Original subtitles

Why archery?

[Music]

First of all, it's for every age. We

start here with the age of eight for

safety reasons, but I guess you can

teach a kid from 3, four, 5 years old

on. And there is no age limitation

upwards even 80 90 years as long as

you're physically physical able to do

it. It's no problem even with

disabilities like a blind woman we had

here to the left. Yes. Point there.

Middle finger to the corner of your

mouth and let go.

You're close. Very good.

So turn your head a little to the left.

Yes. Point to your target. And now

middle finger to your mouth and let go.

Yeah. You hit the center again. Very

good. So it's for everyone.

Second is it's easy to begin with. we

have here. We introduce them in a 1-hour

session. We tell them the basics. First

of all, of course, here the safety

rules. Then we show them how to shoot in

four steps. And then we let them shoot.

And usually after 1 hour, they're

already capable of hitting the target

more or less properly. So it's easy to

learn, easy to begin with.

Next is it's an

of course it can be an inexpensive hobby

and it can be an expensive hobby.

Depends how you see it. But when you

check these bows we use here at the

range. The snake from Aroon is available

online sometimes 50 60 something like

this does the job for all your needs.

You can learn three fingers.

You can learn thumb release. You can do

with this bow whatever you like.

does the job. Has still an arrow shelf

which makes your life easier in the

beginning. It's cheap a set of arrows.

And as I always say, invest in good

arrows. Then you have more fun. Don't

take some cheap heavy arrows with a

light drop bow. Doesn't make fun. When

you have this 26 lb bow with nice light

carbon arrows, you have fun and it's

nice. So the entry price for archery is

let's say €100, €150. you get something

already quite nice where you can start

with and then of course there is no

limit once you go into the realm of horn

and composite bows and then $3,000 no

problem.

Next point is it's a family sport. When

you look on Sunday mornings here to our

regular shooting, we have sometimes

three generations shooting. The

grandfather, the father, and the son

coming regularly every Sunday morning to

shoot one hour together. And this is

really nice. We have another family, two

kids and the two adults. They always

book four places here and they come and

shoot and have fun. So it's really a

family activity. Nobody, no one is

excluded and it's really a lot of fun.

Next, of course, the health aspect of

archery, but there are a lot of

information on the internet why it is

healthy to do archery. focus, mental,

physical, uh, self-esteem and and I

don't want to go in this. You can check

this out.

Then, as you can see, this is only a

small selection of bows. The the the

many styles and types of bows and

shooting styles there are. So, it never

gets boring. Even if you start now,

let's say in one of your archery clubs

and they get you or they tell you that

you need to get one of these recurve

takedown bows. They, you know, this

Olympic stuff, it's fine. You learn

three finger shooting. You even can aim

maybe in the beginning. Maybe you want

to go traditional.

Maybe you want to do this string

walking, which I didn't get the point

that you really have the arrow here. And

then you align here your hands according

to how far the target is away. You can

shoot three fingers under and aim. But

of course you can do it like we do it

Mediterranean split finger

instinctive

with a bow like this. No problem. These

bows grow with you. You can change the

limbs and then you raise the poundage

with this ones.

I showed you the snake before. It's a

bit more versatile one because you can

shoot right, left-handed. You can shoot

mediterane arrow on the left side

and you can shoot thumb release arrow on

the right side.

Makes life a little easier for a

beginner. And of course you can get

because you like it and you saw too many

Robin Hood movies. You get your nice

long bow. This one is 140 or something.

So even this one is not expensive. It's

a three laminated bow. Does the job. Has

a little hook. You get used to it.

And then

we go into the realm of what they still

call horse bows. The short aiatic reflex

bows. I don't shoot this bow

mediterranean because for me it's an

insult for the bow. So you want to shoot

this bow thumb release.

Boom. Like this. Really nice. And then

of course there are different variations

through all the historical periods of

China and uh Persia. You get all these

bows in there. nice styles. Every bow

has a slightly different shooting

characteristic from the Turkish bow to

the Mangju bow.

