【K-050】Heki-ryū Insai-ha Kyujutsu: Mastering the Art of Practical Combat Archery
日置流印西派 弓術 実戦型弓術を突める！ DVD

Master Practical Kyujutsu: The Art of Combat Archery

Rooted in the 1600s, the Heki-ryū Insai-ha school of archery was founded by Yoshida Issuiken Insai. This tradition served three generations of Tokugawa shoguns— Ieyasu, Hidetada, and Iemitsu— and flourished across Japan as the official archery style of the Tokugawa family.

This program focuses on the "Keshō-mae" (preparatory shooting practice), featuring a detailed explanation of the twelve essential shooting movements—footwork, posture, grip, bow handling, and shooting form—based on the Shahō Hassetsu (Eight Stages of Shooting) as summarized by Kyudo Hanshi 10-dan, Urauei. It also includes ceremonial forms such as the Shahō Rei (ritual shooting etiquette) performed in both standard target and makiwara (straw bale) practice.

In addition, the program introduces "Yōmae" (applied shooting techniques) such as armored archery (gusoku yumi shatai), rapid shooting (sasha), long-distance shooting (tazunayumi), and traditional battlefield techniques like kan-ya-jutsu and uchine-jutsu.

Contents:
● Introduction – What is Heki-ryū Insai-ha?
● Keshō-mae – Preparatory Shooting
・The Twelve Movements of Heki-ryū Kyujutsu (Footing / Posture / Gripping the Bow / Hand Form / Bow Setup / Raising the Bow / Two-thirds Draw / Full Draw Preparation / Expansion / Full Draw / Release / Follow-through)
・Shooting Etiquette (Shahō Rei)
　- Single shot at short target (Shōmatomae Itteshahō)
　- Four-arrow shooting at makiwara (Makiwaramae Yonteshahō)

● Shooting Postures
・Warikiza / Kiza / Sonkyo / Kata-hiza / Yagura (various traditional stances)

● Yōmae – Applied Shooting (Shura-yumi)
・Armored Archery Forms
　- Paired Armor Archery / Solo Armor Archery
・Rapid Shooting (Sasha)
・Long-distance Shooting (Tazunayumi)
・Piercing Hard Targets
・Tube Arrow Technique (Kanya-jutsu)
・Ground Striking Technique (Uchine-jutsu)

● Conclusion – Passing on Traditional Archery to Future Generations

Instructor & Supervisor:
Ken Kurosu
Professor Emeritus, Tohoku Gakuin University. Head of the Date Insai-ha Kyujutsu Research Association and master of the Nashiwari Kyudo Dojo. Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1956, he began practicing Kyudo in high school. Since 1979, he has taught Kyudo across Europe—including Germany, Italy, Finland, Hungary, Austria, and Slovenia— and has been awarded the Gold Pin by the German Kyudo Federation. Co-author of Kyugu no Zatsugaku Jiten (Encyclopedia of Archery Equipment).