On certain Sunday mornings at Malachi Acres in Parkland, visitors can witness Yabusame, a traditional form of Japanese mounted archery with roots stretching back approximately 800 years to the martial and ceremonial traditions of Japan’s samurai.
The arena is set up with traditional targets, and riders carry Japanese bows, known as yumi, which are often over six feet tall and have a grip positioned below the center. Their distinctive asymmetrical shape allows riders to handle these long bows while mounted, an important feature when shooting arrows from horseback.
Riders use traditional Japanese saddles, known as kura, based on designs that have been used for centuries. These saddles consist of four principal hand-carved, wooden components joined together using hemp cord. Their construction allows for flexibility, maintenance, and repair, reflecting the craftsmanship and practicality of traditional Japanese horsemanship.
In Japan, Yabusame is traditionally performed along a straight track, with mounted archers shooting at targets while riding at speed. At Malachi Acres, the smaller arena provides a controlled environment where riders develop their horsemanship, balance, coordination, and archery skills before progressing to more demanding exercises.
The practitioners are Florida-based members of the Ogasawara-ryū America Branch, studying the traditions of one of Japan’s oldest surviving schools of martial etiquette and mounted archery. Ogasawara-ryū has preserved and transmitted traditions of Japanese horsemanship, archery, and ceremonial etiquette for centuries. Its teachings emphasize not only technical ability, but also discipline, correct form, respect, and an understanding of the cultural significance behind each movement.
The Florida training group is coordinated by Jade Fraundorfer, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, who has practiced traditional Japanese archery since 2007.
The group’s introduction to Japanese mounted archery began through its participation in the Ogasawara-ryū America Branch Gasshuku, intensive traditional training gatherings held annually in California and taught by Kiyomoto Ogasawara Sensei himself, the heir apparent and son of Kiyotada Ogasawara Sensei, the current head of the Ogasawara-ryū school.
These training experiences inspired the members to establish their own practice group in South Florida, allowing them to continue developing their horsemanship and mounted archery skills between annual training gatherings.
“We went to a training camp, and none of us really had much riding experience,” recalls Fraundorfer. “We just got on horses and tried our best.”
After returning to South Florida, the members decided they wanted to continue training locally rather than wait for the next annual gathering. “We decided to organize ourselves as a group, find a suitable place to ride, obtain the necessary traditional equipment, and demonstrate to our seniors and teachers that we were serious about learning and preserving this tradition,” explains Fraundorfer.
Through continued training and their connection with the Ogasawara-ryū America Branch, the Florida practitioners have progressed from learning the fundamentals of mounted archery to being encouraged to participate in international Ogasawara-ryū performances in Japan.
At these traditional events, members are able to serve in various capacities, including essential supporting roles involved in the preparation and execution of the performances, as well as participating as Ite, the mounted archers who perform the traditional shooting. These opportunities represent an important step in their development, allowing them to learn directly through participation while contributing to the continuation of a centuries-old Japanese martial tradition.
While shooting a Japanese bow from horseback may appear to be the greatest challenge, Fraundorfer emphasizes that mastering the horse comes first. “For me personally, the archery is not the hardest part,” he says. “It’s the horsemanship and learning to manage your emotions, particularly fear. You’re working with a large, powerful animal that has a mind of its own, moving at speed, while holding a bow and arrow. It requires trust, confidence, and the ability to remain calm and focused, even when things become unpredictable.”
The five members currently participating in local mounted archery training range in age from 18 to 61. In addition to their monthly Sunday sessions, they take regular riding lessons to develop the balance, confidence, and control required to ride safely while handling a bow.
“A lot of us have fallen quite a number of times,” admits Fraundorfer.
Beyond the physical demands, the practitioners are learning a deeply rooted Japanese cultural tradition with its own techniques, etiquette, equipment, and responsibilities. Their objective is not simply to strike a target while riding a horse, it is to learn and practice the techniques as faithfully as possible, showing respect for the Japanese teachers and generations of practitioners who have maintained these traditions.
That commitment has also taken members beyond South Florida. In October, three members traveled to Japan to participate in Yabusame and Kasagake performances associated with the 31st Himawari no Hanabatake Matsuri (Sunflower Field Festival) in Midori City, Gunma Prefecture. The visit provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Japanese mounted archery and experience the tradition in the country where it originated.
Fraundorfer emphasizes that studying Yabusame requires dedication, patience, and cultural understanding. “You have to understand that what you’re learning is deeply cultural and very traditional. And it is very close to the hearts and traditions of the Japanese people. You are not learning just a simple sport. You are involved in something that has been growing for 800 years. There is a lot of pressure on you as a student.”
For those interested in witnessing this rare tradition, the group’s training sessions at Malachi Acres offer a glimpse into an extraordinary aspect of Japanese martial heritage.
Through their dedication, these Florida-based practitioners of the Ogasawara-ryū America Branch are working to develop their skills while honoring a tradition that has been passed down through generations in Japan.