That's why there is no end in exploring

new things, in exploring new bows, new

shooting characteristics and draw

length. I said this one's normally 28 29

in draw length. This one is 33 in or 35

in. I forgot now. I think the max door

is 35 but safe draw is 33 in. So

you know once you start drawing this is

a 32 in arrow.

You start drawing back there. Look at

this. This is

such a complete different shooting

experience. So it never gets boring

because you have really a vast amount of

different bows

a available and you can start a set

cheap with or with a fiberglass bow from

Alibaba. They cost $80, $90, $100,

whatever. And you have already a lot of

fun and then there are so many different

bows to explore and to grow. So trust

me, once you start, you don't end up

with only one bow.

And then I said there are different

shooting techniques you can get into.

This one is now, you know, known from

Hungary used for horseback where you

grab the arrow, pull the other through,

and then you shoot three finger.

It's not the most historical way.

Modern madeup stuff. I might do a video

about this, but it's not the purpose of

today. You see you can shoot three

fingers. Then there's a technique or one

of the techniques I prefer. This is then

the thumb release

which is in all Asian countries or was

used in all Asian countries. And then

you get a bit more specific in the

Persian throw or Slavic release how I

call it looks like three finger but you

have the arrow on the right side and you

shoot like this. and people when you

don't shoot groups

think about all the body mechanics

when you shoot Slavic

back tension and a smooth release and

then there are different techniques in

shooting. You can hold the bow steady

when you shoot some release like uh

Chinese Gaí said like this

or you can shoot catra like almost

everyone else did in the times

that you move your bow out of the way

and you even string twist. So there are

so many variations in shooting

techniques you can learn. That's why it

really never gets boring. There is

always something new and once you find

the way which works for you, the bow

which works for you, then you can go

really dig deep into train intensively

and you will it's it's it's a barrel

without a bottom

and what you shoot can be differently.

So usually we shoot at a target and then

then when you're in the club or when you

go then there's field archery that they

put targets in the fields, you walk

there, shoot different distances. Then

there is 3D archery where you have these

ones standing around from small to

grizzly bear size and 3D parkour.

Interesting too. If you have no problem

shooting uh figures they look like

animals then this is a nice thing to do

too. But nowadays they even develop

dragons and spooky fantasy figures. So

makes your life easier again different

distances. And if you want to shoot

human there's a way too. It's then

called or we call it combat archery.

It's archery tag and different names.

Nice too if you like it. A lot of fun

too. So even the choice for targets is

never ending. You can have at home a

throw target and shoot 2 m distance.

Practice your technique. You go out find

the normal foam targets then in the

field 3D and so on. So even this one is

a never ending story. Nowadays we even

have 4D where they have mostly indoors a

huge target and then they project some

animals or some game play on it and you

shoot it and the sensor registers the

impact and stops and you see if you hit

the target or not. Interesting too. I

guess we will soon see something a bit

more sophisticated than this, but stay

tuned. I'm on it.

So, and now, of course, you can train

like you learn it in most of these uh

archery clubs as a sport.

where you stand, you line everything up,

you anchor wherever you land anchor and

you shoot and you even throw your bow

out of your hand with a with a wristband

on it. You can see it as a sport, which

obviously I don't do. For me, it's a

martial art and it was always a martial

art. For me, it's more this dynamic,

you know, sack that you don't

that you include your whole body like in

a good martial art that you have the

stance and everything. But I did videos

of that already. You can check this out.

Then for me, it's way more dynamic and

not the static standing there and

letting go. Or

like to do it is see it as a meditation,

which works great when you have one of

these hunkus

or a yumi. You really first sit down,

meditate, and then your whole shooting

process

is a piece of meditation where you

really slow down.

where you use archery really is a

meditation which I love a lot.

You slow down, you focus way more on

your breathing, on your internals, and

you use way more your energy. After you

finish shooting, you sit there and you

meditate a bit more about what you did

and about life. And it's incredible,

too. So you have from fast shooting to

very very slow shooting everything

included.

