The Graves of Robin Hood and Little John

You can visit Robin Hood and Little John's grave sites while visiting the UK.

How? Why?

Well, contrary to popular opinion, there is actually some evidence that Robin Hood and Little John were real people, who lived and died, and you can visit their graves.

Robin Hood's Grave is the name given to a monument in Kirklees Park Estate, West Yorkshire, England, near the now-ruined Kirklees Priory.

In "A Gest of Robyn Hode", one of the oldest surviving Robin Hood ballads, Robin is said to have died at "Kyrkesley", murdered by an unnamed prioress and Sir Roger of Doncaster, but the full circumstances of his death are not related. In some versions of the legend the prioress is said to be a relative of Robin Hood.

A later ballad known as "Robin Hood's Death" (first recorded in the 17th century) contains the story which is now considered to be the traditional version (although not necessarily the most accurate version). Suffering from an illness, Robin seeks help from a kinswoman of his, the prioress of "Churchlees" or "Kirkly". She makes a pretence of healing him by letting his blood, and deliberately allows him to bleed to death. In another version of this ballad, first recorded in 1786, Robin's final act is to fire an arrow from the window of his room, telling his companion Little John to bury him at the spot where the arrow falls. Later embellishments of the story add that Robin's first arrow landed in running water, so a second shot had to be fired.

However Robin Hood's grave monument is indeed an arrow's flight away from the ruins of the Kirklees Priory.

The epitaph on the monument reads:

    Hear Underneath dis laitl stean
    Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
    Ne'er arcir ver az hie sa geud
    An pipl Kauld im robin heud
    Sick utlawz az hi an iz men
    Vil england nivr si agen
    Obiit 24 Kal Dekembris 1247

Translated into modern English it reads:

    Here underneath this little stone
    Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon
    Never archer were as he so good
    And people called him Robin Hood
    Such outlaws as he and his men
    Will England never see again
    Obit: 24 December 1247 AD

All the local legends and period writings (and those that follow) reference Robin Hood as being buried near Kirklees Priory.

Has the legend been bastardized? Disneyified? Reduced to a legend and a myth? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean that there was never originally a man who bore the name of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon (aka Robin Hood) who was a famed archer.

Furthermore you can also visit Little John's grave site too, which is located at Hathersage, Derbyshire. His tombstone was eventually replaced with a more modern tombstone, but it alleges that Little John is buried beneath an old yew tree. Excavations at the site determined that there was indeed a big man buried there, and that he would have been approx. 7 feet tall in life.

So were Robin Hood and Little John real people?

Quite possibly. Legends and myths have a tendency to distort the truth, and to hide the true origin of what really happened. What we do know is that in the decades and centuries after the Robin Hood legend first gained popularity many theatre productions were made about the famous outlaw. Many ballads. Many stories that were written down and many that were no doubt destroyed by the passage of time.

Archery during the Vietnam War

Okay, so this isn't tourism... but it is history, and there is often a small amount of archery artifacts when you visit history museums.

The following archery photos date to the Vietnam War.

Archery has a distinct advantage of being able to be both silent and to deliver fire to enemy positions, making it valuable for stealth, sabotage, distractions, and other uses.

The North American Indigenous Games are coming to Halifax

The largest sporting event Maritime Canada has ever seen will bring 5,000 youth athletes to the city of Halifax in Nova Scotia.

In July - just a few months away - thousands of youth from across North America will be in Halifax, celebrating the largest sporting event the Maritimes has ever seen since European contact.

• Five thousand athletes.
• 756 Indigenous nations.
• 16 sports.
• 21 venues
• 3,000 volunteers.

The athletes will compete, celebrate and share their culture from July 12 to 18 for the North American Indigenous Games.

A serious undertaking by any standards, but a worthy one, says Savvy Simon, who calls the games "the Olympics for Indigenous people."

"Youth from across Turtle Island all get together in one place and make friendships and have fun and really build bonds from across North America, Turtle Island," says Simon.

Simon is a North American Indigenous Games alumni, who competed in volleyball at the Winnipeg games in 2002 and softball at the Denver, Colorado games in 2006, for her home province of New Brunswick. But for these games, as a seven-year resident of Halifax and representative of K'jipuktuk she's working as NAIG's social media ambassador and a volunteer.

Her experience with NAIG was so formative, she wants to give that same "pleasant and joyful experience to other youth."

