All Japan Intercollegiate Kyudo Championship 2007 - Tokyo Agriculture Univ.

2007年全国大学弓道選抜大会 - 東京農大女子
Kyudo is a traditional discipline that uses the Japanese bow for both recreation and sport as well as the training of body and mind.
☆射法八節(しゃほうはっせつ、Shaho-Hassetsu-The Eight Stages of Shooting)
弓を射るための8つの過程。
The correct application of the criterion of shooting technique to the process of shooting is known as the Shaho (Principles of Shooting).
For training in Kyudo, it is first of all, essential to have a good understanding of the criterion determined by the Shaho.
In olden times, the form of the Shaho was described as the " Shichido" (Seven Ways) and the "Gomi- Shichido" (Five Tastes of the Seven Ways).
This was a division of the process for shooting one arrow into seven stages.
In modern times, the stage called Zanshin (remaining spirit and remaining form) was included to make eight stages of shooting which are divided as follows.
1.足踏み(あしぶみ、Ashibumi-Footing)
足を開き、正しい姿勢を作る。
Using your draw length(Yazuka) as the appropriate width, make the footing with an angle of 60°degrees between the feet, placing the tip of the big toes on a straight line to the centre of the target.
The upper tip of the bow(Urahazu) should be held about 10 cm above the floor and kept on a line to the centre of the body.
2.胴造り(どうづくり、Dozukuri-Forming the Torso)
弓を左膝に置き、右手は右の腰にとる。
The centre of gravity should be placed in the middle of the body.
Check the string position (Tsuru-Shirabe).
Check the direction in which the arrow is pointing (No-Shirabe).
Regulate the breathing.
Settle your spiritual energy in the abdomen（Tanden).
The line of the shoulders and the hips should be place on the same plane,parallel to and above the line of the feet.
Place the lower tip of the bow（Motohazu） on the left.
3.弓構え(ゆがまえ、Yugamae - Readying the Bow)
右手を弦にかけ、左手(手の内)を整えてから的を見る。
Facing to the front,nock on the right hand（Torikake）, make the grip of the left hand（Tenouchi）and set the gaze.（Monomi）
4.打起し(うちおこし、Uchiokoshi - Raising the Bow)
弓構えの位置から静かに両拳を同じ高さに持ち上げる。
From the bow readying position（Yugamae）, with a scooping sensation, calmly raise both fists up to the same height until they are higher than the forehead.
By raising the fists to this height the shoulders are not influenced.
Focus spiritual energy（Kiai）into the legs（Sokushin）, hips and abdomen（Tanden）.
Do not put power into the chest and shoulders.
5.引分け(ひきわけ、Hikiwake-Drawing Apart)
打起こした弓を、左右均等に引分ける。
Take the stage of the intermediate draw（Churiki or Daisan=Oshi Dai Moku Hiki Sanbun no and draw apart evenly to the left and right until you reach the full draw（Kai）.
With all the stretching power of the left arm push the bow, as if pushing just below the Metsukebushi joint.
Establish the grip of the left hand（Tenouchi） at the intermediate stage of the draw（Daisan）.
2nd Aim : The aim should be set in the area of the left elbow.
Feel as though drawing the lower tip of the bow （Motohazu）with the right elbow.
6.会(かい、Kai - The Full Draw)
矢束を十分に引き、心身が一つになり、発射のタイミングが熟するのを待つ。
Unifying mind and body, wait for the release to come.
Do not hold the breath too firmly in the chest, but gradually strengthen the power of the abdomen until the optimum moment which is just before the release.
7.離れ(はなれ、Hanare - Release)
胸廓を広く開いて矢を放つ。
Stretch the chest open fully and the arrow will be released-Upward and downward to the left and to the right, expand the body sufficiently（Nobiai）.
Settle 8 to 9 tenths of your spiritual energy into the abdomen（Tanden）, and at this moment , by the driving force of the will and spirit（Kiai）, the arrow will be released.
8.残心・残身(ざんしん、Zanshin - Remaining Form)
射の総決算。矢が離れた時の心と身体の姿勢をしばらく保つ。
After the release of the arrow do not change your posture but observe intensely the place where the arrow has hit. Do not lose the focus of spiritual energy（Kiai）and maintain sufficiently the expansion of this energy（Nobiai） while lowering the bow（Yudaoshi）.
Zanshin demonstrates decisively the results of the shooting through the remaining form of the vertical and horizontal cross（Tateyoko-Jumoniji）.
@KaoruGreenEmerald