| Ashibumi | 足踏み | Placing the feet (1st coordination) |
| Atari | 中り | Hit |
| Azuchi | 安土 | Target area with sand backfill |
| Azusa Yumi | 梓弓 | The azusa yumi is made from catalpa or cherry wood and coloured with urushi, decorated with gold leaf and silk cords – also known as goshinpo yumi. |
| Boya | 棒矢 | Arrow without feathers (Makiwara practice) |
| Chu | 中 | Centre / Size M |
| Chu | 注 | Mindfulness (basic principle of Kyudo) |
| Dai | 大 | Large / size L |
| Do | 道 | the way |
| Dogi | 道衣 | white shirt, also known as Keidogi or Uwagi |
| Doho | 道宝 | two sticks for rounding the nakashikake |
| Dojo | 道場 | Exercise/practice room (path room) |
| Dozo | どうぞ | please |
| Dozukuri | 胴造り | Strengthening the body (2nd coordination) |
| E sha jou ri | 会者定離 | E and Kai are synonyms, as are Ri and Hanare e = encounter, sha = person, jo = decide, ri = to detach / separate |
| Enteki | 遠的 | Long distance shooting 60 m |
| Fu | 風 | 1st Chinese shooting strategy: fast as the wind |
| Furoshiki | 風呂敷 | Clothes towel |
| Fushi | 節 | Knot in bamboo. Pronounced in combination with the additional word ‘bushi’. |
| Gassho | 合掌 | The traditional bow with palms together |
| Giriko | ぎり粉 | Resin for the glove |
| Girikoire | ぎり粉入れ | Resin can |
| Go ju ju mon ji | 五重十文字 | five crosses: Yumi and Ya, Kakedaumen and Tsuru, Yumi and Yunde (Yumihand), body and shoulder / hip, neck and Ya |
| Gomuyumi | ゴム弓 | Exercise device with handle and rubber rope |
| Ha | 派 | School, teaching direction |
| Ha / kyuha | 弓把 | Distance between bow and tendon 14 – 16 cm |
| Hajimemasu | はじめます | We start (e.g. at the beginning of Kyudo practice) |
| Hakama | 袴 | traditional japanese culottes |
| Hama Yumi | 破魔弓 | Evil-destroying bow (for ceremonies) |
| Hanare | 離れ | Releasing the arrow (7th coordination) |
| Hane | 羽 | (Arrow) feathers |
| Hara | 腹 | Region below the navel, seat of vital energy |
| Haya | 甲矢 | 1st arrow at Hitote (feathers turned to the left, male / Yang) |
| Haze | 櫨 | Wax tree, wood is used for the yumi side parts |
| Hazu | 筈 | Lower arrow end / cam |
| Heijo no iki | 平常の息 | unconscious, natural breathing |
| Heki-ryu Bishu chikurin ha | 日置流尾州竹林派 | The exact name of our school: ‘Sun set school Bishu (Nagoya region) Bamboo Forest Group’. There are also the ‘Kishu chikurin ha’ and the ‘Mito chikurin ha’. They are all located on the east coast of Honshu. |
| Hiki tori | 引き取り | Tensioning the bow: approx. 70 % pressure and 30 % tension (5th coordination) |
| Hitote | 一手 | one hand: mato shooting with a pair of arrows (Haya and Otoya) |
| Honza | 本座 | Preparation line (base line in the dojo) |
| Hoshi mato | 星的 | White target with a black centre (star target) |
| Inagashi | 射流し | ‘fluent’ shooting → hail of arrows → castle shooting |
| Ite | 射手 | ‘Shooting hand’ → Archer |
| Ka | 火 | 3rd Chinese strategy for shooting: The fire burns the thoughts → Makes you free and open |
| Kai | 会 | Encounter (6th coordination: full extract) |
| Kake | 弽 | Glove of the right hand (also Yugake) |
| Kaminoshigake | 未弭 | Tsuru knot top |
| Kamiza | 上座 | Elevated place in the dojo at the height of the Shai line; place for a focal point (e.g. white leaf) or shrine |
| Kasumi mato | 霞的 | Target with three concentric rings, ‘fog target’ |
| Kazuya | 数矢 | cheap mato practice arrow |
| Kei | 軽 | Lightness (basic principle of Kyudo) |
| Kiai | 気合い | Battle cry |
| Kin | 均 | Balance (basic principle of Kyudo) |
| Kinhin | 經行 | Walking meditation |
| Kinmato | 金 的 | golden mato |
| kintexi | 近的 | Shooting at 28 metres. The term is rarely used, as it is a matter of course in Japan shooting at this distance in a dojo is a matter of course in Japan. |
| Kiza | 跪座 | Kneeling with feet up |
| Koko | 虎口 | Tiger’s mouth (skin between thumb and index finger) |
| Kuden | 口伝 | oral tradition |
| Kusune | クスネ | Tsuru resin |
| Kyu | 弓 | Bow in Sino-Japanese pronunciation |
| Kyudo | 弓道 | the path of the bow |
| Kyudojin | 弓道人 | Kyudo practitioner |