One of the most memorable parts of the games Simon participated in was getting to "experience the culture of other natives" in the off times, she says. Competing alongside teammates from your province also creates a unique experience, says Simon, because it brings together Indigenous youth from across their own province who otherwise wouldn't have met. And "representing your your community and your tribe," says Simon, gives "so much pride and so much self-esteem and confidence boosting for the youth."

"There's a lot of pain being a native person in Canada and in USA," says Simon. So being able to come together with so many like-minded people has a huge impact on the joy and happiness of the youth—in feeling like "we're together and we're community and we're not alone in our day-to-days...working towards our own healing."

The last games were hosted in Toronto in 2017—and team British Columbia took home the overall win. At these games, athletes will compete in canoe and kayak on Lake Banook, athletics at Beazley Field in Dartmouth and Point Pleasant Park, softball in the Halifax Common, wrestling at SMU, volleyball at the Canada Games Centre, swimming at the Dalplex, Archery at the Millbrook Archery Facility and baseball, golf, badminton, soccer, beach volleyball, basketball, lacrosse and shooting in other venues all over HRM.

The event organizers are hoping to get 3,000 volunteers for the games. Anyone over the age of 14 can sign up to help with food services, media, communications, medical, IT support and more. The games also has open applications for volunteer lead positions up on its website.

And, the biggest challenge the Indigenous games may face? Simon's guess is as good as any: parking.

For her it matters that non-Indigenous people celebrate the games, cheer on athletes and share in what is sure to be one heck of an event. "That's how we're going to collectively work together to eliminate racism."

At the volunteer launch at Halifax City Hall on Friday there will be speakers, honoured guests, cultural performances and snacks.

Unleash Your Inner Archer: Experience Archery in Ukraine

Welcome to Ukraine, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse range of activities for tourists. While you may be familiar with its historic landmarks and delicious cuisine, there's one exhilarating experience you shouldn't miss – archery. Immerse yourself in the ancient art of archery amidst the picturesque landscapes of Ukraine, and let us guide you through this thrilling journey.

1. Discover the Archery Tradition: Ukraine boasts a deep-rooted tradition of archery that dates back centuries. Archery has played a significant role in Ukrainian history, from ancient times to the Cossack era. Embrace the opportunity to explore this cultural heritage by engaging in archery activities offered across the country.

2. Scenic Locations: Ukraine's natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop for archery enthusiasts. From lush forests to open fields and serene lakesides, there are numerous locations where you can indulge in archery while immersing yourself in Ukraine's breathtaking landscapes. Whether you prefer the tranquility of the countryside or the excitement of shooting ranges, Ukraine has it all.

3. Archery Clubs and Facilities: In major cities such as Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa, you'll find archery clubs and facilities that cater to both beginners and seasoned archers. These clubs offer professional coaching, equipment rental, and a friendly community of archery enthusiasts. Whether you're a novice seeking an introduction to archery or an experienced archer looking to hone your skills, these clubs are the perfect place to start.

4. Traditional Archery Festivals: Experience the vibrant atmosphere of traditional archery festivals held in various regions of Ukraine. These festivals celebrate the rich history of archery and provide a unique opportunity to witness skilled archers showcasing their talents. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit, enjoy cultural performances, and even try your hand at archery under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

5. Archery Tours and Experiences: For a truly immersive archery experience, consider joining archery tours organized by local adventure companies. These tours combine archery sessions with visits to historical sites, picturesque landscapes, and cultural attractions. You'll have the chance to learn from expert instructors, participate in friendly competitions, and create unforgettable memories while exploring Ukraine's hidden gems.

6. Safety and Professional Guidance: Safety is paramount in archery, and you can rest assured that the archery clubs and facilities in Ukraine prioritize your well-being. Trained instructors and professionals will guide you throughout the experience, ensuring that you learn the correct techniques and adhere to safety protocols. Embrace the adventure with confidence, knowing that you're in capable hands.

 

Here are some commonly used Ukrainian words related to archery terminology:

1. Лук (Luk) - Bow
2. Стріли (Strili) - Arrows
3. Мішень (Mishen') - Target
4. Взводити (Vzvodyty) - Draw (as in drawing the bowstring)
5. Тетива (Tetyva) - Bowstring
6. Захист руки (Zakhyst ruky) - Armguard
7. Стрілець (Strilets') - Archer
8. Вишка (Vyshka) - Quiver
9. Стрільбище (Strilbishe) - Archery range
10. Вугол відхилення (Vugol vidkhylennya) - Angle of deviation

 

Cape Breton archery range is popular with tourists and locals

Traditional archery is a new hot business along the Cabot Trail, and both tourists and locals are loving it.

