2018 German Kyudo Championships

The Neandertal Kyudo Club Produces the German Champion

Hannelore Heid-Dauner was the club’s only member to compete in the tournament, and she won.

She reports:

...I had firmly resolved to compete in this year’s Sempai Championship.
I had carefully selected my bow and arrows, checked and optimized the string and spare string, prepared the necessary kyudo attire—including my kimono—and packed my other equipment.
After all, everything had to be prepared as perfectly as possible for the competition, including the mental preparation for the best shots.
I had a good feeling!

Over 80 kyudoka from all over Germany participated in the German Championships, which took place on June 23 and 24, 2018, in Karlsruhe:
On Saturday, the 32nd Sempai Championship for kyudoka from 5th dan and up was held, followed by the 41st Individual Championship for 1st–4th dan.
On Sunday, the 41st Team Championship followed, with each federal state sending three archers.
The event concluded with the 11th Kyu Championship for archers holding 3rd–1st Kyu.

After the impressive opening ceremony, which radiated a lot of energy, 8 Sempai competed in 2 groups of four to shoot 4x2 arrows at 28 meters in the Tai Hai movement form.
The gym was completely silent as we entered the marked dojo with uniform movements and, upon reaching our shooting positions on the honza,
the men removed their left kimono sleeves, while the women tied their kimono sleeves up using a ribbon approximately 2.20 meters long.
I felt a surge of excitement welling up inside me, but I quickly pushed it aside. With focused energy, I landed one hit after another—a total of 6 out of 8 shots.
I remained completely focused on myself until the very end, and then I learned that I had become the 2018 German Sempai Champion! I was overjoyed!

My shots were a special experience for me, just like the ones for my 5th Dan, which I earned in Paris in 2011.
In 1997—21 years ago—I began my journey with the bow together with my husband, Günther Dauner, which led us to the Neandertal Kyudo Club in 2006.
My number one training priority has always been—and still is—the persistent, dedicated practice of technique as well as the forms of movement (Tai Hai and Sharei), combined with a centered posture,
as practiced here at my main club, Neandertal, twice a week.
Since 2016, I have been coaching a group of kyudoka at DJK TuS Hürth once a week.
The 2018 German Kyudo Championships took place in a respectful, friendly, and even convivial atmosphere. I hope to be able to participate again next year, also to defend my title.

Automatically translated by DeepL