Bill Skinner
|
The first two require you to touch the same part of your body to insure that you are drawing to the exact same length from shot to shot. The first two are seen in Olympic shooting with all the gizmos on the bow. They can also be used "traditional" without sights and can be very accurate with practice.
The third requires you to stretch out your bow arm and fully bend your drawing arm, You won't be able to stretch out your arm any more or bend your drawing arm inward or compress your shoulders any more, so while it looks like it is "floating", it really isn't. This is the form used from horseback by both the Japanese and Mongols.
Look at some of the YouTube videos of Japanese archers to get an idea of how it should be done. It also requires a bow that will withstand a very long draw. And it's also the most difficult to master if you don't have a teacher who knows how to do it.
And lastly, note that the Japanese take their clothes off their upper body so the string doesn't get caught. This is a form of meditation. You can shoot with clothes on your upper body, you will rake the string across your chest, you will catch loose clothing with the string until you learn to hold the bow and your body correctly. I suggest putting some tape over your left nipple, it really smarts when the string rakes it, even through clothes.
And all three forms require pretty constant practice.
And I didn't mention it but your strength should come from your back muscles and core, not your arms. The third form in particular, if you don't feel stress on your short ribs, you are drawing with your arms only.
|