The following is a commentary by our instructor and does not reflect the views of any organization mentioned below.
We practice what is commonly referred to in the US as "federation style" kyudo. This is a term used in the US to refer to kyudo that is: 1) mainstream kyudo as one would find in Japan and 2) used to distinguish the American Kyudo Renmei (AKR) from other kyudo groups in the US not associated with the AKR, the International Kyudo Federation, or the All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF).
The term "federation style" has no meaning in Japan because the ANKF is an umbrella organization that represents and promotes all kyudo in Japan, including older styles of kyudo such as Ogasawara ryu and the various branches of Heki ryu. These groups have their own teachings and ranking system, but they also participate in the ranking system, training, competitions, and other general kyudo activity operated by the ANKF. In fact, the history of the ANKF itself is a story of cooperation among different kyudo ryuha. Many of the high-ranking hanshi instructors in Japan have learned from teachers of different ryuha and do not "belong" to a particular ryuha.
This is an important point to remember for practitioners of other budo who are interested in kyudo--especially among those who place greater cultural cache in doing the "real old stuff." Unlike the relationship between kendo and koryu swordsmanship, or judo and classical jujutsu, which are often practiced as separate arts whose techniques have different goals, standard "modern" kyudo and older styles of kyudo--as they exist today--do not have such a separate relationship. Although Heki ryu is often associated with the shooting done by foot soldiers, and Ogasawara ryu with ceremonial shooting or shooting from horseback (yabusame), an imperfect generalization, today both arts are practiced with similar goals.
Although there are some differences in technique among different styles of older kyudo, the difference lies mostly in the ceremonial shooting that occurs during special occasions--the day-to-day training is largely the same. A Heki ryu practitioner could give advice to an Ogasawara ryu practitioner during a group ANKF training seminar in Japan and it would not be considered odd. This would be unthinkable in swordsmanship or other arts but not in kyudo.