Turkish technique

temren · Post by **temren** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:47 pm

Hi I am Adnan, I am one of Murat's "grasshoppers".

I am not sure I should have the guts to comment in the presence of such accomplished persons, but as we use to say over here; let me add my pinch of salt into the soup too

Murat taught us to pull the string to the corner of the lip, however my experience was that I was unable to lock my shoulders in that position and consquently my release would suffer. So now I shoot from the cheek with the arrow in line with my lips. It feels much more comfortable that way.

As for quicker loading, I dont know on foot, but I imagine on horseback a thumbshooter would have the advantage. Even I, with my 6 months of archery experience can load and shoot while continuously jumping up and down (something we have learned during Stephen Selby's visit to Istanbul, thanks Mr. Selby). I cannot imagine being that comfortable with a 3 fingers draw, it feels as if the arrow would keep bouncing off the bow.

Correct me if I am wrong...please...

Adnan...

Orda Khan · Post by **Orda Khan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:30 pm

Kassai seems to manage very well. Don't get me wrong, I am not disputing the merits of the thumb release but neither do I believe that one technique is better than another. It all comes down to what the archer is most comfortable with and what suits him/her best. It is the same with the anchor, we are all different and I would argue that insisting somebody adopt certain positions could actually lead to physical damage. As with most things physical, there are guidelines only. You have to do what is comfortable and 'natural' for you.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:44 pm

Kassai does shoot well with a three finger draw. However, if you do want to shoot with the thumb ring, all of the old books in the Middle East recognise that different physiques require different stances and drawing points. It is not just the position of the nock. The bow hand has different positions and the height that the arrow is held in relation to the mouth.

However, I offer one word of caution. It is good to experiment with these positions, but don't be too hidebound about what physiques they write should use each position. Saracen Archery and Arab Archery are both giving simplified instructions. If you had a master in the old days, he would have watched you shoot and adjusted your position for you with all your individual needs.

M Hardman · Post by **M Hardman** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:56 pm

I've been experimenting with stances recently (perpendicular to target as opposed to a stance where one foot points towards the target). I've found that I shoot better with the stance advised by Kani, which is the stance where the right footis at 45 degrees to the target and the left foot is pointing towards the target (for a right handed archer).

I am anxious not to damage my back though, which is what I was told would happen when I originally began archery if I did not stand perpendicularly to the target.

What sort of risks (if any) are involved with the 'bow' stance? (thats what it is called in Taiji, I thought that might link back to the fact that this is the stance also described for chinese archers)

Hello Adnan,
I much admired your shooting video that was posted on youtube (I assume there are not two Adnans

), I was impressed at how quickly you drew the bow and still managed to hold it for aiming. I am not yet that proficient.

Mike

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:14 pm

Hi Adnan!

I'm 'Rhysthurin' on Youtube and you've got my thumbring shooting video on your 'watch list'. In the video I was using a thumbring to shoot a old western target bow with a 'gap' aiming method. I've since changed my shooting form ALOT.

One of the many things I've changed from the video is that I now only draw to the corner of my mouth/side of the cheek because it puts less strain on my injured draw arm elbow. Longer draw (nearer the ear) causes a more accute angle at the elbow and that caused me pain. I'd like to go back to the longer draw, but that is my elbow's decision, not mine.

Welcome to ATARN and thanks for sharing!

Jason DuLac

temren · Post by **temren** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:31 pm

Jason, we are no strangers anymore, are we?

Hello Mike, thank you for your compliments. I am not sure if you were aware of it, but I also posted videos of my shooting fellows as well as other instructional videos with Murat. Its all here:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=adyona&p=r

Jason DuLac · Post by **Jason DuLac** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:29 pm

Adnan,

The internet is an INTERESTING place! I have an internet friend (fellow thumbring archer) that I've corrasponded with for over a year and I will get to meet him in 10 days when he comes to USA for a big archery shoot hear. We've never even spoken on the phone. I'm really looking forward to finally meeting him!

Good shooting!

J.

Murat ?zveri · Post by **Murat ?zveri** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:54 pm

I agree with Adam about the phycological effect of arrow attack. Well-trained and experienced warriors wouldn't have even cared about it. Any wound, however, makes a warrior disabled if not resulted immediate death. Penetration was utmost important. Even if the primary wound was not lethal, death would come in a few days because deeper wounds were suited for anaerobic bacteria to colonize. It means, an arrow that pierced the armor and penetrated well brought death anyway, sooner or later (Remember there was no knowledge of asepsis, antisepsis and antibiotics were not available).

It's true that stance, draw length/anchor point etc. would vary. Mustafa Kani (as well as Klopsteg) describe the variations of bowhand positions for example. The described stance is very similar to Korean one and both indicate the horseback usage of bow and arrow in the past.

Anyway, a guideline must be present and then the archer should find his/her own way. Initially we are practising with quarter stance but we switch to sophisticated stances and highlight the shoulder alinement rather than an unchangable stance. It's the same with the anchor point. As mentioned earlier, corner of the mouth is an easy-to-reproduced spot but is not a must. Many colleagues other than Adnan found their own anchor points as well.