Uchiokoshi
What is Uchiokoshi?
Uchiokoshi is the fourth stage in the Hassetsu, the "Eight Stages of Shooting," in Kyudo, the Japanese martial art of archery. It involves raising the bow in preparation for drawing it. The term "Uchiokoshi" can be translated as "raising the bow."
Here are the key aspects of Uchiokoshi:
- Lifting the Bow: From the Yugamae position, the archer lifts the bow smoothly and steadily. The movement should be controlled and deliberate, without any abrupt or jerky motions.
- Height and Angle: The bow is raised to about forehead height. The angle of the bow should be such that the arrow remains horizontal. The left arm (bow arm) should be extended but not fully locked, maintaining a slight bend at the elbow.
- Body Alignment: The archer's body should remain aligned and balanced during this movement. The posture established in Dōzukuri should be maintained, with the spine straight and the shoulders relaxed.
- Focus and Breathing: Throughout Uchiokoshi, the archer should maintain focus on the target and continue to breathe calmly and deeply. This helps in maintaining a state of mental readiness and physical relaxation.
Uchiokoshi is a preparatory stage that sets the foundation for the subsequent stages of drawing and releasing the bow. Proper execution of Uchiokoshi ensures that the archer is in the optimal position to draw the bow smoothly and accurately. Mastery of this stage is crucial for achieving precision and consistency in Kyudo practice.
Related Article: Kyudo: The Zen Art of Japanese Archery
Bushido meant stoicism, self-discipline, and dignity in one’s personal bearing; it emphasized mastery of the martial arts through long training and practice; it lauded sacrifice in service to duty, without the slightest fear of death; it demanded asceticism and simplicity in daily life, without regard to comforts, appetites, or luxuries. The samurai was “to live as if already dead,” an outlook consonant with Buddhism; he was to regard death with fatalistic indifference, rather than cling to a life that was essentially illusory. Shame or dishonor might require suicide as atonement—and when a samurai killed himself, he did so by carving out his own viscera with a short steel blade. But traditional bushido had not imposed an obligation to abhor retreat or surrender even when a battle had turned hopeless, and the old-time samurai who had done his duty in a losing cause could lay down his arms with honor intact.
Ian W. Toll