South Carolina Kyudo Renmei

10/19/2026

Come Celebrate the Life of Edwin C. Symmes, Jr.
(December 27, 1939 – July 7, 2026)

Date: 1:00pm. on Saturday, October 24, 2026

At: Intown Community Church 2059 Lavista Road, NE Atlanta GA 30329

Please let me know: If you are planning:
*To attend
*To Speak/Share
*To have something read for you

(For items to be read, please email to: [email protected] by Monday, October 19, 2026).

We are expecting to be able to Livestream the Celebration via YouTube. Connection specifics will be available soon and forwarded by email.

Ed loved flowers, he also had a passion to support veterans and his beloved Kyudo Martial Arts, in lieu of flowers please consider donations to:

Samaritan’s Purse- Operation Heal Our Patriots, program # 013960. www.samaritanspurse.org

South Carolina Kyudo Renmei (Ed’s Kyudo group worked closely w/ this SC Kyudo group). At PayPal account: [email protected]

My contact information: Rhena Symmes 404-932-1148

09/04/2026

This is the topic for this year's Symposium. See you there.
For detail information on how to attend. Please write us an email to [email protected]

https://sckyudo.com/

08/24/2026

We participated in the Bon Dance Festival last Saturday, we had fun meeting all the people interested in learning about Kyudo.
Thank you to everyone for attending to our stand!

08/21/2026

Congratulations to SCKR members on their shinsa! Keep training hard!

08/19/2026

See you this Saturday!

Join us at McAlister Square in Greenville for an afternoon of Bon Odori dancing, Japanese culture, food, and community fun. We look forward to celebrating with you!
We're also still looking for volunteers to help make the event a success.
📅 Volunteer application deadline: July 10
https://forms.gle/WUKwe6A1XJcMTpW86
🎐 2026盆踊りフェスティバルまであと２ヶ月！当日は盆踊りや日本文化体験、各種ステージなど、毎年恒例の楽しい企画をご用意しています。また、イベントをお手伝いいただけるボランティアも募集中です。ご協力いただける方は7月10日までにお申し込みください。皆さまのご参加をお待ちしております！
📅 Saturday, August 22
⏰ 12:00–4:30 PM
📍 McAlister Square, Greenville SC

#サウスカロライナ #アメリカ生活

07/08/2026

With profound sadness, we mourn the passing of Edwin "Ed" Symmes, Renshi Godan, founder of the Georgia Kyudo Renmei and a pioneering figure in the development of Kyudo in the United States.

For decades, Ed dedicated himself to the study, practice, and transmission of Kyudo, helping build opportunities for future generations of practitioners throughout North America. Through the founding of the Georgia Kyudo Renmei and his leadership of Bi Toku Kyudo Kai in Atlanta, he created places where students could encounter not only the technique of the bow, but also the values of humility, discipline, and lifelong learning that define our art.

Ed was among the earliest generation of American kyudoka to devote themselves fully to the path of Kyudo. His commitment to international seminars, examinations, and exchange with teachers from Japan helped establish the foundations upon which the American Kyudo community continues to grow today. Many practitioners first encountered Kyudo through his efforts, and many more benefited from his guidance, encouragement, and generosity of spirit.

Beyond titles and accomplishments, Ed will be remembered for his enthusiasm for practice, his willingness to share his knowledge, and his steadfast belief that Kyudo could flourish far from its country of origin while remaining faithful to its traditions.

His legacy lives on in the many students, instructors, and dojos that continue to draw the bow because of the path he helped open.

We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, students, and to all members of the Kyudo community who had the privilege of knowing him.

May he rest in peace, and may we honor his memory through sincere practice and continued dedication to the Way of the Bow.

05/26/2026

Memorial weekend seminar.

04/24/2026

03/30/2026

Special thanks to Don Symanski a longtime kyudoka and yumishi. Thanks for sharing your knowledge about Yumi making, care and your insights in our shooting.

03/28/2026