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7. (Fig. 4) In a kneeling or standing
position hold the bottom of the yumi with your right hand
straight out in front of you centered on your body. The tip of
the yumi is on the ground. The grip of your right hand is soft
so that the yumi can swing freely.
8. As you sight down the tsuru, check the
upper, middle and bottom areas of the yumi. The top loop is
centered on the urahazu with the string either centered or
slightly to the right of center. At the center of the yumi,
the tsuru is either centered or offset slightly to the right
of center. At the bottom, the loop and string are centered.
The top and bottom areas must be checked for alignment EACH
TIME YOUR YUMI IS STRUNG. Adjust the loops more precisely if
necessary. This overall procedure is CRITICAL CARE, before
using the yumi.
When first beginning to shot, after a few shots check the
centering of the top loop, and if necessary, make the needed
adjustment at that time, particularly with a new or unfamiliar
yumi.
| 9. (Fig. 5) CRITICAL CARE: When your yumi is
strung, check that the distance from the inside of the
grip to the tsuru is 6". When this distance is less than
6" shorten the tsuru. To shorten the tsuru, unstring the
yumi by doing steps 2 to 6 in reverse. After removing
the tsuru, slightly take in the top loop to shorten
it.(Only shorten the top loop.) String the yumi again
and check for the 6" distance.
This is the standard measurement that yumimakers set
the balance of the yumi at after it is made and strung.
This measurement can be slightly more but NOT less. A
new tsuru will stretch when on a strung yumi just
standing. As you shoot the yumi, particularly with a new
tsuru on, this distance yumi shorten to less than 6"
with the stretching of the tsuru. |
| | Find an easy
way to measure this 6" distance, so that you can quickly and
efficiently take the measurement during practice sessions. Before
you begin shooting, if you feel something is out of alignment, check
through steps 8 and 9 first, before consulting a knowledgeable
person. Shooting a yumi out of balance may lead to twisting or
breakage sooner or later.
| NEW YUMI
(Fig. 6) The large central recurve ofmostnew yumi have a
HIGH"rise height"when unstrung. (The rise height is measured
up from ground to the highest point of the central curve.)
Usually, older tamed and mature yumi have a lowerriseheight. A
new yumi can take weeks or months for its shape to be tamed
sothatwhen it is unstrung the rise height measurement is less
than 9" (22.5 cm). |
 | A yumi is made to be used.
Regular use, more than anything, helps tame and mature a yumi. With
regular use of a yumi, the unstrung rise height will lessen over a
period of time. Regular use could be once a day or once a week.
Lowered rise height that becomes stable is a desirable and natural
sign of the yumi being tamed. When you own a yumi and it is shot
regularly for a period of months, the rise height curve will lessen,
and stabilize for that period. Take note of these changes. Allowing,
maintaining, yet containing the rise height of a yumi is one way of
permitting its life to be full and in balance. Containing the rise
height will be discussed below.
When the rise height falls below 5" (12.5 cm), if you can, let
the yumi rest for a period of weeks or months. This tamed effect is
unpredictable as to when it will occur. Another way of viewing this
condition is that the yumi has become tired and it needs a rest. In
either view, healthy use of the yumi brings about this change. Also,
know the feeling quality of shooting a tamed yumi. What life there
is in such a yumi is not to be discounted. Traditionally, kyudo
practitioners had at least two yumi with which they alternated their
use with the seasons. One reason to alternate use is that it allowed
a yumi to rest and restore some of its innate power.
When an unstrung Yumi rises higher than 10" (=25,50 cm)
When an unstrung yumi rises higher than 10"(25.5cm) after being
left standing a day or more, string it and leave the tsuru on the
yumi a week and test the yumi rise height again. Do this whether the
yumi is in use or not. Keep the tsuru on, and keep testing the yumi
week to week, until the rise height becomes stable in its rise when
the yumi is left unstrung. The intent here is that the yumi's rise
height is contained by keeping it strung. By becoming "stable," the
unstrung yumi stays at a rise height below 10".
A yumi will show its life when being shot in different seasons.
Seasonal weather changes can have physical effects on a yumi. Check
the rise height of a new or tamed yumi, particularly when weather
conditions change drastically. A few examples are humidity or heat.
