• Registered: 2023-08-12
  • Posts: 2
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Topic: Ever used an egg as a training aid?

No, seriously  smile

In an interview with Bede Dwyer, he was showing pictures from one of his (many) archery books, and one of the pictures was of someone holding an egg in their draw-hand.  I'm asking here because I THINK it was in a book about traditional Korean archery.

For those who don't know who Bede is, he's a historian (and archer), and basically a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of archery.  Here is is talking about traditional Korean archery, and about the bow making techniques:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihxUPgm9-Xw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5e9dbhVuXw

He's also done talks on Chinese, Mamluk, African etc traditions, all worth checking out if you're a) a history nerd and b) an archery nerd wink

Re the egg, I'm guessing it's a technique to make sure you have a firm, but relaxed grip: firm enough to hold onto the bow, but relaxed enough not to crush the egg.  I've tried it BTW, up to 45# and no broken eggs.  That said, I haven't tried loosing an arrow yet.  I'll need to try that at the club.  Preferably when most people have left.

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  • Registered: 2012-06-12
  • Posts: 414
  • User Karma: 16

Re: Ever used an egg as a training aid?

Oh we all know Bede.  If you search his name here, you'll see he actually used to post on this site and also find many discussions where others reference him.  I myself and many others consider him a very credible source.  Thanks for posting the links to his latest youtube discussion.

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  • Registered: 2024-08-06
  • Posts: 3

Re: Ever used an egg as a training aid?

Foggerty wrote:

No, seriously  smile

In an interview with Bede Dwyer, he was showing pictures from one of his (many) archery books, and one of the pictures was of someone holding an egg in their draw-hand.  I'm asking here because I THINK it was in a book about traditional Korean archery.

For those who don't know who Bede is, he's a historian (and archer), and basically a walking encyclopedia when it comes to the history of archery.  Here is is talking about traditional Korean archery, and about the bow making techniques:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihxUPgm9-Xw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5e9dbhVuXw

He's also done talks on Chinese, Mamluk, African etc traditions, all worth checking out if you're a) a history nerd and b) an archery nerd wink

Re the egg, I'm guessing it's a technique to make sure you have a firm, but relaxed grip: firm enough to hold onto the bow, but relaxed enough not to crush the egg.  I've tried it BTW, up to 45# and no broken eggs.  That said, I haven't tried loosing an arrow yet.  I'll need to try that at the club.  Preferably when most people have left.

Well, it's an old post but here's what I know.

Many ching bow (Manchurian) have heavy siah and don't like string khatra. The Chinese archery that bede dwyer is probably referring to, therefore, often use very light khatra. It's rare to see ching or ming bow swung around like Turkish or Korean bow.
So maybe... That's why?

Or probably egg is quite strong on even pressure and that it's emphasis on putting even pressure through our grip.

Or more of emphasis of where fingers go and direction of grip per finger if you know what I mean. That aligns with what I was tought, at least.

2 cent from Korean Archer here.

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