And of course as big as the variety is

in bows. You have a variety in arrows.

You can have wood arrows. You can have

bamboo arrows. You can have carbon

arrows. Then there's aluminum and mixed

materials carbon and aluminum and a

whole variety of arrows. So you really

can find the arrow which matches your

shooting style, which matches your bow.

Doesn't get boring. Then of course, but

I'm not the biggest uh

speaker for that. You have a lot of

other equipment you can purchase. You

can have quivers, side quivers, back

quivers, holster quivers, bow quivers.

You can get your arrows from almost

everywhere. I simply put them in my belt

here. That's why I don't sell that many

arrows because I don't use quivers. See,

I put them here, grab them and can

shoot. It's no problem. Then there are

of course finger tubs, gloves for your

three-finger shooting. There are leather

fingers for your thumb shooting. Then of

course all these sun rings. Did videos

about that. Simply check them out. Uh to

protect your skin. I like it more

bare-handed, but that's me. And then of

course if you shoot Olympic or you shoot

a very short brace he tight long bow you

might want to have one of these arm

guards. I don't use them only when I

shoot a long bow with a very short brace

head because for the rest I know my

shooting technique. I never hit the

string here. When you hit the string

here you most probably do something

wrong.

Why do you learn so quick? Because you

get an instant response. This is proven

in learning techniques. When you

directly get your positive reward, you

learn faster. And this is the same here.

You shoot and

split second later, you see already that

you come closer to the center, which

gives yourself this, you know, this this

fast learning experience.

That's why archery is an easy way to

learn,

is easy to learn, and it's a lot of fun.

And as I mentioned before, for me it's a

martial art. And what it does for me it

connects mind, body, and soul. If you do

it in a more developed way, I would say

once you get over that you have to think

about your posture and stuff. When you

have this in your muscle memory after a

few thousand shots, then you get to feel

and experience this. First of all, this

instinctive intuitive way of shooting

that you don't aim anymore that you

really know what you have to do without

knowing.

And then you you feel this this this

balancing out on connection in your

body, mind and soul. And this is what I

love personally about it.

Of course, you can shoot competitions,

which I don't really like because you're

not always top of your form. So will

never be always number one and you will

never be the last one. You will always

be somewhere.

For me the challenge is I challenge

myself. So if I stand here I shoot for

myself. When I shoot that I know

something is going on. Clear it. Like

Fred Bear said, there's nothing more

cleansing the soul than shooting bow and

arrow or something like this kind of.

And I agree. Once you start shooting and

you shoot for yourself, you feel

yourself. It's like a communication with

yourself. This is what I like about it.

And then you might ask, why should you

not start archery?

I can't tell. Some people simply don't

like weapons

and then it's fine for me. Then don't

use a weapon for your sport activity.

And for the rest, I think when you use

archery as a vehicle to team up with

others, you have the same logo on the

back. You run around and you feel good

as a group of whatever.

And you your main purpose is to meet up

for archery suits and then

don't know, you need to know. It's for

sure not my purpose at all. Or of

course, if you want to simply learn

archery to kill some animals for fun, if

you do it outside there and you eat this

animal, something else,

there are other ways to do that, I

guess. But if you simply want to kill

something for fun, like we have here in

Malta, one bird in the air, at least 10,

shoot this one bird. And as I read

today, they shot again I don't know how

many protected birds because of course

they they didn't see what it is. It

could have been a Boeing 747, a pigeon

or a sparrow or a crane or a pelican.

Well, they didn't see they simply shot

it. So when you do it for this purpose,

please don't.

Why archery Andy? I met Armen on a movie

set a while ago. He was the archery

consultant. I was doing stunts. After

the movie, I came along just to train in

archery and I just got completely

hooked. It's so relaxing. It's fun. I

just enjoy it all the time.

Why archery?

Uh to look cool.

Why archery?

Cuz it's efficient.

I mean, it helps the core instead of one

individual muscle group, which is

definitely a benefit

and it's cool.

