The short answer: start light
As a rough guide, a beginner’s bow strength (kyuryoku) is around 10–13 kg for men and 8–11 kg for women. But it varies widely with build, age, school, and instruction, so treat these as guides only and start with a strength you can draw easily. Too strong a bow breaks your form and leads to injury and quitting.
- Bow strength is the force needed to draw the bow to full draw, measured in kg.
- Beginner guide: men ~10–13 kg, women ~8–11 kg.
- “About a third of body weight” and “from grip strength” are common rules of thumb — references only.
- Too strong a bow does only harm. Start light.
- Decide finally with your instructor.
What kyuryoku means
Bow strength is the force needed to draw a bow to the hold (kai), in kilograms — a “12 kg bow,” say. It is measured at a set draw length, so a longer draw feels stronger even on the same bow. The key point: a strong bow is not a good bow. One too strong for you actually hinders progress.
Beginner guide (by sex)
Men (secondary-school to adult beginners): around 10–13 kg. Women: around 8–11 kg. Smaller or less-strong people should start below these. Don’t aim for a bow you can “just barely” draw — choose a strength at which you can hold correct form over ten or twenty shots. If drawing is all you can manage, the form you need won’t develop.
From body weight or grip
“Suitable strength is about a third of body weight” is often heard — e.g. ~15 kg for a 45 kg person — but this can run strong for a beginner, so don’t take it at face value; start lighter. Grip strength is sometimes cited too, but drawing uses the large muscles of the back and shoulders, not grip, so a strong grip doesn’t translate directly. These are only rough starting points; in the end, judge by whether you can hold form, ideally by borrowing the dojo‘s bows and trying a few strengths.
The harm of too strong a bow
- Broken form: unable to draw fully, you raise the shoulder, draw with the hands, or shorten the hold — bad habits that are hard to undo.
- Injury: strain to shoulder, elbow, and wrist.
- No enjoyment: every shot becomes a struggle, and both progress and hits recede.
A bow matched to you lets you build correct form and, in the end, improve faster. Strength can be raised later — there is no need to start strong.
When to raise the strength
Once your form is settled, you can hold kai comfortably at your current strength, and your hits are steady, it’s time to raise the strength a little. Don’t rush: too-early a change breaks the form you’ve built.
FAQ
What bow strength should a beginner use?
As a guide, ~10–13 kg for men and ~8–11 kg for women, but it varies with build, age, and school — a starting point only. Smaller or less-strong people should begin lighter.
Is the “one third of body weight” rule right?
It’s a common rule of thumb but can run strong for beginners. Drawing uses the back and shoulders, not grip, so don’t take the number at face value — start lighter.