Category: Blog

A few of the various practice methods for Tenouchi.
For practicing how to hold a bow without using unnecessary force.
/ Hold the bow between your hands so it doesn’t fall.
/ Hold the bow between your hands, resting only your little finger on it to keep it from flying away.
*For safety reasons, do not pull the string through its full stroke and do not use arrows.

Without the bow image, the arm and the bow -image- are perpendicular.
With the bow – and in the Kai -, the hand and the bow are perpendicular, but the arm and the bow are not.

It is very important for the arrow to fly straight.

Tsumahazhiki theory -my style- is very simple but it is a little difficult to put into practice.
The technique involves snapping the thumb while holding grip the little finger.

The following movie is demo -non drawing-

The following movie is drawing the bow.

The move of the right fist is same demo and real.

Ref.) 弓道読本

Step:1
You have the feeling of the friction between skin and bow.

Step:2
You have the feeling when the bow rotates, friction against the skin increases. When the string is released, the bow is rotated because the friction is released.

Step:3
When left arm is opened sideways, the bow is rotated within the hand.

Step:4
Let’s try drawing!

Regarding the right hand, I compared the appearance when using three fingers or four fingers.

• The angle of the fist changes.
• The height of the fist changes along with the angle.
• To keep the fist at the same height, the position of the elbow must be adjusted.

The movie that without arrow simulation

The movie that with arrow simulation

Ref.) Interesting without glove

I tested 3 or 4 fingers without kyudo glove

The fist angles differ between 3 and 4 fingers.
It is presumed that the position of fork is differed by 3 or 4 fingers.

I obtained some interesting results:

• It is said that the Uchiokoshi is easier to align both shoulders, and I found this to be true.
• Both shoulders felt slightly constrained.
• By checking the condition of my shoulders while drawing the bow, my movements became slower.

I tried using the arranged glove, and the following issue was identified:

• The wrist rest was too soft

I will make improvements.

Before post
Arrange glove

I arranged the gloves to fit my own fist.

• Arranged the stiffness of the glove
• Changed the number of fingers from three to four
• Modified the shape of the fork to better suit my fist

Notice
I trained with stiff shoulders condition, moving of the scapula differs from normal condition.
Please check left scapula in under picture, difference between normal and left shoulder stiffness condition.
It is presumed that the stiffness affects performance.