Nice.

So, Chris, why archery?

Archery, it's a way of life. It's a

passion. It's good training, discipline,

and uh you get to know quite a lot of

different cultures, kind of a lot of

history. So yeah, archery this is

exactly the choice for me at least.

Any benefits you figured since you do

archery?

Yeah, I mean physical benefits are many

physical benefits. I do feel good. I do

to feel um stronger but uh it's mostly a

mental benefit.

It's the fact that you actually manage

to relax to calm down and uh be one kind

of with yourself. And it's a very good

opportunity to do so.

Denny,

why actually?

Because it's cool.

Anything else?

Uh, initially because it's cool

afterwards because

it's quite addictive. It gives you a

good sense of discipline and focus and

it helps to clear your mind from the

stresses of the modern world. Other

benefits physically benefits you it's

good exercise. It's and it's a good way

of meeting new people also. Yes, it's a

family sport. I come to the range with

my daughter. Um it's a good way we spend

a couple of hours together and we have

fun.

So tell me why archery?

Why archery? Maybe it was a dream from

my childhood

because when we were children we have

made stick bows and can arrows and we

have played a lot of uh uh games with

such kind of self-made bows and later on

I have started to work. I had family and

there was a period in my life when I

could turn back to my hobby again. You

know I am Hungarian and in our history

the bow has had a a very important role.

Uh when we have arrived here in the

carpet in basin first I have just bought

a um a bow and started to practice at

home and uh I have grown through this

bow and its capability. So I have uh

found a nice very nice uh team and the

group on the internet who uh were um

dealing with uh traditional archery.

Nice. So Duncan, why archery?

Ah that's an interesting question.

The answer is even more interesting.

Yes. Yes. Um, archery basically I loved

it since I was a very very young boy and

I have now I have the the possibility to

train it. Um, it helps me relax. That's

I think one of the most

um

reasons one top most reasons that why I

come each and every time. I've been here

with with Armen for 7 years. I come for

a stretch of three, four months, then I

stop. I feel stressed out again and I

come back. For me, it's uh I may say

it's meditation. It's clears my mind.

It's it's rebalance me. Rebalances me

for a for a It prepares me for a

a stressful week at at work sort of.

Nice one. So Paulo, why archery?

I I always wanted to do it since I was

young. I never had a chance to do it and

u and then I moved here to Malta and I

knew that uh there was an archery um

camp and uh I tried and I fell in love

with it. Uh just gives me that kind of

inner peace. Uh I know it's a bit La La

Land to say it like that, but

it really kind of uh brings the the end

of the week to a nice uh place where I

am with my with myself.

So now tell me why did you choose

Archery?

It was um actually it was just started

from a gift. I've never usually when I

was young, I like this kind of things,

but I've never thought about it as

something to do. So, it came out of the

blues. And I liked my first trial. I

felt so relaxed, something that it was

lost inside. I I never knew like it's a

hidden talent.

It's your second time today.

Yes.

What did you feel since last time you

shot in? What did you change or what you

did?

I spent I think two two days 3 days

after I was feeling like this rush that

I needed I needed to do this more often.

Um it takes off a lot of stress. It it

relaxes you. It's something to take your

mind off things

and just think about nothing nothing but

your target.

Keith, why archery?

H

first of all, uh it's a type of

meditation for me. It keeps my mind

clear from thoughts and uh I'm very

focused meeting people

as well and uh

getting some

some fresh air.

Mhm. How did you get into archery?

My daughter started first uh archery a

year ago and uh obviously I I used to

come with her and I used to listen to

you talking about archery and uh

watching people shooting uh arrows and

uh it felt so

so natural for me. I was very

interested. I uh I started I think nine

or 10 months ago and got hooked.

You have already your own bow, your own

equipment. So yeah,

the mighty Kashik.

Okay. One last word you want to say?

Uh thank you Armen. Thank you so much.

Um no, you changed my life honestly.

Thank you very much for watching and I

catch you