Kyudo

Kyudo can be practiced as a traditional ritual, as a sports discipline, and as a martial art for self-realization with the training of correct execution of the technique and beauty of the execution of the shot, as the main goal. The main principle of kyudo is saitsya saityu ( jap. 正 射 正中 saysya saityu: “right shot, right on target”) - which means that obeying nobiay ( jap. 伸 合 , “stretching the bow”) gives a more natural shot that and leads to a hit. In accordance with this, many kyudokas ( Jap. 弓 道家 Kyu: do: ka , “walking on the Path of Luke”) believe in the importance of competitions, exams, and any opportunity that allows you to improve your technique.

Kyudo , Kyзo Dojo ( 弓 道場 ) dojo may vary in style and design depending on the school and country. In Japan, most dojos consist of: an entrance on the right or behind in the direction of shooting; the main zone, usually lined with wood and a ceiling height of four meters or more; a large intermediate zone, usually under the open sky; places for setting a target, matoba ( 的 場 ), according to the standard, at a distance of 28 meters from the edge of the main zone; places for judges or spectators on the right in the direction of shooting; optional room for practicing shooting at Makivara , perhaps just in part of the main zone.

Yumi

Yumi ( Jap. 弓 ) - is a bow more than 2 meters long, but unlike other bows, the handle divides the bow not in half, but in proportion one (bottom) to two (top).

I

Arrows ( Jap. 矢 I ) - traditionally made of bamboo, with feathers of eagle or hawk feathers. The shaft of arrows is made of bamboo to this day, although many kyudok use arrows from aluminum and carbon fiber (carbon). For feathering, feathers of birds that are not on the verge of extinction are used, for example, feathers of turkeys and swans. The length of the arrows is chosen individually, from the middle of the throat to the tips of the fingers of the left hand, horizontally in the side, plus five or more centimeters. Depending on which side of the bird feathers were taken for feathering, they can be bent in different ways and in flight they will rotate the boom clockwise or counterclockwise. When the arrow rotates clockwise, it is called Haya , otherwise it is otoy . Shoot such arrows in pairs, starting with Haya . Usually, the kit contains six arrows, three highs and three otoys (there may also be a special arrow of a makivaraya without a feather, for shooting at the makivara ).

Kake

Yugake ( jap. 弓 懸 け ) or simply kake - glove on the right hand. There are two main types - hard and soft. Hard kake has a hard thumb with a special protrusion, which clings to the string. Also kake differ in the number of fingers on which it is put on. There is like a thumb only, and all five fingers. However, the most widespread are three- ( Mitsugake ) and four- ( Yotsugake ) finger ones, as officially authorized by the Kyudo Federation. Yotsugake can be used with stronger bows, where, for stronger grip, they can use not the middle finger, but the ring finger. Under kake, they put on a special cotton sitagake to absorb sweat, the number of fingers of a sitagake corresponds to the used kake .

Muneate

Muneate ( Jap. 胸 当 て , "bib") - protects the chest from accidental bowstring. It really makes sense to wear only women, but there are exceptions, for example, when using casual clothes when there is a risk that the string will be hooked on its individual elements (buttons, buckles). At higher levels, it makes no sense, because with the right shot, the bow is turned counterclockwise in the hand and does not touch the chest at all.

Mato

Mato ( jap. 的 ) is the target. It is divided into two types: omato ( jap. 大 的 o: mato , “big target”) and kato ( jap. 小 的 , “small target”) . The diameter of the omato is 158 cm (52 sung ). Installed at a distance of 55 to 90 meters. The diameter of the komato is 36 cm (12 sung). Installed at a distance of 28 meters. According to the figure, the komato is divided into kasumimato ( jap. Я 的 ) and koshimato ( jap. 星 的 ) . Kasumimato - target with circular alternating black and white marking, 3 black circles and 3 white, starting from the center with white (7.2 cm, 3.6 cm, 3.0 cm, 1.5 cm, 3.0 cm, 3 , 3 cm). Hoshimato is a white target with a black circle in the center (12 cm).

Makivara

Makivara ( Jap. 巻 藁 , “rolled up straw”) is a target for developing shooting techniques. Shooting in Makivara is conducted at a distance of 1-2 meters.

Tsurumaki

Tsurumaki ( Jap. 弦 巻 ) - coil with a spare string.

Kihontai is 8 basic movements ( kihon dosa ) and 4 positions ( kihon seisei ) used in Kyudo at all stages before and after shooting. When performing Kihontai, the following principles should be followed:

• to fill the body with energy ( sikitai );
• keep the body level ( dozukuri );
• follow the position of the eyes ( metsukai ), as the view affects the concentration;
• combine movement with proper breathing ( ikai );
• move from the hips, from the center of the body;
• choose the correct pace of execution of movements, since all movements are tied to time ( ma );
• observe the control points.

Core positions ( kihon seisei )

1. Standing
2. Sitting on a chair.
3. Sitting on the floor in a formal setting ( seiza ).
4. Half-sitting on toes ( kidza ) and squatting ( sonkyo ).

