Is anyone here into archery?

[GoVegan]

What is Japanese archery about?

[TobaccyLassy]

What is Japanese archery about?

The bows are anywhere between 7 to 8 feet long, using a Mongolian style draw (but without thumb ring, instead using a special glove called "yugake"), and is nowadays practiced more as a meditative type of archery. The goal isn't necessarily to hit the target, but to be able to hit the target by using proper form, breathing, focus, and shooting ettiquete. There's a specific routine to shooting in a line with 4 other archers, and "ranking" in the art is similar to other arts such as Karate. The process of shooting is very slow...almost like Tai Chi.

Here's an example, of people shooting at Sanjusangendo Temple. I had the opportunity to shoot there back in 2007, and what an exciting opportunity!

[GoVegan]

Very cool video. Huge bows! It is interesting hw form is more important than accuracy. I thought ninja dog was kind of cool as well.

[Bigblue1]

I believe tobaccylassy is gonna fit in quite nicely around here. Belated welcome to thee.....

[GoVegan]

I believe tobaccylassy is gonna fit in quite nicely around here. Belated welcome to thee.....

Agreed!

[TobaccyLassy]

I believe tobaccylassy is gonna fit in quite nicely around here. Belated welcome to thee.....

Thanks guys. Where are the other gals? You guys didn't scare them off, did you?

Yeah, the bows are pretty long. Mine is a bit over 7 feet long. Makes it kind of tough to walk around and look inconspicuous. LOL!

[Snusdog]

I thought ninja dog was kind of cool as well.

Thanks

[devilock76]

I have debated getting back into it. I used to shoot all the time when I was younger on a recurve I had. Debating between getting a recurve. Might inspire me to go hunting again... Although I never was much of a fan of just sitting in the woods.

Ken

[GoVegan]

OK my archery report to date. I have used the indoor range at Backroom Archery in Santa Rosa many times. It is a bit small but hey you can shoot all day for $5.00. This is also the place where I get most of my equipment. Their prices are good and they insist on you trying out any equipment before buying it. I have also tried the indoor range at Avid Bowhunter in Petaluma. This range is cool because it is 20 yards long which makes for a nice challenge. They charge $10.00 which is still downright reasonable. A few weeks ago, I went with my son to the public range at Lake Sonoma. They have many targets, 18 I think, set at different distances. This is the most challenging range I have been to so far. You are also climbing up and down hills, usually in hot weather, as you go from one target to another. You definitely get a workout using that range which may not be a bad thing. Outdoor ranges are nice but finding lost arrows can be a PITA especially if they get buried in the dirt. As for arrows, I started with carbon fibers because they are light and very fast. I am starting to learn that arrows are as unique as snus and your taste may change over time. Now I am using Easton Gamegettter 400 shafts with a 125 grain field point. They are heavy but very accurate. I also prefer aluminum arrows now because they don't crack like carbon arrows do and I can shoot them outside without worrying about them breaking. I also got a Yellow Jacket target bag as an early father's day present from my son so now I can shoot just about anywhere there is room. He paid for it using money he earned from his after school job. I almost hate to shoot arrows into it but that's what it is made for.

Next, I want to try and get skilled at using horsebows. Horsebows are small, light and pack quite a punch. Samick makes a horsebow called the SKB which is fairly cheap. I don't know when I will get it but it is something to look forward to a few months down the road.

[phantom]

I used to bow hunt all the time but I kinda got out of it for a while. I liked aluminum arrows the best, Easton gamegetter xx75 2117 arrows is what I always preferrd.I used the Wasp Boss three blade 125 grain broadhead.Now I have a crossbow hanging in the shed collecting dust.

[lxskllr]

Sounds good GV. If you want to make a full hobby from it, maybe you could go primitive, and make your own equipment. More tragic when you lose/break equipment, but it's something to do on rainy days, and combines several useful skills.

[GoVegan]

Sounds good GV. If you want to make a full hobby from it, maybe you could go primitive, and make your own equipment. More tragic when you lose/break equipment, but it's something to do on rainy days, and combines several useful skills.

Skills I don't possess. I make Tim Allen of Home Improvement look good.

[GoVegan]

OK today was a good day for archery! I took out my target bag and got in a good 3-4 hours of practice. The aluminum arrows hold up much better than the carbon arrows. They still bend after being shot 100 times but they never crack. Next week I want to get a fastflight string. Apparently the fastflight strings add about 10 lbs of power to your bow. I am still looking for a horse bow as well. There was a Samick SKB 55lb horse bow on ebay recently but someone got it with buy it now before I could even place a bid. The Samick SKB and Kaya's are absolutely beautiful, weigh less than a can of soda and pack a mean punch.

[OregonNative]

About 70% of the hunting I do is with my 75# Compound. I'm a joke when it comes to shooting a recurve bow, but I'd like to get better with them.

[muddyfunkstar]

I used to do archery years ago, when I was at school. Target shooting, rather than hunting (given that hunting in the UK involves toffs on horses and foxes ). Learned on a recurve, and after a couple of years got a compound bow. The compound was awesome.

Haven't shot in years, with the exception of a camping weekend a few years ago when the weather was so bad we all went to a nearby archery centre to kill a wet afternoon. Didn't take long to get the hang of it again.

Can't remember the specifics of the equipment I used to use, but I was a proper little Robin Hood for a while.