| Makiwara | 巻藁 | Straw bale |
| Makiwaradai | 巻藁台 | Makiwara stand |
| Mato | 的 | Target Ø 36 cm (distance 28 m) |
| Matoya | 的矢 | Arrows for mato shooting |
| Mitsugake | 三がけ | Three-finger glove on the right hand |
| Mu | 無 | Nothing, emptiness |
| Muneate | 胸当 | Chest protector |
| Mushin | 無心 | empty mind |
| Nakashikake | 中仕掛 | Winding on the tendon |
| Nami Yumi | 並弓 | normal bow (approx. 221 cm) |
| Nibe | にべ | Deerskin glue |
| Nigirikawa | 握皮 | Bow grip leather |
| Nobi Yumi (Nisunnobi) | 伸弓 | Yumi extended by two suns (approx. 227 cm) |
| O-Mato | 的 | Target Ø 158 cm for Enteki |
| Obi | 帯 | Belt |
| Ogi no mato | 扇の的 | Fan mato |
| Onyumishi | 御弓師 | Master bow maker (with courtesy prefix) |
| Oshitegake | 押手弽 | Thumb glove for the left hand |
| Otoya | 乙矢 | 2nd arrow at Hitote (springs turned to the right, female / Ying) |
| Owarimasu | おわります | We finish (e.g. at the end of the Kyudo practice) |
| Rei | 礼 | Respect / politeness |
| Reisha | 礼射 | Ceremonial form |
| Rin | 林 | 2nd Chinese strategy for shooting: Silent as in the forest |
| Rissha | 立射 | standing shooting |
| Ritsu rei | 立礼 | standing bow |
| Ritsu zen | 立 禅 | standing Zen (Kyudo) |
| Ryu | 流 | School, teaching direction |
| Samu | 作務 | Meditative work |
| San gai do | 三界度 | three floors; three-part to-wrap (ratan) above the handle, Typical for Chikurin ha-Yumis |
| San ju ju mon ji | 三重十文字 | three horizontal lines: shoulders, hips, feet |
| San sun tsumari | 三寸詰り | Yumi shortened by three suns (approx. 212 cm) |
| Sanjusangendo | 三十三 間堂 | 33-pillar temple in Kyoto; place of the Toshiya |
| Seiza | 正座 | Heel seat (sitting correctly) |
| Sensei | 先生 | Teacher |
| Shahin | 射品 | Shooting dignity (3rd level of Kyudo practice) |
| Shai | 射位 | Shooting line in the dojo |
| Shakei | 射形 | Shooting form (1st level of Kyudo practice) |
| Shashin | 射心 | Shooting spirit (2nd level of Kyudo practice) |
| Shichi do | 七道 | the seven coordinations |
| Shihan | 師範 | Dojo leader with the most practical experience |
| Shihobarai | 四方払 | Shinto purification ceremony of the four cardinal points |
| Shikan no sho | 四巻之書 | Secret writing of the Chikurin ha (book with four volumes) |
| Shimonoshigake | 本弭 | lower tsuru node |
| Shitagake | 下がけ | Underglove |
| Sho | 小 | Small / Size S |
| Tabi | 足袋 | white, firm cotton socks with a big toe |
| Take/chiku | 竹 | Bamboo |
| Te no uchi | 手の内 | Bow grip; the secret (inside) in the hand |
| Torikake | 取懸け | Holding the tendon with the Kake |
| Toshiya | 通し矢 | Archery in the Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto (shooting without interruption) |
| Tsukubai | つくばい | Kneeling shooting form |
| Tsuru | 弦 | Tendon |
| Tsuru no kubi | 鶴の首 | Crane neck → Uchi okoshi |
| Tsuru tsubari kawa | 弦滑り皮 | the Tsuru repellent leather (chest protector) |
| Tsurumaki | 弦巻き | Tendon roller for replacement tendon |
| Uchi okoshi | 打起し | Lifting the bow (4th coordination) |
| Urushi | 漆 | Natural varnish for yumis and many everyday objects, acid-resistant |
| Waraji | 草鞋 | Sinew reamer (straw sandal) also called: ‘Masugne’ |
| Waza | 技 | Technology |
| Ya | 矢 | Arrow |
| Yabusame | 流鏑馬 | Archery on horseback |
| Yajiri | 矢尻 | Arrowhead |
| Yatate | 矢立て | Arrow box |
| Yatsuzu | 矢筒 | Quiver |
| Yo i | 用意 | gain the right heart (preparation) |
| Yotsuya | 四矢 | Set of four mato arrows |
| Yugaeri | 弓返り | Bow turn after the hanare |
| Yumi | 弓 | Bow |
| Yumi daoshi / yu daoshi | 弓倒し | lower the Yumi to the hip |
| Yumi gamae / yu gamae | 弓構え | Position the bow (3rd coordination) |
| Yumimaki | 弓巻き | Bow cover for wrapping |
| Yumitate | 弓立て | Bow stand |
| Zabuton | 座布団 | Seat mat |
| Zafu | 座蒲 | Seat cushion |
| Zan shin | 残心 | Harmonising body and mind (conclusion) |
| Zan / yama | 山 | 4th Chinese shooting strategy: As solid as a mountain |
| Zazen | 座禅 | Sitting meditation |
| Zen ken hikuku – Kou ken takaku | 前肩 低 後肩 高 | front (left) shoulder low – back (right) shoulder high |
| Zori | 草履 | simple toe shoes |
Terms