Basic movements ( kihon dos )

1. Get up.
2. Sit down.
3. Walk around
4. Turn from a standing position.
5. Turn while walking.
6. Rotate the lap ( hirakiasi ).
7. Bow ( ray ).
8. Half-bow (s).

When firing, the bow is held in the left hand, and the bowstring is tensioned with the right. Option for left-handers is not provided. Shooting is conducted from the position of the left side forward, parallel to the line of the shot. In contrast to the usual archery in kyudo yumi, it stretches behind the ear. After the shot, Yumi rotates counterclockwise and the string turns out to be on the outside of the left hand, which also differs from the shooting from a regular bow.

The shooting technique is detailed. According to the provisions of the International Kyudo Federation (IKYF) in the officially adopted technique, there are eight main positions ^[1] , Hassetsu .

• Asibumi足踏 み - setting legs (go to the rack for shooting). In the initial position of the shooter is left side to the target, the legs are together, the left arm with a bow and the right arm with an arrow (or two arrows) are bent and propped on the sides, the upper part of the bow is ten centimeters from the floor, the head is looking forward. After that, perform the movement in one of two options.
  1. The head is turned to the left to the target, the left leg is shifted, without lifting it from the floor and without bending the knees, half the length of the arrow, the toe is looking 30 ° to the left of the centerline of the body. Right leg, without bending, leading to the left and begin to withdraw to the right, the toe to 30 ° to the right. After that, the head is returned, the look is directed to the floor about 4 meters forward.
  2. The head is turned to the left to the target, the left leg is shifted, without lifting it from the floor and without bending the knees, half the length of the arrow, the toe is looking 30 ° to the left of the centerline of the body. After that, the head is returned, and following the legs with your eyes, the right leg is moved half a length of the arrow to the right.

As a result, the socks should be approximately at the distance of the arrow and at an angle of 60 ° from each other, opening forward, without deviating the line of the legs from the line of the target.

• Dozukuri胴 造 り - preparation for shooting (preparation of the body position). The shooter checks the position and stand. The lower end of the bow is located above the left knee, the right hand is wound up on the right thigh. Dozukuri prepares the balance of the whole body and, in combination with proper breathing, makes the position of the body calm but concentrated. Archer checks the string and the position of the arrow.

• Yugamae弓 構 え - made with a bow, forming a pose for the start of shooting. Right hand grab the bowstring ( torikake ), the thumb under the arrow, the middle (or ring) finger intercepts the big, index, putting on the middle, controls the arrow. Grip bow ( tenouti ). Hands slightly bent, elbows to the sides. Shoulders are not tense. Monomi is performed - fixing the look at the target (target).

• Utiokoshi打起 し - lifting onions. There are two methods for raising the bow: from the frontal position and from the oblique position. From the frontal position, the bow is raised perpendicular to the ground, so that the elbows are just above the eyes. The angle of elevation is approximately 45 degrees, but may differ depending on the age and physical data of the shooter. Fists are on the same level. Shoulders are not tense.

• Hikivake引 分 け - bow tension. There are three main ways of bow tension. When lifting the bow from the frontal position, the bow tension is produced by bending the right arm only at the elbow, the left arm is pulled aside and straightened. The boom keeps its position parallel to the floor. Shoulders are not tense. Keeping the boom parallel to the floor, the left and right hands are bred to the sides. The right hand, moving in a straight line, reaches behind the ear. Left hand pull to the side

• Kai会 - the union (meeting), the phase of full tension onions. This phase includes two major states: tumeyay - the interaction of fixed points of the body, the preservation of the position of the vertical-horizontal cross and nobiay . Although the tension is completely fulfilled, but from a psychological point of view, it should be understood as a state of constant expansion. Aiming ( neri ) is performed with both eyes, the arrow should be directed along the line leading to the center of the target.

• Hanare離 れ - release arrows. Hanare should be a natural movement, it is performed when the appropriate moment is ripe. The release of the boom is the result of the correct implementation of the full tension phase ( kai ). The release is made opening to the right and left of the center of the chest.

• Zansin残 心 (残 身) - the preservation of form and spirit (balance of spirit). It is executed with preservation of a vertical-horizontal crosshair ( tateyoko jumonji ). The shooter contemplates the result of the shot. After releasing the arrow, in harmony with breathing, the bow is lowered ( yudaoshi ), the look ( monomi ) returns before itself, the feet are put together (starting from the right). When performing these actions, it must be remembered that they are all part of the Zansing stage. (In the event that the bow does not turn the bowstring out with the release, lowering the upper end to the floor, the bow is turned to its original position).

• Akimov O.G., Akimova E.S. (2013). Kyudo ^[2] . ISBN 978-5-7262-1828-1 , UDC 799.3, A 39, Moscow, NRNU MEPhI, Kurchatovsky Printing Complex (Russian)
• Kyudo Manual, Volume 1: Principles of Shooting (Shaho), Revised Edition. Publisher: All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF), 1971 (eng.)
• 弓 道教 本 (Kyudo Kyhon, Kyudo Manual, Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4). Publisher: All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF), (jp.)

• The official website of the MPC "Kyudo Federation" (rus.)
• Shooting videos from traditional Japanese bow (Rus.)
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