Highland Bow and Arrow, located in Skir Dhu which is close to Wreck Cove in Victoria County, was opened by Jay Rawding in June 2017. Originally from East Preston, Rawding moved to Cape Breton in 2014 and had targets set up at two of the homes she lived in.

A lover of archery, Rawding said she welcomed friends who wanted to visit and try shooting arrows. Then friends of friends started stopping by and she realized there was a big interest in the sport.

That inspired her to open Highland Bow and Arrow, an outdoor archery range where she offers lessons, range shooting and trail shooting along a one kilometre path in the woods with 3D targets like deer, zombies and dinosaurs.

Lessons are available for first-timers and frequent shooters, and people who have been there at least once before get a reduced rate.

Business has been growing quickly over the past two years, and Rawding believes part of the reason is that people want to be in nature.

“People are really desperate to unplug from technology and be in nature. When you are doing archery, you are also tapping into an intuitive aspect of yourself,” said Rawding, who has been shooting for six years.

The trail is one of Rawding’s favourite parts of her business because it’s the type of shooting that most people can only experience if they are part of a club. And she loves connecting with new shooters and watching them fall in love with the sport.

“There are about 40 people who have become full on archers … competing in competitions or embracing the culture,” she said. “One girl I shot with this summer just won silver at the Mi’kmaq summer games (in Eskasoni).”

That girl was Brittany Denny and she learned how to shoot from Rawding. On the Highland Bow and Arrow Facebook page, there are a number of reviews praising Rawding for her teaching, and there were similar thoughts from shooters on the range.

Keri Coulson of Truro was there with her husband Paul Coulson. The couple saw the sign and immediately pulled in because Paul wanted to try it. Keri wasn’t going to because as a kid she spent three summers at archery camp and never hit a target. After her lesson with Rawding, she was landing most shots.

“Turns out they were telling me to shoot with my wrong hand. Jay fixed that right away,” she said.

Tiia Finkle from Halifax and her daughters Sarah, 12, and Hannah, 10, were also there, having found Highland Bow and Arrow online while doing vacation research.

“I feel like Katniss (from Hunger Games),” joked Hannah. “A bit like her but I may not be hitting anything … I might not be getting any of those wild turkeys.”

Rawding has also started a group just for women, called Lady Archers.

When she was starting in archery, a male dominated sport, Rawding said she would sometimes be “brushed aside” by men at clubs or ranges because she was a woman. She thought a ladies only archery club would be a good way to overcome that.

“These women walk in and they’re so amazing but they haven’t tapped into their badassness yet,” she said. “I will be that ballsy woman who will stand up and make it not intimidating for woman … that’s a major goal of mine.”

Horse Archery Training Camp in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Kassai Horseback Archery Camp 2018

Hosted by Seawinds Horse Archers

Seawinds Horse Archers Sports Club
8 Old Baxters Mill Rd, Canning, Nova Scotia B0P 1H0

(902) 670-0860

lance@wildmountain.ca

Details:

Awaken your inner warrior! Join us as Master Hungarian Lajos Kassai comes to Nova Scotia to introduce this martial art and sport to Canada’s East Coast.

Learn an introduction to the Kassai shooting technique, equestrian foundations for this style of mounted archery, and how the Master runs his school and competitions.

Come for one day, two days, or a full camp. Or come just to observe a profound event on a beautiful seaside farm.

Participants are encouraged to camp as a group with minimal amenities in nomad fashion in the pretty seaside pastures at Wild Mountain Farm.

Live music and local delicious meals to celebrate our training and restore our aching (hopefully not broken) bodies each night!

Schedule:

Day 1 Focus: The Bow. Presenting the dynamic Kassai fast-shooting technique proven to work on the back of a cantering horse when there’s “no time to think, just shoot”.

Day 2 Focus: The Horse. Introducing the natural horsemanship concepts the Master uses on the ground to nourish the fundamental partnership for when the horse archer must let go of the rein to shoot.

Day 3 Focus: The Horse and the Bow. The Master details his unique nuances from bareback basics to finding the standing rhythm in the stirrups of the Hungarian saddle, essential to incorporate the living horse below the waist.

