With a history characterized by hunting and combat techniques, archery is the practice of using equipment called a bow to shoot arrows at a target. Over the years, it has developed into a precision sport, leading to numerous competitions as well as a place in the Olympic Games. The title given to a person who is skilled in the practice is archer. For some, archery is like an intense game of darts that involves more equipment, as well as increased physical skill.
modern vs traditional archery
It is believed that the beginning of archery arose about 5,000 years ago. The first use of the bow was probably for hunting, while its recognition as a tool for war came later. In ancient times, primitive man threw projectiles at his enemies. It is the bow that replaced this technique.
There are many different types of archery that have evolved from traditional archery. Classical archery was prominent among the Macedonians, Greeks, Persians, and Indians, often occupying a large part of their armies. When targeted effectively, masses of soldiers can be taken out with precision. Advancing armies brought archery on horseback, allowing rapid execution of war plans.
In medieval European times, archery was used in times of war, but it was not as popular as one might think. By contrast, archers received the lowest pay and were often looked down on. Since it didn’t take much to make a bow and arrow, this contributed to negative perceptions of archers. It was seen as a weapon for the lower class.
Asia and the Midwest used horse archers in their military force. In the Kingdom of Bhutan, archery is the country’s national sport. One of the differences in Asiatic arrows is that they are less stiff than Western arrows. Today competitive archery is popular and is a significant departure from the traditional archery of the past. The use of archery as a form of warfare has been discarded, and mostly only hobbyists hunt with a bow and arrow. Modern archery involves competition.
Competitive archery involves shooting arrows for precision points from different distances, quite popular in Europe and North America. Both indoor and outdoor venues hold archery competitions with different rules. For example, there are different time limits. Indoor competition allows only 2 minutes to shoot 3 arrows. Archery equipment requires special attention to the rules of safety and use. You must receive proper instruction on how to hold a bow and shoot an arrow so as not to hurt yourself or others.
Modern archery competitions
The color of the archery board for competition is white, black, blue, red and gold. There are two rings of each color with corresponding point values. The final score of a competition is calculated by adding the total of all the scores obtained by your arrows. If an arrow falls on the line between two different point values, the higher sum will be awarded. Despite these rules, there are still disputes that require the assistance of a judge.
There are many different types of bow shapes and sizes. During competition, the only type of bow that can be used in the Olympic Games is called a curved bow. When you’re ready to further your interest in archery, there are many other details to take note of. For example, archers in competition often wear bracers that protect the arm. The tabs protect the drawing hand. The breastplates protect the clothing as well as the archer’s body. All of these things, along with the archer’s stance, hand-eye coordination, release form, and grip, will make or break an archery competition.