The makiwara is a kyudo training target used from a close distance. It’s made of rice straw cut and bound together.

Kyudo beginners start to shoot to makiwara (Makiwara-mae) before moving to 28 meters shooting 28 (Mato-mae). Makiwara however, is not only used by beginners but also by  expert kyudoka, both as warm-up at the start of kyudo training session and to study certain aspects of their shooting without the “distraction” of the target.

In this type of shooting it’s used an arrow that differs from the one used in the 28 meters shooting for two characteristics:

• it has very small or no wings. These are not necessary due to the short distance covered by the arrow to reach the makiwara
• It has a different kind of tip. This tip, ogive shaped, is designed to minimize the impact of the arrow on the straw and then allow a longer life to makiwara.