is archery a martial art?

[MAfreak]

well the modern sports-bows where an arrow can be fixed on is different from the ones the samurai used or the ones we built as kids. it couldn't be used in a hurry in a battle but like a sniper.

like always i have a videoclip on the topic.

some month ago i bought an archery set and my goal was to be able to shoot a frisbee. after some practise i reached it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow8IvycnH3o

[sensei8]

Yes...it is a MA...Kyudo!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D

[DWx]

Yes...it is a MA...Kyudo!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D

Korean equivalent Gungsul: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gakgung

And also Japanese mounted archery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yabusame

[DWx]

As to the original question, definitely a martial art. Used by almost all cultures for hunting and fighting. The bow today is not very relevant for self defense or warfare but I would still consider it a martial arts weapon.

Very cool though hitting the frisbee

[Wado Heretic]

The bow tradition of today has descended from the warrior traditions, and practical concerns of yesterday; just as all martial arts are. So in short; yes, archery can be a martial art.

I think the difference though is in seeing the cross over between it, and our expectations of the world. We can use our unarmed techniques in everyday self-defence, were they called upon, and weapon training with historic arms makes one familiar with weapons and can help in confronting improvised weaponry. Furthermore, most martial arts have some combat sport derived from them; sport-karate, kick-boxing, free-style wrestling, and other types of rule-bound pugilism and grappling.

In Archery, unless one hunts with the bow; there is never a visible "foe". One simply competes against the self; even in competitive archery. The only difference is the quality of the archery, but that comes down to the individual shots; not whether one archer got the upper hand in an exchange or not.

In that sense; it is the purest of martial arts. It is the only one that cannot be marred by the idea of competing against others; it is you alone that succeeds or fails in striking the target. It allows no excuses; such as they were the better man on the day.

Also, excellent work over such a short period of time.

[Montana]

Martial=warring art.

Archery, javelin throwing, discus (not frisbee), track and field, rifle/gun shooting, boxing, fencing, wrestling, etc. The list is long of things that had their roots in warefare.

ALL are martial arts IMO.

[Montana]

The bow today is not very relevant for self defense or warfare but I would still consider it a martial arts weapon.

WHAT??? You must not be watching the Walking Dead then...when ammo runs low, grab your bow! lol

[MAfreak]

haha okay it prepares us for the zombie apocalypse.

the asian bows are huge. i guess they can also be used as bo/long staff when it comes to close combat. but must be hard to aim, especially on moving targets, when its a classical bow without that arrow-fixing stuff.

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160205/nlyfcr7h.jpg

also fixing the arrow takes some time, so in a battle, you would be killed, before you could load the arrow, i think.

[DWx]

The bow today is not very relevant for self defense or warfare but I would still consider it a martial arts weapon.

WHAT??? You must not be watching the Walking Dead then...when ammo runs low, grab your bow! lol

I just started rewatching them all again actually maybe I should go take up archery lessons just in case

[JR 137]

haha okay it prepares us for the zombie apocalypse.

the asian bows are huge. i guess they can also be used as bo/long staff when it comes to close combat. but must be hard to aim, especially on moving targets, when its a classical bow without that arrow-fixing stuff.

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/160205/nlyfcr7h.jpg

also fixing the arrow takes some time, so in a battle, you would be killed, before you could load the arrow, i think.

I highly doubt that the only bows used in Far East Asia were the long bows. I'm no expert, so I could be wrong.

Any war derived activity/sport/whatever you want to call it could be considered a martial art. But when I think of martial arts, I think hand to hand combat or very short range weapons such as 6ft bo, sword, etc.