What is Hassetsu (Eight Stages of Shooting)?

April 27, 2026

💡 Quick Answer (TL;DR)

Hassetsu is the standard eight-stage process of Kyudo shooting, from Ashibumi to Zanshin. Outlined in the Kyudo Manual by the All Nippon Kyudo Federation, it is the common language for all Kyudo dojos in Japan.

Hassetsu is the standard division of Kyudo shooting, defined in the "Kyudo Manual" published by the All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF). From the moment you begin to draw the bow to the moment you lower it, the entire process is divided into eight stages, starting with "Ashibumi" (footing) and ending with "Zanshin" (remaining body and mind).

The "Kyudo Manual" has been compiled and published since the establishment of ANKF in 1953 and currently consists of four volumes. This manual serves as the common language for all Kyudo dojos across Japan. Regardless of the school or teacher, "Hassetsu" refers to the exact same process.

The word "Setsu" (節) originally means the joint of a bamboo, which is distinct yet continuous. The eight stages refer to transition points of state: transitioning the body, bow, and arrow from one stable posture to the next. Each stage itself is a "static form," while the transition between stages is the actual movement.

This "form-movement-form" structure also appears in other traditional Japanese cultures. Tea ceremony has three levels of preparation (Shin, Gyo, So); Noh theater uses "Jo-ha-kyu" to describe musical and rhythmic progression; Kendo, Aikido, and Karatedo all share the concept of "Zanshin." In this context, Hassetsu is the result of formalizing the entire shooting process into standard patterns.

The Eight Stages

1. Ashibumi (Footing)

The posture where the archer stands with feet spread apart. The toes are opened at about a 60-degree angle, and the distance between the heels is approximately equal to the archer's arrow length (Yazuka). Looking from the target, the line connecting both toes passes through the center of the target. Literally meaning "stepping feet," Ashibumi is the first formal posture in the Kyudo shooting sequence after entering the dojo.

2. Dozukuri (Forming the Body)

Standing the upper body up based on Ashibumi. The waist, back, and neck form a straight line, shoulders are level, and the center of gravity settles down to the Tanden. "Do" means torso, and "Zukuri" means constructing or arranging. Together, it means "arranging the torso." The completed Dozukuri posture runs through the remaining six stages as the central axis of the entire shooting form.

3. Yugamae (Readying the Bow)

A combination of three small actions: hooking the string with the right thumb (Torikake), gripping the bow with the left hand (Tenouchi), and turning the head toward the target (Monomi). Once these three actions are completed, the entire body has established a relationship with the bow, arrow, and target. "Yugamae" literally means "the posture of holding the bow."

4. Uchiokoshi (Raising the Bow)

Raising the bow and arrow together with both hands to about one fist's height above the forehead, keeping the bow vertical and the arrow horizontal. This is the only distinctly "upward" stage in Hassetsu. "Uchi" here means executing an action (not striking), and "Okoshi" means raising. The whole term means "to raise up."

5. Hikiwake (Drawing the Bow)

Drawing the bow downward from the high position of Uchiokoshi. The left hand pushes the bow, and the right hand pulls the string, separating both hands symmetrically at a constant speed. "Hiki" means pulling, and "Wake" means separating, together meaning "pulling and separating." Halfway through, the archer passes through a half-drawn posture called Daisan as a transition point to Kai. The name "Daisan" originates from the Heki school, referring to the standard mid-draw posture, and has now become a common term in Kyudo.

6. Kai (Full Draw)

At the final draw, the nock of the arrow rests near the right ear, and the string aligns just below the corner of the mouth (Kuwari), with balanced tension in both arms. Kai is a unified state where the physical strength of the body and the bow reaches saturation. The character "Kai" (会) originally means "meeting" or "union" in Japanese, referring here to the union of body and bow.

7. Hanare (Release)

The right thumb slips off the string, and the arrow flies out. "Hanare" literally means "separation," but in Kyudo terminology, it describes not an active "letting go" action, but rather a natural release completed by the body once the tension in Kai is fully saturated.

8. Zanshin (Remaining Body and Mind)

After the release, both arms remain spread open, the gaze stays focused on the target, and the body does not relax. This posture of "not withdrawing after the shot" is called Zanshin. "Zan" means remaining, and "Shin" means mind or consciousness. The concept of Zanshin exists in other Japanese martial arts like Kendo, Aikido, and Karatedo, and is not exclusive to Kyudo.

Looking for Formal Definitions?

This article is compiled from the following public materials. While different manuals and schools vary slightly in details, this article is based on the mainstream definitions from the ANKF Kyudo Manual. For official content, please refer to:

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