Finally go to shoot a Saluki (Lukas Novotny) hybrid horn bow

Bawanna said:
Well there ya have it. If them guys put the arrow on the right side that must be the way it's done.

That Rick Beal sensei photo is insane. Never saw nothing like that before.
Click to expand...

I think he is practicing a Japanese samurai style long bow Kyudo Nanka Ryu shooting. I could be wrong but the outfit is defiantly Japanese as is the bow, tabi socks, and form he is using.
 
I still can't get my head around the right-side-of-the-bow method. I started shooting that horsebow with a thumbring and the right side hold, which worked until I got on a horse with the thing. Had to go back to left side or I couldn't keep them on the bow at a canter (or anything past standing still lol)
 
I am OK with an English long bow and figured I could translate that to Kyudo. Nope, Not in the least. That Horse bow Christcl has look great, another functional work of art, I do enjoy it when folks show us their new items like that. Someday I will have to get someone that knows what they are doing to teach me to shoot them right. I know I am not even close to the correct way but I enjoy playing around and I generally do reasonably well just shooting as if it is a standard recurve. The only exception is that after a few shots the back of my thumb starts hurting from the arrow sliding over it and they get scratched up on the edge of the fletchings. (No good arrows were harmed I used old beaters from my recurve)
 
J W Bensinger said:
I still can't get my head around the right-side-of-the-bow method. I started shooting that horsebow with a thumbring and the right side hold, which worked until I got on a horse with the thing. Had to go back to left side or I couldn't keep them on the bow at a canter (or anything past standing still lol)
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You are very blessed and lucky to have the land and horses to be able to do horseback archery. Its what many of us urban archers can only dream of doing!

I've taken Western horsemanshop lessons, though I'd want to be an experienced rider with a regular horse before I felt comfortable shooting off horseback.
 
Shavru said:
I am OK with an English long bow and figured I could translate that to Kyudo. Nope, Not in the least. That Horse bow Christcl has look great, another functional work of art, I do enjoy it when folks show us their new items like that. Someday I will have to get someone that knows what they are doing to teach me to shoot them right. I know I am not even close to the correct way but I enjoy playing around and I generally do reasonably well just shooting as if it is a standard recurve. The only exception is that after a few shots the back of my thumb starts hurting from the arrow sliding over it and they get scratched up on the edge of the fletchings. (No good arrows were harmed I used old beaters from my recurve)
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I used to wear a protect glove that fits specifically over the thumb and index finger until my technique improved and that stopped happening.
 
Ah, It is good to know it isn't as easy as just knowing what I am doing wrong. It actually takes some practice to get the technique right before it stops "teaching" you that you are doing it wrong, by cutting up your hand :D As I figured, if I get someone who knows how to do it right that will be a good first step. In the mean time, I will have to look for a glove, thanks christcl!
 
Shavru said:
Ah, It is good to know it isn't as easy as just knowing what I am doing wrong. It actually takes some practice to get the technique right before it stops "teaching" you that you are doing it wrong, by cutting up your hand :D As I figured, if I get someone who knows how to do it right that will be a good first step. In the mean time, I will have to look for a glove, thanks christcl!
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I got mine from Kim at Seven Meadows Archery. Its a thick deer skin semi glove that protects your bow hand from the fletching, shouldn't be too hard to locate. I know I can't post links on here haha.

I don't use it anymore, but yes, feather are delicate but tough, the protein can cut and lodge into skin and ruin the rest of your shooting range day!
 
asian horsebow archers generally use the right hand side as it's theoretically faster for your next shot and the arrows are spined a bit heavier and the different release used as the 'archer's paradox' is thus lessened. some archers shoot horsebows with the arrow on the left, guess it's whatever you get taught in the beginning and what you use in practice.

here's a video. note the archer does not use an anchored draw.

[video=youtube;2yorHswhzrU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yorHswhzrU[/video]
 
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Very interesting video Kronckew. The bravery of the guys throwing the targets during the horse portion, but he appears to be very accurate, while riding. I also notice the really tall saddle. I bet that makes a difference when you are shooting, much more upright yet still able to use your legs to control the horse, unlike a western saddle where you would need to stand in the stirrups to be that upright, but then with your legs bearing all your weight, how do you use them to control the horse. Very cool video that led me to another and another and next thing I knew it was almost 2 hours of watching various interesting archery styles from all over the world.
 
That ole boy can really run that bow! Never seen nothing like that. Arrows didn't even look straight to me.

And the whiplash of that bow after each shot, mind boggling.

A penning saddle would probably work they are high in the back,some really high.

A good rider I think could do it with any saddle.

Old cavalry trooper training included riding all day in their McClendons with no girth cinched up. To get accustomed to staying centered on the horse apparently.

No matter that guy is wicked good with them arrows.
 
Thats Kassai Lajos of Hungary; he also has a line of bows. And I have to note that he shoots with 3 fingers instead of thumb release. I've read his book too.

I prefer this one with Novotny himself, although I'm alittle skeptical of the English long bow comparison being unable to penetrate as much as the Mughal bow. It is not stated if both bows are of the same poundage.
[video=youtube;IGcYGwqb3So]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGcYGwqb3So[/video]
 
If you look at where he hits on the edge it is right against the sand so when he hits with the longbow the sand is what stops the arrow shorter. The horse bow he hits in the middle where there is more room before the head hits the sand so of course it penetrates more. Technically the english long bow with square piles is one of the most damaging anti armor weapons known during that timeframe. The horse bows were used primarily against folks wearing leather with minor sewn on plates not full plate armor so they were generally lighter pull to enhance being able to shoot more arrows quickly. Now with a recurve you can get more pounds of pull in a shorter bow, but I think christcl is correct the video is slightly biased and the differences are pretty insignificant in a true apples to apples comparison. Each bow has it pros and cons and both are exceptional at their niche. Watching him make that bow though is really awesome, beautiful workmanship.
 
another take on the left/right debate:
[video=youtube;4NrNIbWAWlw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NrNIbWAWlw[/video]
 
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