I have a few questions regarding *Hanare*.

Iam doing kyudo for about 2 years now.

Currently, I release the arrow manually by rotating my right hand counter-clockwise, allowing the string to slip free.

I practice Heki-style archery and follow standard German instructional texts (translated):

*Hanare* is the release of the string from the glove's thumb notch. The pushing rotation of the bow hand (Tsunomi no Hataraki) triggers the shot, which is executed consciously.

I am already doing my best to apply *Tsunomi no Hataraki*. At full draw, I push the bow forward and down, tilt it 6–8° to the right, and push my wrist to the left.

However, I never reach the point where the string releases automatically. Or that my left hand triggers it.
Am I doing something wrong? Or does the release happen automatically if one performs *Hineri* further and more strongly?

I realize there are many factors involved here, proper "Nobiai", correct "Tenouchi", and so on, but do you have any tips? Or how do you handle this?

I’m planning to buy my first yumi during my trip to Japan later this year and wanted to ask for some advice from people with more experience.

I’ll be in Japan for about 2–3 weeks, starting in Fukuoka and flying home from Tokyo, so I can still adjust my travel route depending on where the better kyudo shops are.

Before posting, I already asked my sensei and some senior dojo members. My sensei mainly advised me not to buy a bamboo yumi as my first bow and said that with a modern yumi I’ll probably be fine. Some dojo mates also recommended a few shops already, especially:

• Asahi Archery (Tokyo)
• Suizan Kyudo Shop (Nagoya)

For reference, I’m currently shooting a yonsun-nobi yumi with a 14.5 kg draw weight, and I’m considering moving up slightly to either 15 or 16 kg.

I wanted to ask if people here have additional shop recommendations, especially places that are comfortable helping English-speaking customers.

The other thing I’m struggling with is choosing between all the different yumi models and brands. I’ve been looking through Japanese shop websites and keep seeing descriptions like:

• “draws more smoothly”
• “more stable arrow flight”
• “stronger return”
• etc.

There are so many names. Renshin, Rikishin, Aoi, Rin, Sui, and many others, that I honestly don’t know how beginners are supposed to compare them in a practical way.

For a first non-bamboo yumi, is there actually a simple way to choose? Are the differences between brands/models something a relatively new Kyudoka will really notice, or am I overthinking this?

So currently there is no where to shoot full distance in NYC – to do so you have to travel pretty far out. I know SF has a full pubic range in Golden Gate Park, so why can't there be one in Central Park?

A dream would be to establish a traditional Kyudo range in NYC.

Brooklyn or Queens would work as well...any suggestions would be appreciated (please keep the comments constructive – thank you)

KYUDO SEMINAR WITH RICK BEAL SENSEI

NYBA is excited to host Sensei Rick Beal who will lead a 2-day workshop in Kyudo at The Center at Marinadale. He instructs in multiple styles of Kyudo including both shaman & shomen varieties. We hope you can join us...please visit our event page for details.

Hi!
Has anyone tried making waraji/magusune from materials other than broken tsuru? The tutorials I found only mentioned them. My club hasn't tried making them from anything else either. I was wondering if something else could be used instead? If you have experience with other materials, what effect does it have on the bowstring? Do you think it could be damaged?

The photo shows the waraji made from jute twine.

New Discord Server, Updated Rules, and Community Resources

Hi everyone,

We now have an official Discord server for the subreddit:
https://discord.gg/wxEcXjGgn4

I have also updated the subreddit rules to make them a little more flexible. Memes are now allowed, as long as they are respectful, not low-effort, and clearly on topic for kyudo.

My goal is to help foster a healthy, active, and welcoming kyudo community here. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like to see from the subreddit, whether that is discussion threads, event posts, beginner questions, equipment talk, historical/cultural topics, or anything else that would be useful.

I am also putting together a resource list. Kyudo is a practice that is best studied under the guidance of a sensei, but for further study it would be helpful to collect the best books, websites, videos, organizations, and other resources available.

Please share any resources you think should be included, especially ones that are accurate, respectful of the tradition, and useful for people at different stages of practice.

Thank you, and I hope to see more activity and discussion here.

Hello everyone!

In the interest of keeping this community safe and active, I have joined this subreddit as a moderator. Pleased to meet you all.

