It looks like the schedule for next fall might entail missing practice twice a week, or at least the first part of Thursday practice. This would be most unfortunate but part of the shortfall could be made on Mondays with kyudo. Today was first shot, and second, and... through sixth. The problem is remembering the details of the different shots, the feeling behind each one, and the move toward better technique. With hikitori and hanare it becomes a lot clearer the connection with kendo. In yumigamae in particular, there's kake-hand and the looseness of the index finger--the tiger's mouth might be something quite helpful in kendo as well the "V" and proper tenouchi. Shoulders, shoulders, shoulders, and while not the roundness is appropriate, the shoulders feeling down would be good. With hikitori in particular it's key to be relaxed, using the shoulders and delts to stretch out fully. Kai feels particular good, to hold, and to feel the ya slowly slipping out of grasp but still in control until the naturalness of release.