High humidity or high temperature days can greatly effect the rise
height, either in greater height with humidity on an unstrung yumi,
or flatness of the yumi due to heat, when the yumi is left strung,
and not attended to. With intense heat the yumi can flatten. In this
case, leave the yumi some breathing room. Unstring it and observe
its rise height. For the proper balance, usability and a full life
of a yumi, your attentive care is needed.
Tying aTsuru
When your tsuru breaks you need a new
one appropriate to the length size of your yumi. Most yumi are of
two basic sizes. The color of the knotted loop on bottom end of your
old broken tsuru tells you the tsuru size. If you don't know, find
out what length yumi you have, so you will know what length tsuru to
buy.
A new tsuru comes with a preformed knotted loop. The loop is
cloth wrapped in either purple, light green, white or brown in
color. This loop always goes on the bottom of the yumi. The
unformed, red end of the tsuru is left for you tomakea loop of the
proper size.
Overall, the three main points to have in mind about the tsuru on
your yumi are: One, that the tsuru length is correct, so that the
measurement from thegripout to the tsuru is 6": Two, that the two
properly formed loops fit snugly on the end nocks: and three, that
the two loops and the string itself are centrally aligned on the
strung yumi. The first two points will be explained here.
 |
To findwhereto make the loop on your new tsuru do as
follows:
1. (Fig. 7-8) Kneel on the floor, with the unstrung
yumi across your knees.
2. (Fig. 8) Place the preformed loop on the TOP nock
of the yumi. (A) With the yumi balanced across your
knees or in front of you firmly stretch the tsuru down along
the curves of the top side of the yumi until you come to the
base of the wood of the bottom nock area. (B)
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| 3. (see illus. C) Down from point B,
form the curve of a loop and hold it. Then take up the loop in
your hands so you can form the knot and coil.(Fig. 9) |
 |
Abb. 9: Methode zur Befestigung des
Knotens der oberen Schlaufe |
4. After forming the loop, balance the yumi on your
knees in front of you, stretch the tsuru down the yumi as in
step 2 and CHECK that the knot of the loop is at the base
where you sighted it in point B. (Have in mind that the
forming of the loop at this point will not always be the
correct spot, but is the best starting point. Further
adjustment may be
necessary.) | 5. Finally, place
the red loop that you formed, on the top(urahazu) of the yumi. It
should fit snugly, but not too tight. Center the loop on the urahazu
and begin to center the tsuru down the yumi.
6. Take up the correct kneeling position and stringing the
yumi as described on previous pages.
Critical: the two loops of the tsuru need to fit snugly on the
nocks of the yumi when it's strung. the loops and the tsuru are
centered on the yumi, and the measurement from the grip across to
the tsuru is at 6". if less or more than 6", the yumi usually needs
to be unstrung, the loop reformed, and the yumi restrung and checked
again until correct, before going further.
Tsuru notes:
In the coarse of shooting your yumi with a new tsuru, it will
stretch moreeasilyat the beginning, particularly with a strong yumi.
You'll need tocheck thegrip/tsuru distance regularly, even when
theyumiis strung but not shot.
Notice the coiled twist of the body of the tsuru. Watch that
thetsuru's coiledtwist stays twisted in the coarse of putting it on.
When necessary, coil itin aclockwise direction just before putting
on the bottom loop. Notice what effect this may have on the feeling
of the shot.
A hemp tsuru needs special attention. Ask your teacher or
instructor what is necessary to maintain it.
Over the coarse of shooting, notice the different quality
feelings that come with using tsuru of different materials.( eg.,
Kevlar vs. hemp tsuru)
Allow a tsuru to run its life coarse and break on the yumi.
Usually it will break while you are shooting. This can be an
experience of shocking value, and awareness.
Physically, the breaking of the tsuru when the yumi is being shot
allows the yumi to stretch out its bamboo and wood fibers fully. The
yumi likes this stretching exercise. It helps restore life in it.
It's sometimes said, that when a tsuru breaks while shooting, you
should let the yumi rest for a day or so without use. This is an
individual choice with each student. Other students will have a
second tsuru ready formed: put it on, and use the yumi immediately.
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