Switzerland
What Kyūdō is
The Japanese bow is asymmetric: the grip sits in the lower third. Shooting proceeds in eight fixed stages, the hassetsu — from the stance through the raising and opening to the release and zanshin, the holding of the follow-through. The target is hit not by aiming but by the form being right. If the arrow misses, the fault is not looked for at the target.
Two traditions in Switzerland
The Chikurin-ha groups stand in the Koryū tradition of Heki-ryū Bishū Chikurin-ha, which goes back to Heki Danjō Masatsugu in the 15th century — martial archery on foot. This line is coordinated across Europe by OKO Kyudo Europe.
The Shōmen groups follow the standardised form of the Zen Nippon Kyūdō Renmei, which is also the basis for grading.
The federation
The Schweizerischer Kyudo Verband was founded in 1978 and today counts around 150 active members in regional groups. It is a founding member of the International Kyudo Federation and is represented in the European Kyudo Federation; grades up to 6th dan and the Renshi title are examined through it.
The current list of groups is kept by the federation itself.