Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 7-2. About Tension (張り合い/Hariai)~How to release a grip (取り懸け/Torikake) naturaly~ <Tension (張り合い/Hariai)>Continued Now, the balance of forces at full draw (会/Kai) can be expressed by the following equation: Bow force = Force applied to the skeleton + Muscle strength supporting the skeleton + α (Force to extend both arms through the follow-through (残身/Zanshin)) When the draw (引き分け/Hikiwake) is over, this α is almost 0. During a full draw (会/Kai), this conversion of force is what we call tension (張り合い/Hariai). By making α as large as possible, you can produce a sharp, powerful and wide follow-through (大離れ/Oh-banare). So, what exactly should we do? As explained earlier, the force applied during the draw (引き分け/Hikiwake) is applied in the direction of folding the arm, while the force applied during the full draw (会/Kai) is converted into the direction of opening the arm. The force that guides the right hand straight through to the follo...

  Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 7-1. About Tension (張り合い/Hariai)~How to release a grip (取り懸け/Torikake) naturaly~ <Tension (張り合い/Hariai)> To put it simply, "tension (張り合い/Hariai)" is the state of continuously applying force in the following three directions until release. If any other force is at work, the pushing hand or drawing hand will become unstable, and the arrow will not fly in line with the target. You would end up deliberately shifting the target you carefully aimed before releasing it. Tension (張り合い/Hariai)≈  The force of pushing straight along the arrow axis with the bow hand + The force of opening the draw hand straight along the arrow axis to the follow-through position + The force of releasing the grip and twisting the string, centered on the thumb It's helpful to understand the tension (張り合い/Hari-ai) of a full draw (会/Kai) as the state in which the entire body's strength, combined with the upper body's actions, creates th...

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 6. About uniting the Firming Points of the Body (詰め合い/Tsume-ai) From here, I would like to explain the specific method of releasing the arrow by uncrossing the fingers at the grip (取り懸け/Torikake). After reading this, you will probably be able to approach your Japanese Kyudo shooting technique in a different way than before. To achieve a natural release, it is said that in a full draw, "Uniting the Firming Points of the Body (詰め合い/Tsumeai)", "Tension (張り合い/Hariai)", and "Uniting the Expansions of the Body (伸び会い/Nobiai)" are essential. But what exactly are "Uniting the Firming Points of the Body", "Tension", and "Uniting the Expansions of the Body"? This is a question everyone has, but few people can express it concretely; instead, it is expressed in terms of sensation, philosophy, or tradition. I would like to explain it as concretely as possible so that everyone can experience ...

 Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 5. About the harmful effects of opening or loosening your hands to release a string. (Things that hinder accuracy and improvement) Open (loosen) your hand and release the string. Beginners have no choice but to do this at first. It's the easiest way to release the string, but it often results in inconsistent accuracy and has drawbacks. To move beyond the beginner stage, understand the drawbacks of opening (loosening) your hand to release the strings, learn how to properly release the strings, and take the first step towards improvement. You'll notice a change not only in your "release" but also in the feeling and comfort of your follow-through. (1) The string hits the ear, head, or arm. Since the arrow is held against the cheek, the string is positioned directly behind the ear. Why doesn't it hit the ear? The reason becomes clear when you look at a full draw from above. The string is at the hook (弦枕/Tsuru-makura) ...

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 4. About Natural Release (Hanare) Generally speaking, the release (離れ/Hanare) in Kyudo (Japanese archery) can be divided into the following three patterns. Simple release action The attempt to create the phenomenon known as a release. ⑴ Open your hand and release.  (離す/Hanasu) ⑵ Relax your grip and release.  (離す/Hanasu) ⑶ The attempt to create the phenomenon known as a release. (離れ/Hanare) The most common method is ⑴. You can easily tell because the hand opens up during the follow-through. For a long time, I could only release in this way. ⑵ is seen occasionally. While this release method is similar to archery and can sometimes result in hits, it often leads to the bow hand's wrist rising, the elbow loosening, or the head or hand being swatted by the string. It's difficult to relax only the fingertips while maintaining tension throughout the entire body, and this relaxation will inevitably occur elsewhere, negatively impac...

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 3. Regarding hitting the target In Kyudo (Japanese archery), hitting the target isn't everything. However, the goal is to consistently hit the target with accurate shots. No matter how much you practice without hitting the target, you won't improve. Hitting the target with an arrow is actually a very simple physical phenomenon : "releasing the arrow without breaking your posture while maintaining your aim (的付け/Mato-zuke)." The following are the essential physical conditions for "shooting an arrow accurately." ⑴ The target must be properly aimed. ⑵ The thumb of the left hand (where the arrow rests) and the thumb of the right hand (where the string is nocked) must remain still (the "holding position (会/Kai)") until the moment of release. Full draw (会/Kai)~ release (離れ/Hanare) If these conditions are not met, no matter how much you talk about mental fortitude or how beautiful your shooting form is, the...

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery 2. Regarding the correct grip for accurate shooting (in the case of a three-fingered archery glove/三つ弽(Mitsugake)) How many people would say that the key to hitting the target in Kyudo (Japanese archery) is not the grip of the left hand (the pushing hand), but the grip of the right hand—the grip on the bowstring? This is where you can tell if someone is a true expert. The question is whether it's based on preconceived notions or on real-world experience. The way you grip the bowstring is often done haphazardly, but it's the most important element for accuracy. It's not simply a matter of gripping and releasing the string. Understand its function and perform it correctly and carefully. <Important points regarding the grip position of the right hand (取り懸け/Torikake)> ⑴ The string (弦/Tsuru) and the glove cap (弽帽子/Kake-boshi) should form a cross shape. The string and the glove cap must be at approximately a 90-degree angle....

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery  1. Introduction Many people believe that the bow hand (pushing hand/left hand) is crucial for hitting the target in Kyudo (Japanese archery). This is not necessarily wrong. Perhaps this was especially true in the past when archers drew strong bows and released them with a small motion. It was a natural way to control the impact of a strong bow, and that's what I was taught by my teachers and seniors. However, recently, it's become more common to avoid drawing a very strong bow and instead favor a wide release, so I can't help but feel a little uneasy about the old-fashioned conventions. Without being bound by preconceived notions, I studied archery techniques from a physical perspective, and the hypothesis I came up with, based on my engineering-oriented thinking, is as follows: The most important factor for hitting the target is the "shape (取り懸けの手の内/Torikake no Tenouchi) and effectiveness of the right hand (馬手/Mete)....