7-3. About Tension (Hariai)~How to release a grip (Torikake) naturaly~

3月 30, 2026

Physical consideration of KYUDO -Japanese archery

7-3. 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

So, how can we release our grip?

How can we solve this while crossing our thumb and middle finger?

This is similar to solving a difficult puzzle.

You mustn't let it explode, but the release must be light and steady. These are completely contradictory. So, I think it's understandable that many people grip the strings tightly to prevent accidental release, and then open their hand to release.

Here's what you can do to create a natural release that disengages the bowstring:

(1) When gripping the string (取り懸け/Torikake), apply a slight twist (弦捻り/Tsuru-hineri) to it.

(2) When raising the bow and arrow (打起し/Uchiokoshi), continue twisting the string. (This opens the bow and arrow and prevents the arrow from falling out.)

(3) Even when the bow is half-drawn (大三/Daisan), continue to apply the twist to the string. (This prevents bending the wrist and allows you to draw the string with your elbow.)

(4) When drawing the bow, tighten the string twist. (This prevents accidental discharge.)

(5) In full draw (at the start of the draw), bring the three fingers holding the bow together thinly and parallel to each other, while maintaining tension.

(Change the force from pressing the thumb with the middle finger to pushing forward.)

(6) Gradually increase the twist of the string and gradually change the direction from (5). (Do not tense up. The thumb and middle finger should be held in place almost solely by friction, and the thumb and middle finger should shift slightly, producing a clicking sound, "Kichi! Kichi!".

(7) The middle finger goes over the top of the bow glove, releasing the grip, the string springs out from the hook (弦枕/Tsuru-makura), and the arm opens, freed from the force of the bow. This is the moment of natural release. (Never release with an active movement of opening the arm.)

The technique of flicking with the middle finger and thumb is similar to a finger snap, but it differs in that the fingers are crossed. Since it's not a regular finger snap, it's important to regularly simulate the position where the middle finger and thumb are crossed and figure out which direction to apply force to uncross them.

(8) Once the grip is released, open both fists straight out to the position of the follow-through.

The important thing here is to align the center of the twist used to release the grip with the center of the thumb, so that the thumb does not wobble and the release is smooth.

This is a diagram that the teacher created to illustrate the process of solving the puzzle.

To create a release, the twisting of the string and the action of the finger force (pluck) to release this grip are necessary. Since the diagram is insufficient in terms of showing the direction of force in 2D, I have added a front view diagram to explain it more accurately.

The direction in which you push your thumb forward refers to the combined direction of the view from the side and the view from the front.

In a full draw, all you can do is try to create a critical state where this grip is released, allowing for a natural release; it's not about actively releasing the bow.

Therefore, I want you to be aware that the release is something that happens as a result of your own efforts and "confidence," and not something you do on a whim.

This is the physically logical mechanism that produces a release, making the most of the structure and grip of the glove.

My teacher taught me that solving a puzzle is like unfastening the latch on a shutter. I didn't understand this at the time, but I finally understood the expression when I came up with the interpretation I've explained here.

Releasing the arrow is not like performing gymnastic movements such as opening your hand, releasing the string, extending your arm, and maintaining a proper posture. If you try to perform the movements yourself, you will inevitably make mistakes, and your arrows will scatter.

I think I now understand that a "natural release" is a phenomenon that arises from the tension between the participants, and that the expression "natural release" is physically correct, rather than being an actively initiated release.

Many people are unable to learn the correct release technique concretely, and are only taught through abstract descriptions, remaining stuck in the beginner stage of actively releasing the arrow by opening their right hand. Because this is a completely different motion from the tension of the draw, they release the arrow off-target. As a result, the arrows scatter around the target, and they repeatedly practice missing. This is a problem for the instructor, but from the learner's perspective, it's a real waste of opportunity (active release).

The key to tension is not to strain.

Understand that it's about aligning the direction of force, slowly increasing it so that the release occurs, and continuing it until the follow-through.

Full draw (会/Kai) exists to create a natural release (離れ/Hanare).

Unfortunately, those who release the bow too quickly from a full draw will never be able to achieve a natural release.

Next time, we'll be discussing ”Tension (張り合い/Hariai)”. We look forward to your next visit as you become more familiar with "hitting the target (的中/Tekichu)".