Sam West began Kyudo (Japanese archery) in Boulder in 1980 with Sendai, Shibata Kanjuro Sensei XX. Sendai had been invited from Japan to teach Kyudo in Colorado by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Sam traveled to Kyudo programs with Sendai during the 1980s, then moved to Nova Scotia in 1987 where he became responsible for Kozan Kyudojo. He helped Sendai teach the traditional Heki Ryu Bishu Chickurin-Ha school of Kyudo in North America and Europe. Requested by Sendai, Sam moved to Boulder in 1999 to organize and develop all the Kyudojos within Zenko International. For a number of years, Sam lived with Sendai, cared for him, studied Kyudo, organized and traveled with Sendai to programs in North America and Europe. Since 2007, Mr. West has lived in Nova Scotia from where he traveled to assist Sendai in Kyudo until his passing. Sam continues to lead and assist Kyudo programs at home and abroad under the current lineage holder, Shibata Kanjuro Sensei XXI.