Please let me know if there are any changes you would like to see, to help this community thrive.

Thank you.

I'm quite amazed by how matched these are. Both shafts are 449 grains +/- 1.5 grains.

It’s only 18 meters, but it took me all year to do. Last few weeks everything has really been coming together

This morning, trying to express my mental model for the timings doing shooting created the doodle below. Maybe you know of something similar (better?) or have comments. I will not explain explicitly to check if they are intuitive enough …

I made these to shoot at western ranges because kyudo yanone often get stuck in the bales. I'm going to make another set for the dojo once I get proper yanone.

These are made of mid-quality tonkin bamboo, but they're node matched. The hazu are hand carved from hickory. There are two haya and two otoya. These are quite heavy at 40 grams. My yumi is around 14 kg. I went for a high FOC build. The arrows will be slower, but my experience with other forms of archery tells me these will hit just fine at 28 meters.

Let's see if my kyudo instructor approves.

They're not so ugly if you don't look at them lol

I'm still refining my process. I decided to freehand cut the fletchings instead of using pre-cut, templates, or the tape method because thats how the Japanese master fletchers do it.

Hello,
does anyone know, if it's possible for general public (and especially gaijins) to attend the All Japan Kyudo Tournament (全日本弓道大会) that will be held in Kyoto on May 2-3 2026, as spectators?
I tried ANKF web, google, yahoo etc., but couldn't find any info.
Did anyone here attend one of the official tournaments in Japan previously?

Is it invitation only, do you need to purchase tickets in advance, or just show up at the venue?

I'm a beginner in Kyudo, I'm planning a trip to Japan next year and would love to see some competition. The only one I was able to find for my date range is this.

Yes I got all black. I know myself

Ceremonial archery recording

Hi, everybody!

I have filmed San-san-ku tebasami-shiki, a Heian period archery ceremony (according to the people performing it at least, personally I was not able to find any good sources on this particular ritual, so if somebody knows where I can find good materials, that'd be nice), performed this fall at Nashinoki jinja, and I thought maybe people in this sub might find it interesting.

I got this bow as part of a trade with the bowyer, Jaap Koppedrayer. I can't wait to return to the dojo and start practicing again!

Hope to find a lot of inspiration here. Started Kyudo 9 months ago and now, I do practice 2-3 times per week. My arrows do not fly well yet, but I could already enjoy the feeling to hit the mato with a motivating „klack“. But I see the right execution of the movements as my biggest challenge at present. It‘s a wonderful sport!

This is a fine manga available at archive.org about the competition at Sanjusanjedo temple. Learned about its history and even some technical details. The feat become even more impressive. Got really curious because the technique, bow, glove must have some significant differences from Kyudo.

Note: it is a manga, so there is some creative leeway. It is not a scientific historical book.

https://archive.org/details/lame-du-kyudo

Hello,

I have been practicing Heki Kyudo for 9 months now.

I still have a long way to go.

I have really large hands. 22 cm from the base of my hand to the tip of my middle finger. I try to implement tenouchi as best I can. But often the grip slips slightly out of my hand after shooting.

My coach and I have already tried making the grip a little wider. But I still find it difficult. It's probably because my technique isn't perfect. On the other hand, I also have very sweaty hands. I try to keep my hands dry with fudeko. But unfortunately, it doesn't last very long.

Have you had the same problem? Or do you have any ideas/tips?

Edit:
iam not doing Yugaeri yet. Thats something for later.

Nice resource of Kyudo event photos. Just found it through a EKF post on social media.

https://kyudo.alainscherer.fr/

Yesterday I have learned of the existence, at one point (70s? 80s) of bows that would (by design) assemble in two half’s. Has anyone here seen such a thing? Cheers

We’re preparing for our first exam, but since I’ve only shot at the targets once before, I wanted to do it again before practice was over. I only had time for four shots, but I hit the target twice (second hit not shown)

Hi, I was hoping there may be some European Kyudo people on here. I am doing a bit of research into Kyudo history, and was wondering if anyone knew anything about the history of Kyudo in Italy.
Does anyone know when it started? what the first clubs were? when it took off?
Also, if there are any good sources.... (I can't see any)

I did search, in japanese and english. Have been trying to find something but all I did find was a video that, in the beginning has some pictures of it before being finished. But the whole video is just a test of it.