51

(51 replies, posted in Technique)

Perfectly demonstrated here....
http://www.koreanarchery.org/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=25

Stance is generally two o'clock so the draw will be slightly shorter than if standing sideways to target.

This torque applied to the grip should be slight, care should be applied as to not twist the limbs.
The horn bows are tillered off centre. Bluelake will correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Good luck with your bow.

53

(9 replies, posted in Technique)

Bluelake,
I'm sure I recall some old saying, something like

"Only the bowstring may slap the face of the Emperor."

Have you heard/read this one?

I can confirm that even soft pheasant fletchings hurt  tongue

54

(43 replies, posted in Technique)

Kanuck wrote:

The basis for a good release, regardless of method, requires strong back tension while relaxing the release hand.  You need to try and forget your release hand by concentrating on pulling your shoulder blades together.  When your back tension reaches it's max, just let the release happen....

Precisely!
Forward release is a consequence of relaxing the the muscle groups concerned with drawing the string. The release can still be smooth, however, consistency is compromised as the hand is pulled forward.

55

(43 replies, posted in Technique)

The basic principle though, is the same with all archery in order to maintain consistency with release. There is only one direction the drawing hand should go on release. Backwards.

56

(8 replies, posted in Technique)

WarBow wrote:

It seems the 70# long-length YMG is easier to draw than SMG's mid-length version.

Yes, that's to be expected.

57

(26 replies, posted in Bows)

big_smile  big_smile
They call your bow a toy.
You draw it and the limbs go parallel
They run for cover  lol
The arrow goes like lightening.
Looks and exclamations of disbelief.

I had a judge (term used loosely) tell me my bow was over drawn. She knew a little more about Korean bows and style when she left me.

WarBow,
I don't know how the thumbring is looked upon where you are, there are quite a few negative views here but having it fly down the range is never going to win you friends  wink Have you tried a leather one? I find they give more feel.
On the whole, our judges are a great bunch and they've always shown keen interest in the bows and arrows I've used. Most negativity, sadly, comes from the longbow element due to the bow's man made material element (regardless that this is simply to bring hornbow performance without hornbow cost) They seem quite happy to allow bamboo backing on longbows  roll

Will,
That estimate sounds about right, the 45lb achieved at 28" will feel much lighter than it is  cool

58

(4 replies, posted in Arrows)

Pseudosasa Japonica is excellent arrow material, I've used it many times. You will have to search for culms of the correct diameter and quality (equal node spacing) as there will be a lot that are too big.
From scratch, ie cutting, the process is a long one, I have two bundles that have been seasoning for ten months.
It really then depends on the arrows you wish to make as to how much longer the wait until the finished item.
I made a set of 35" Korean arrows, complete with hand carved wooden nocks, sinew wrapped in the traditional fashion, with pheasant fletchings. This was quite a long job compared with basic self nocks or even using small dowels and using taper type plastic nocks. Straightening the shafts takes time and patience and there will be some failures, as finding the right amount of heat and the amount the shaft will bend can be very tricky. Some simply refuse and you will soon learn to put these aside rather than carry on for ages, only to have it crease or break.

If you get it right, Japonica makes very nice arrows.

59

(26 replies, posted in Bows)

Raven,
Strange feeling isn't it? Certainly does not feel as heavy as it is and definitely nothing like normal stacking but the scales don't lie.

Will,
I take it you currently shoot off the hand using fingers? Have a look at my avatar, my drawing hand (the thumbring) is level with my earlobe. Ideally it would reach the point of my deltoid, perhaps another inch and a bit. This changed my old 29" draw to 33" (35" had I bought the Janggung)
I find this long draw is far more stable and balanced, allows the back to be fully utilised (squeezing the scapulae) and has a natural stopping point as opposed to fixed reference point.
Your upper arm will be in a stronger position, with less stress on the biceps. Give it a try using a measuring tape, you will be surprised how long your draw will become.

Using one of these bows with western style will still give you good performance, however drawn to full potential will have other archers exclaiming all sorts as they see the crazy limb angles and the screaming speed of the arrows.

60

(8 replies, posted in Technique)

I understand, you need to do this slowly in order to avoid injury and shoulder injuries can be very debilitating, rotator cuff especially can reoccur to the point of halting archery full stop.
Please make sure to warm up really well before your strength training and use push/pull exercises with both arms.
My ... hmmm ... future son- in- law I suppose  hmm  is a very strong lad, shooting the longbow with excellent form, yet he still worked his way up to that full 32" draw. With the 120lb bow you will notice a gauge string to determine full draw. The 115lb bow he is drawing a war arrow complete with hand forged needle bodkin.

