessed Sacrament Church offered a smaller and more intimate atmosphere focused on kimono practice and makiwara sharei. Men and women practiced separately while receiving individual guidance from the sensei. It became especially apparent during this session that many participants shot more naturally and correctly at makiwara than during kinteki, reinforcing one of the seminar’s central lessons regarding attachment to results and the psychological influence of the mato.
Beyond the technical instruction, one of the strongest impressions left by the seminar was the atmosphere of warmth, generosity, and shared responsibility created by the Ottawa Kyudo Association community. Nearly all participants volunteered to help with setup and teardown, transforming the fieldhouse into a temporary kyudojo complete with multi-shajo operation and custom azuchi infrastructure.
Throughout the weekend, practitioners from different dojos practiced, ate, worked, and learned together in a way that felt less like a formal event and more like an extended family gathering centered around keiko. Newer members were welcomed naturally into conversations and responsibilities, while senior practitioners freely shared their time, experience, and encouragement.
This sense of community was strongly felt not only by visiting participants, but also by the Oriou Sensei themselves. They commented warmly on the spirit and atmosphere of the dojo, noting that the energy of a young and growing community reminded them of their own humble beginnings, and expressing their wish to continue supporting and nurturing Ottawa’s growth in the years ahead.
The Ottawa Kyudo Association would like to extend deep gratitude to all participants, volunteers, and supporters who contributed to the success of the seminar.
Special thanks go to:
Participant Kakari led by Bronwyn and Dave
Sewing Kakari led by Bronwyn and Catherine
Azuchi design and build led by Alex and Terry
Sensei Kakari led by Charles and Jackson
Equipment builds by Brent and Damian
Non-participant volunteers Emily and Ayumi
Their effort, care, and willingness to support the community behind the scenes helped make the event possible.
As the seminar concluded, many participants left with a feeling not only of accomplishment, but also renewed motivation. The weekend demonstrated that strong practice is built not only through technical repetition, but through community responsibility, mutual support, and sincere connection with others.
For Ottawa Kyudo Association, the seminar represented both a milestone and a beginning — a confirmation that the dojo is building a strong foundation of practice, organization, and culture capable of supporting larger aspirations in the future.
Most importantly, the seminar reaffirmed something deeply felt throughout the weekend: that the strength of a dojo is not measured only by rank, facilities, or results, but by the spirit of the people within it. Through shared effort, hospitality, and practice together, the Ottawa Kyudo community was able to create an environment where participants, volunteers, and sensei alike felt welcomed, supported, and connected.
It is this spirit that Ottawa Kyudo Association hopes to continue nurturing in the years ahead.
