Archery

[SBN Doug]

I haven't seen anything posted about archery yet. Does anyone else practice "traditional" archery (ie. no compound bows)?

 

My training in Korean archery started about three months ago. Damn, does my thumb ever hurt!

[kicker]

well tell ya the truth i`ve always liked acchery but it`s hard and no i don`t anymore!!

[SaiFightsMS]

I did archery a long time ago. Like back when I was in junior high. At the time I really enjoyed it. That was long before I developed an interest in the martial arts. I have not rememberence of why I started archery. But, I definately remember enjoying it.

[Tobias_Reece]

Hi all

 

Are we refering to the martial art know as Kyudo - the art of japanese archery

 

I've never done it, but it looks fun

 

C ya

 

 

[SBN Doug]

I'm talking about any kind of Eastern archery. I'm being taught in Kuk Sool Won, so mine is Korean archery. But, I wouldn't mind hearing about anyone's martial arts archery experiences.

 

We have to pull the string back with our thumb. We are also taught not to really sight with a single eye, but to keep both eyes open and "feel" the correct elevation based on where we pull the string to on our body.

[SaiFightsMS]

I learned to draw the string back with the first 2 fingers. The thumb was used as an anchor point either behind the jawbone or the ear so that the realease point would be consistend.

 

I remember the inside of my forearm used to turn colors from the bowstring when it was released.

 

I do think there is kind of a natural tendency to hold the breath as the shot is released in the final aiming process.

[SBN Doug]

That's the European draw. Korean draw is with the thumb, and across the chest.

 

We're not supposed to aim with our eyes, just feel through repetetive practice where to hold the bow in relation to the target.

 

Yeh, my arm has turned some interesting colors when I didn't keep my elbow rotated out. Only takes once for me to remember.

 

We are also trained to draw our breath with our string, and hold until string release.

[SaiFightsMS]

That is interesting Doug. When you draw the bowstring across your chest to you use an anchor point for reference? Also, do you pull the string back or push the bow forward?

[SBN Doug]

We basically have to find our own anchor point. I feel mine to the right side of my chest, with my forearm and bicept being in line.

 

To draw, we raise the bow above our head, lock the bow arm, and draw the string back as we lower the bow on target.

[SaiFightsMS]

I see Doug. Actually your anchor point is just slightly lower than mine was.

 

In the longbow tradition that emerged from the European knights they would sometimes use very strong bows that could only be drawn by pushing the bow forward.

 

Lowering the bow slowly from over head would induce an attitude of stillness when in the right frame of mind. It is interesting the moods that a ritual can induce.