Kyudo Technique

All kyudo archers shoot right-handed, so that all archers face the higher postion (kamiza) while shooting.

Unlike occidental archers (who never draw the bow further than the cheek bone), kyudo archers draw the bow so that the drawing hand ends up behind the ear. If done incorrectly, the string may strike the archer's ear or side of the face upon release.

Immediately after the shot is released, the bow will (for a practised archer) spin in the hand so that the string stops in front of the archer's outer forearm. This action of 'yugaeri' is a combination of technique and the natural working of the bow. It is unique to kyudo.

Kyudo technique is meticulously prescribed. The Zen Nihon Kyudo Renmei (ZNKR, All Japan Kyudo Federation), the main governing body of kyudo in Japan, have codified the hassetsu (or 'eight stages of shooting') in the Kyudo Kyohon (Kyudo Manual). The eight stages of shooting defined by the ZNKR are:

• ashibumi (placing the footing)
• dozukuri (forming the body)
• yugamae (readying the bow)
• uchiokoshi (raising the bow)
• hikiwake (drawing apart)
• kai (the full draw)
• hanare (the release)
• zanshin (remaining body / mind, the remaining focus of physical and spiritual expansion after the release)