61

(26 replies, posted in Bows)

Perhaps Ginni would like to confirm, I recall his bow of 67lb @ 28" weighing 85lb @ 33".

My own, 42 @ 28" is 55lb @ 32".

62

(26 replies, posted in Bows)

Kanuck is quite right in what he says, the information is not entirely correct and is misleading. The arrow speeds are very impressive for a 55lb traditional bow but the fact it was drawn beyond 28", somewhat invalidates the results ... unless the bow is weighed at 32 - 32.5", at which point I would estimate nearer 70lb and the resulting fps become less impressive.

Will,
The Hwarang behaves very similarly to the Kaya, with poundage kicking in beyond 28-29".

63

(8 replies, posted in Technique)

Here they are....

64

(43 replies, posted in Technique)

zdogk9 wrote:

Shot this a few minutes ago. critique it please.

Element of forward releasing when I look at your right shoulder, most shots. No back tension.

Second video forward releasing corrected by third arrow but creeps in a bit towards the end. On release, try to let your arm come to rest with a count of one, two, three from release to finish, following the same path each time.

65

(43 replies, posted in Technique)

My leather thumb ring stays in place.

66

(8 replies, posted in Technique)

I'll have to check through my albums, I have some nice photos of my daughter's fiance drawing a full compass warbow to 32" 120lb. This was an old bow, given to him by a local bowyer (longbows) Later that evening it failed, quite dramatically!!
A few weeks later, he appeared with a brand new weapon but this one is only 115lbs @ 32"  cool

67

(25 replies, posted in Bows)

Hello Bill, welcome.
Kyudo draw length is very long and activities such as field shoots, etc, would prove to be quite awkward carrying a Yumi around with you.
The thumb draw has been used by many cultures, not all of which featured a long draw. Turkish archers tend to draw to a point on the jaw, draw lengths of 26"-28". I've used a Hun and Turkish in the past, both with different draw lengths, I think it's a case of adapting your style to suit the bow. I prefer the longer draw length of Korean but like others, I would feel more comfortable and stable if the bow yielded another inch or two.
Personally, I can speak only of SMG or Kaya KTB, I think they are at their limit at 33". Janggung may offera couple of inches more (should have bought this one  roll ) but still at its limit. A short bow can only realistically be drawn so far afterall.

68

(39 replies, posted in Bows)

Here is a diagram for a Kaya 40lb @ 28"
http://www.aixbow.de/shop/images/diagra … 112L45.pdf

My Hwarang (smg) 42lb @ 28" .... 55lb @ 32"

69

(3 replies, posted in Technique)

ginni wrote:

I found this korean way uncomfortable when I shot in low position, at close range. I am feeling better by drawing directly to the target and the time for aiming is shorter. When I shoot at distance, like 145 meters, korean way works fine.

I found the same.

70

(12 replies, posted in Arrows)

Traditional Korean arrows are 4" pheasant fletched, three per arrow.I cut mine to roughly 1/4 - 3/8 in height.

Kaya have also announced horn bellied KTB with birch bark backing, so it seems they have followed suit with 'Hwarang' (SMG).
The SMG version KTB also incorporates bamboo in the limb. There is another that uses maple but by a different bowyer.

Regarding power curve:

It rises steeply from 29" to 32". Poundage also rises steeply.

eg:
Kaya KTB .... 35 @ 29"...... 45 @ 32"
'Hwarang' (SMG) KTB .... 42 @ 29".......55 @ 32"

My friends, if you want to draw to 35" you must look at Jang-Gung, slightly longer bow which draws to 35".

72

(23 replies, posted in Technique)

Balance the bow by its string over your index finger. When it is centred, with fingers together, turn palm until little finger touches the string. This is your nocking point.

73

(57 replies, posted in Bows)

Welcome Deagol!
If you look in our Commercial section under Hwarang and Kaya there are links to the respective sites and explanations of the models offered.
I'm sure it would be possible to use thumb release with the Khan, though with a left handed bow for a right handed archer as aero86 has stated.
The Hwarang and Kaya KTB are based on the traditional horn bow shape and performance. Of course, there are also horn bellied models offered smile
So much choice!

74

(3 replies, posted in Buy/Sell/Trade)

Why don't you try making them yourself? A half butt should be enough leather for both bow and arrows or you could make a gorytos style for practicality.

75

(57 replies, posted in Bows)

Welcome aero86!
That's good news about the 'Khan'. I can vouch for the Kaya KTB, my friend has one and it has excellent performance and at a great price.