Arts to the Bow?

[Rokto Obotar]

Since my dad hates swords and im all about Ma. I cant have a sword so he compromised with me and insted I got a bow and arrow. im a pretty good shot for only having it for a month. are their any Ma's relating to the Bow if so help me out thnx!

[Jay Bell]

Kyudo places are rare, but in Cali I'm sure you'll find one.

[Sgathak]

Lajhos Kassai (sp?) has redeveloped Magyar Horse Archery... of course, you need a horse for that. There are Modern Archery competetions as well...

[KZMiller]

Modern archery classes will take you a long way. Try to find someone who teaches different styles of shooting, not just 'target' or 'hunting'. They should know more than one style of shooting to be teaching anyway. And check out some books. There are a huge number of books out there, some written by former Olympic medalists. Archery is an Olympic sport and has been for a long time. You're in for a treat. It's a beautiful art.

[Jeff Burger]

Like playing around with the bow.
But being in the center of a big city I cant just go to the park and start launching sharp projectiles.

A friend in upstate New York has horses and we to thinking about shooting from horseback ( inspride by the Kirosowa flick Ran).
I totally sucked but what a cool experience.
So many things going on...guiding the horse, staying on the horse, compensating for all this movement while trying to shoot.....

Jeff

[jruner]

I am an archer. The instinctive archery of the Native American was a very deadly "Martial Art". In early encounters with "outsiders" Native Americans were known for killing several men in less than a minute at close range. Once the army got repeaters it was not as easy but still many troops died from multiple arrow wounds. They practiced on foot with longer bows and on horse back with a short bow.

If you want to do traditional type archery try to find a longbow or recurve bow club. Instinctive archery is picking a single spot and visualizing the arrow hitting the spot. Some call this the art of not aiming. Usually you use only a peice of paper or animal paper target and try to hit a "spot" not a bullseye.

Good Luck
John Runer

[nosh276]

I would love to learn archery, but can't afford a bow. Is there any quality, cheap, long and short bows? I don't like hunting bows.

[Sgathak]

what is quality in your eyes?
what is cheap in your eyes?
what is long in your eyes?
what is short in your eyes?
what is a "hunting bow" in your eyes?

You can get a hand made bow with a osage core, horn belly, and sinew backing in a turkish custom from Saluki for $3000
You can get a good cheap fiberglass "lil Indian" straight stick for about $60
You can get a nice Yumi in Hassun-Nobi (8 foot)
You can get a Cheyenne or Arapahoe reproduction at about 3 foot
Traditional bowhunters tend to prefer either long bows or recurves, some even make their own bows to custom specs, often very hardline traditional made with animal parts the hunter personally killed previously.
Modern bowhunters use composite bows made of anodized CNC'd aluminum, vibration dampeners, fiberglass arrows, and mechanical arrow releases.

Now, taking the middle road average on these, you will basically end up with a bow worth about $300 assuming a 30# draw weight (not hunting legal but comfortable to shoot) approx 5.5 to 6 foot tall and generally of a wood and fiberglass composite. MOST sellers are able to get you this "average bow"... In fact, id bet that except for the matters of draw weight (minimum legal weight in 45# in most states and unless they cater to performace target shooters mostly they are usually selling to hunters) most sellers will likely have this bow sitting in their shop ready to go. Your big choice is straight or crooked???? (longbow or recurve)

[nosh276]

What I meant by hunting bow, was composite. I don't want one. I want a long bow that's about 5 feet in length made of wood and animal parts, and a recurve bow that's about 3 feet in length made of the same materials. This, plus lessons, is more than beyond my price range. Current income= 0 dollars.

[Sgathak]

Your talking about $4-5000 worth of bow... and "longbows" in the strictest terms are at least 6' and are NEVER made with animal products... and a 3 foot recurve is limiting you mostly to the Korean recurve. I dont know anyone who makes them, and due to their size and construction are probably some of the most expensive bows in the world.

get the Boywers bible 1,2,3 (and 4.... if they have it, not sure) and learn how to make your own.

[nosh276]

I'll check it out. The reason I said 5 foot was because I am only 5 '4 I couldn't possibly, I don't believe, shoot with a bow that's longer than I am tall.

[Sgathak]

If you grasp a 6' bow in the middle and hold it out like your going to shoot an arrow, it only extends 3' down from the bottom of your hand.... which is about knee level. The thing with long bows is that A) they are LONG bows, and middle ages archers averaged about 5'2", so you should be OK and B) because they are made of a single peice of wood traditionally, the length adds power and cast without the bow becoming too thick, too wide, and too slow as to be unusable on the battlefield.

Prsonally, I prefer "horse bows" for most ot my bow shooting... at 48"-52" with full recurve and made with wood, fiberglass, and leather, you get classic looks, traditional feel, modern convienience, and a bow with a FARTHER cast than a longbow of equal weight

www.horsebows.com

[jruner]

Yes bows are money! I am always making and breaking board bows. A bow made form a hard wood board. Some work out and some don't watch yard sales for used bows. Contact clubs in your area and tell them you are a beginner and want to learn with a used bow. Even some archery stores sale them. Just be careful if you do come up with some money for a used bow. If they were pulled back and fired with out an arrow they can be dangerous!

I used to use compounds but now make my own long bows but am not highly skilled at it. Also libraries either have or can get a lot of good archery books and they cost you nothing to check out! Good luck!
Look up "Traditional Archery" on the net and you should also get some good ideas.

John Runer

[William Bodnar]

Lajos Kassai is one nice person. He is a Magyar as I am. Which is Hungarian to those here in USA. He has brought new life to the art of horse archery in the traditional Magyar way. He makes a fine line of bows and bow equipment. About that horse archery. One thing you must have is a well trained horse. One that is not can be deadly. You have to let go of the reigns to shoot. The horse must stay course during this time. Your balance depends on this. You fall, if you don't break something in you that arrow and bow is still in front of you. I have corrisponded with a good man up north named Todd Delle. He has a training class and all. I am sure there are others that can train you and a horse. But that is who Lajos recomended. So that is who I contacted here. I do know this if your going to target shoot from a horse it and you must be trained. You must have proper equipment includeing the correct saddle. The bow depends on your style and ablility. As the moderator said a shorter lighter bow is recommended. But in order to hunt you have to comply with your states rules. It is #40 in Arkansas however I use a much heavier bow to hunt. For target I will use one of my lighter bows between 35-45#. and at various lengths. between 55 and 67". I am 5'5" and those work for me. I am short and long bow works just fine. The Magyar bow Is just very Ideal for the game. In my oppinion they are the best bow ever made. Be it ground or on a horse. So the Moderator Joe has given you a good peice of advise yes. But you need a fine horse too. Not just some stable horse. It must fit you and you it. Kind of like a good marrage. I will get one of Jajos Kassai bows as soon as I can. And will try to get proper training for the horse bow action as I can. Till then I stay to the ground.

William Bodnár
in Arkansas