How do I know if I'm doing this right?

Iktomi · Post by **Iktomi** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:37 pm

I recently purchased a Hwarang bow and am starting to get familiar with the use of the thumb ring. The thing is, I've never been exposed to such a style of shooting, having shot for many years with western style equipment. How do I know if I'm doing things correctly? I feel that I'm sort of stumbling around in the dark here....

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:37 am

Here I'll concentrate on the thumbring technique without looking at other parts of techinque.

Just hold your bow at 45 degrees to the ground and shoot into the ground ahead of you, not pulling back more than 15cm at first. Look for something on the ground like a leaf to shoot at and let off arrows without aiming along the arrow. As you get more comfortable, draw back further. 30cm is about the maximum draw you can use for this game. After that, you should use proper drawing technique.

When playing the game, concentrate of ensuring that your draw-hand is moving slowly backward at the moment of release. Make sure that you can get the release relaxed and confident. Also, try to play this 'mini-release' game with both left and right hands. Although it will seem unnatural at first, it is a good investment for the future.

S

Iktomi · Post by **Iktomi** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:54 am

Stephen, thanks. I'll give that a go and see what my result is. The act of pulling through the release is thoroughly ingrained in me already, forward creep is a cast and accuracy killer that should be avoided. Unfortunately, I can't try this exercise left handed, as my bow hand index finger is mangled from an old injury, and prevents me from drawing a string with either a Mediterranean or thumb draw.

jiao · Post by **jiao** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 6:40 am

i 'm not know why draw 15 and 30cm,i will be try do it ,thanks

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:14 am

Iktomi wrote:I can't try this exercise left handed, as my bow hand index finger is mangled from an old injury, and prevents me from drawing a string with either a Mediterranean or thumb draw.

Noted. But securing your thumb with a middle finger is a workable option - though not ideal. There was an old thumb technique that had the thumb secured with the middle finger and the index finger laying up the string.