World traditional Archery Festival 2011

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:06 pm

I will continue forwarding posts from Mr Wun from S. Korea. For those who have not been it is most highly recommended. Jack

Dear Sir,

This is Mr. Wun, Director in WTAF.
I have really appreciated for your participation in the 4th WTAF.

The 5th WTAF will be held in Cheonan where the 1st WTAF was held and date is planned on September 23th ? 28th.
The 5th WTAF is will be held with more various and developed programs.
Also we are going to make an effort to accept your suggestions and opinions.

We will do our best to enjoy the festival with more countries and participants and I hope you also prepare in advance.
Please let your friends who didn?t participate in WTAF know the 5th WTAF.

If you have any suggestions and idea, please let us know.
We are going to give the notice steadily.

Take care always and hope to see you next year again.

Wun Seong Mo
WTAFOC

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 3:48 pm

Okay, won't miss it this time.

Will it be a similar arrangement as before where participants pay for their travel to the site, and the organizers take care of room, board and registration?

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Mon Nov 15, 2010 5:45 pm

Justin; This is how it has always been. Travel support is offered on an as needed basis. For instance those from Mongolia would not be able to attend without travel support.

I find it nonsensical to go all that way without looking around after the festival. Half of everything in Korea is in Seoul and there is discount accommodation. Out side the capitol, accommodation is extremely reasonable. S. Korea is just an excellent place to see and travel.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:40 am

Jack,

Can you give an honest assessment of the non-competitive aspects of this event, such as cultural or academic exchange and opportunities to purchase equipment? I had to advise Peter Cua, for example, that there was little in it for him to attend as my impression is that is has gravitated to a highly competitive event. But then I haven't been there for a couple of years and I am not so well-informed.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:17 am

The nature of the competition is that almost everyone is off balance, shooting at eachother's unfamiliar targets. The line judges seem unfamiliar with the rules, indeed, my feeling is that the organizers are not even archers.

But some shooters are quite serious, others not. Some come prepared, say with special arrows for the Mongolian contest, others try shooting their usual equipment, somewhat unsuccessfully. One can tell that many have practiced shooting at different targets, others look like it their first time to do so.

I have enjoyed seeing the Japanese evolve. You can imagine the pressure on them from their Kyudo training to remain faithful to their tradition as a mechanical hog target passes by in a timed set. It is hilarious to see some (maybe Buddhists?) shooting at a foam deer target. (they put the horns on backwards, HA!)

Then there is the mysterious competition inside of the competition, the Koreans against themselves instead of us.

To sum it up, it is about the fantastic camaraderie. Putting a face on people you have typed messages to for years. If it was a highly competitive event, they would not invite me to represent the USA. Just ask my friends!!!

Hope to see everyone there. -j-

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:37 am

I and my entourage have been hosted by the director of the military museum and various officers, given hospitality at a living treasure bow maker. Made friends with an important arrow maker, met Thomas D, Eugen and DeGang, Peter D, JJ and all, gave two well received presentations, gave and received valuable presents, have been invited to other countries, ate Korean food!!! discovered fantastic museums, saw the sights.

Excellent cultural or academic exchange. And we see eachother there! -j-

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 6:08 pm

For me, meeting people, visiting vendors and attending talks/seminars would be more interesting than the competitive events. (I want to diversify my thumb ring collection to include some of the more esoteric types, so this would seem like the right place to find them.)

Aristotle · Post by **Aristotle** » Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:02 pm

jack farrell wrote: Excellent cultural or academic exchange. And we see eachother there! -j-

That's very important!
Warmest greetings from Greek Archers to all Fellows!

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:01 am

Hello, this is Mr.Wun in WTAFOC.

We have made an effort for better 2011 WTAF.
Also WTAF website will be established, you can get the information easier than before.

To enjoy WTAF with more people, please let other archers know the 5th WTAF. If you have this kind of information and any good ideas for WTAF, please send e-mail to us.

Best regards.

WTAFO

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:11 am

I encourage any adventurous archer to go to Korea this year. If you absolutely cannot afford it then ask them to please buy you a ticket. They will put you up in a dormitory and feed you three traditional, strange, healthy Korean meals a day.

Stay several more days in Seoul at the Youth Hostile (very cheap). Make friends and accept invitations to visit Korean workshops, archery ranges or dinner. Meet people and be changed for the effort. More of an expedition than a vacation. Allow events to unfold, don't get too upset at the unexpected, wait till you get home to decide if you had a good time.

The Koreans are excellent hosts and fine people. You may find yourself changed.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:52 am

I think that another reaction I had to the first event was that I was being shoe-horned into a 'nationality'. I felt I had to do something based on Chinese culture (!) although I should have preferred to compete using Tibeto-Mongolian Hungarian style with Chinese characteristics.

Justin Ma · Post by **Justin Ma** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:59 am

Stephen Selby wrote:I think that another reaction I had to the first event was that I was being shoe-horned into a 'nationality'. I felt I had to do something based on Chinese culture (!) although I should have preferred to compete using Tibeto-Mongolian Hungarian style with Chinese characteristics.

Unfortunately, it looks like the shoe-horning is even more explicit this year. They want people to shoot the bows of their nationality (and it sounds like they do not like other nationalities using Korean bows). I guess this means I have to somehow get my hands on a California-Indian bow --- or maybe since the compound bow is becoming something of a tradition in the US, I can bring that instead. Moreover, countries with no native archery culture to speak of will be getting the shaft.

Here is the email in question:
"
Dear Sir,

From this year, all archers should use your own traditional bow and arrow.

Some of archers use the Korean bows, not their own bow in 2010 WTAF.
Korean bow or other bow is not accepted this year. So please bring own you bow that made in your country.

Also if you someone finish the abstract or paper, please send it us.

Best regards.
WTAFOC
"

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:27 pm

Maybe not the best idea, it certainly affects any westerner who is interested in Asiatic bows.

cristian_iepure · Post by **cristian_iepure** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 4:06 pm

I know a bunch of great guys shooting Korean bows that will not come to WTAF this year if this new contest rule would not be changed.

jack farrell · Post by **jack farrell** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:57 pm

You can imagine how the Japanese have had to change to compete in WTAF and the probable criticism they suffer from their compatriots. The Hungarians have already reinvented traditional archery into their own image. Bhutanese and Mongolians attempt to modify their equipment to fit an international eclectic.

So you guys now have 6 months to make or borrow or buy a locally made trad. bow and get some practice with it.

A wood or bamboo backed bow can be made in several days.

The Koreans have not specified design.