By Callum Ludwig
A Woori Yallock resident is offering an opportunity for others to learn a rare and unique sport in a social and tranquil environment.
Jerry Osadczuk, an artist whose work has also been featured in local exhibitions, lived in Japan and learnt the art of Shihan-Mato, a traditional form of Japanese archery, from his wife’s grandfather.
Mr Osadczuk brought the artistic and elegant pastime back with him to Australia and said it’s been around in Japan since the 15th century.
“As far as I know, in Australia, I’m the only person doing it and only because I studied it in Japan and did it for a long time, so I came back with a number of arrows,” he said.
“We meet once a fortnight, come and shoot arrows and have a cup of green Japanese tea, it’s a pretty relaxing thing we look forward to.”
Mr Osadczuk currently shoots with Mario Laing, who first got involved after seeing Mr Osadczuk share his interest in the sport with the Star Mail about 15 years ago. Recently, a third member died and so Mr Osadczuk hopes to share his passion with any new members who may be interested in joining them.
Mr Osadczuk said he really fell in love with it after his first time, even though he’d never really done archery before.
“I really got into the very social and a little bit spiritual and calm side of it, especially in a dojo. I continued Shihan-Mato for a few years and then I got into Kyudo which is a different form of archery with a long bow,” he said.
“I was doing both for about five years and I don’t mean to brag but I was a Fifth Dan in both, doing it nearly every day while I was running an English conversation school over there.”
Mr Osadczuk came back to Australia, specifically to Healesville, after nine years living in Japan with the bows and arrows left to him by his wife’s grandfather after he died and starting teaching others how to participate.
‘Shihan’ means 4.5 ken, a measurement equivalent to 8.2m which is the distance between the shooter and the ‘Mato’ which means target. Shooters fire from a seated position at the target, which is only 13.6 centimetres wide, with a 1.36m long shortbow called a ‘Yumi’.
Mr Osadczuk said if you get everything right and in order, you will hit the target without even having to think about it.
“There’s a saying in Kyudo that translates to ‘One shot, one life’, essentially saying each shot counts so they don’t take it too casually, which isn’t the attitude in Shihan-Mato but it is still true,” he said.
Mr Laing said concentration is the key.
“We need concentration and we need our eyes but I am short-sighted and my lenses are over there and I still do it always without them, a little concentration what makes you be the successful,” he said.
Shihan-Mato is more of a casual game compared to the more popular Kyudo in Japan.
According to the website of Sengan-en, a traditional home and garden built by the Shimadzu family, Shihan Mato was created in about 1568, when Ito Yoshisuke (1512-1585) attacked the head of the Shimadzu family at the time, Tadachika, at Obi Castle in the province of Hyuga. Peasants that were loyal to the Ito clan were able to distract reinforcements using their handmade bamboo bows and help the castle be captured after a five-month siege. As a gesture of goodwill to the peasants, Yoshisuke allowed them to continue practising Shihan-Mato as an informal sport.
To this day it is popular in the Nichinan area of Miyazaki Prefecture and can be played on the grounds of Obi Castle.
Mr Osadczuk said for anyone interested, it doesn’t have to be a hard and fast commitment.
“We’re both very social guys, we’re quite happy and friendly and we just basically talk about everyday things and sometimes we change the days if one of us is busy, so it’s flexible,” he said.
“I’ve got practice bows and arrows, so to anybody that wants to have a go, they shouldn’t think too much about it. Just come and try and if you don’t like it you don’t have to come back.”
Anyone interested can contact Mr Osadczuk at 0466 598 119.
