The basic of yugamae

In Yugamae, you will set your bow to the bow string and put a bottom knock to your knee. You should remember three thing how to use your right hand and left hand and how to face your face.

Torikake
This is how to use your right hand, place your right hand to the string.

Tenouchi
This is how to use your left hand. have the bow.

Monomi
This is how to face your face. face to the target.

Let’s understand the purpose of yugamae

the purpose of yugamae is to check your posture before raising your arms.

there are  some check points about correct posture in ashibumi or doudsukuri. Lets see and check 5 points.

１Relax your upper body

２Stretch your spine upward

3Align your shoulder line parallel to the ground

4Check if you can breathe easily

5 Loosen both your arms muscle.

In the old day, when making yugamae form, kyudo practicioner check the distance by the target , size and form. But, now they formally check the distance and target.

Next, I will explain how to use your right hand.

Torikekake

In Torikake, Let’s check your right glove, three finger type (Mitsugake) or four finger type (Yotsugake) ? You should use middle finger in the case of three finger type and use ring finger in the case of four finger type.

I will explain how to use your right hand in Mitsugake.

Place the indent point to the string then don’t touch your thumb to the arrow. Slightly make the 10 cm space between your thumb and the arrow.

1. Then your thumb align vertical to the string. This form is called Kakeguchijyuumonnji

2. Put your middle finger on your thumb ,your pointer finger put on your middle finger and align two fingers.

3. Pull up your pointer finger by the arrow and touch your root of pointer finger to the arrow.

4. don’t twist your right finger. You may fall down your arrow.

5. Don’t tighten your wrist and your finger.

6. be careful,don’t twist your right hand inward too much.

Tenouchi

1. Align your tip of three fingers (middle finger, ring finger, little finger) straight.

2. place your space between pointer finger and thumb to the left side part of the bow. this space is called kokou.

There are many type of Tenouchi. I will explain these below

The standard tenouchi (Sanshi)

Sanshi means to three fingers. Many kyudo teacher use and instruct this Tenouchi. The basic is to align your tip of three fingers straight.

Place the left side of the bow to Tenmon line. Align your tip of three fingers straight and parallel to the bow.

Then please make a small indent point to the center of your hand. When you do that, you may be able to do Yugaeri (rotate your bow in your hand).

But, This Tenouchi have an disadvantage which easily tighten your tip of finger. So you may tighten your hand and left arm. It can be difficult to press the bow with ease.

The Heki Tenouchi (Momiji Kasane)

This Tenouchi is called momijikasane. The character is to narrow the space between thumb and little finger.

By doing this, you can press the bow strongly because your left become difficult to bend. But you will become difficult to move your left hand smoothly when doing Daisan.

It’s because you may easily scratch your hand to the bow.

Hondaryuu Tenouchi

This Tenouchi is called Honda ryuu Tenouchi. The basic is to make the roop with middle finger and thumb.

This Tenouchi makes it easy to press the bow with ease. It’s because your left wrist and your left hand align straight.

This Tenouchi have one disadvantage. Depending on people, the left wrist may turn upward too much while pressing the bow. Therefore it may become higher to receive the bow intact to the space between the pointer finger and thumb.

But, Most of people is suitable this Tenouchi. The kyudo master ,kenzou awa,  explained this tenouchi and adressed that the important thing about Tenouchi is not to release your middle finger from the thumb and to set the bow to the space between the pointer finger and the thumb.

Monomi

When finishing Torikake and Tenouchi, please do Monomi

1. Face to the target

2. Don’t lean leftward and rightward.

3. Stretch your posture from your foot to your top of head and don’t move your head rightward.

To keep your head position correctly is difficult especially if you are biginner. You head will lean left or rightward while pulling it. Please practice more time not to move your head .