February 4, 201610 yr 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
February 4, 201610 yr Yes...it is a MA...Kyudo!!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D **Proof is on the floor!!!
February 4, 201610 yr Yes...it is a MA...Kyudo!!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D Korean equivalent Gungsul: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GakgungAnd also Japanese mounted archery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yabusame "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius
February 4, 201610 yr 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 "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius
February 4, 201610 yr 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. R. Keith Williams
February 4, 201610 yr 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. If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please..feel free to stand in front of them. Student since January 1975---4th Dan, retired due to non-martial arts related injuries.
February 4, 201610 yr 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 If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please..feel free to stand in front of them. Student since January 1975---4th Dan, retired due to non-martial arts related injuries.
February 5, 201610 yr Author 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.jpgalso fixing the arrow takes some time, so in a battle, you would be killed, before you could load the arrow, i think.
February 5, 201610 yr 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! lolI just started rewatching them all again actually maybe I should go take up archery lessons just in case "Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius
February 6, 201610 yr 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.jpgalso 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.
Create an account or sign in to comment