Day 4: The Competition. The Kassai Competition benchmarks how far a student has come. We will hold an official Kassai competition if we can attract a minimum of 9 riders who have proven they can shoot very well from the canter. Most of us will be fortunate observers this year! We believe we can do this, but if we are ahead of our time for this in Nova Scotia, this day will focus on more training and helping individuals develop their own personal training routines appropriate for continuing their journeys!

For questions, registrations, and equipment orders/guidance:

Contact Lance Bishop by email lance@wildmountain.ca. Maximum 30 daily participants and 60 observers on training days. Participants $120 CA/day, Observers $30 per day, family, volunteer, and full camp discounts. If there is interest, children’s nature exploration day camps will be run on the farm during training sessions for those who want to bring hiking-age little ones, compliments of Wild Roots Nature Education Center. This can be a family experience!

Note - If I wasn't so busy I would totally sign up for this. $120 per day is totally reasonable. But since I cannot go, I feel no reason I should not be passing on this information to my fellow archers.

Archery at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto

Not far from the Toronto Archery Range is the Aga Khan Museum. For the price of admission you get to explore the history of the Muslim world stretching from Spain to Indonesia, covering ceramics, stonework and metal works, and historical documents / artwork spanning approx. 1500 years.

Amongst the collection of artifacts is a variety of depictions of archery, which as an archer, I took the time to photograph (flash photography is not allowed in the museum, but it only takes a moment to turn the flash off).

I was disappointed there was no examples of antique bows, arrows, swords at the museum. There was however a very nice dagger, and the ceremonial helmet and matching shield shown below at the bottom of the images.

Note - I am afraid I did not write down the context of many of these images, so my descriptions will be somewhat generic.

A group of men discussing something while an archer waves his bow in the air.

A half-man / centaur(?) shooting at his own dragon-like tail.

Three archers on horseback battling a dragon. One of the archers carries a sword while another appears to be talking to the dragon.

Larger detail of the archer who seems to be talking to the dragon.

Larger detail of the archer who is backing away from the dragon.

Two important looking men discuss with onlookers, while a quiver of arrows appears to float in midair.

An archer on horseback stabs a lion in the neck with his sword.

An archer and a white demon wrestle in a cave, the archer is stabbing the demon with a dagger.

An archer and a swordsman talking.

The ceremonial helmet and shield of a 18th century sultan.

Overall, a very enjoyable a trip. In the future I hope to take more photographs at museums (those that allow photography, that is) showing a variety of archery artifacts.

Archery in Bismarck, North Dakota

There are a number of places near Bismarck, North Dakota which are good for doing archery. The mid sized city is a very archery friendly place.

#1. The Travis Hilfer Memorial Archery Range

Located @ 1900 Mandan Avenue NE, River Dr NE, Mandan, ND 58554, USA

Just look at the image below and tell me that doesn't look like a lot of fun? Lots of targets to choose from, nice clearly marked firing line for safety purposes, and you can choose to shoot from an upper level so you can practice shooting on a downward angle for hunting purposes.

Travis Hilfer Memorial Archery Range

#2. The Nishu Bowmen Club

Located @ 1409 Riverwood Dr, Bismarck, ND 58504, USA

This club operates an indoor range, with both a gymnasium setup for kids and teens, and also a 3D range for hunters.

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Looking to buy equipment while visiting Bismarck, North Dakota? That brings us to the following locations:

#1. Doug's Custom Arrows & Archery

Located @ 2012 N Bell St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA (Note - This is a residential business, so you will likely need to phone Doug to make an appointment: 701-221-3140.)

#2. SCHEELS Sporting Goods

Located @ 800 Kirkwood Mall, Bismarck, ND 58504, USA

#3. Prestige Archery Bowstrings & Equipment

Located @ 7617 Dogwood Dr, Bismarck, ND 58504, USA (Another residential business, your best bet is to visit the Facebook page first: https://www.facebook.com/prestigearcherybowstrings/.)

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Places to Stay / Places to Eat

Where to Stay

(Prices for hotels / B&Bs are from TripAdvisor and listed in Canadian dollars.)

Dakotah Rose Bed & Breakfast - $105

Bowman Inn & Suites - $86 - Located in the town of Bowman, south west of Bismarck. We felt this was a sign.

Days Inn Fargo/Casselton - $87

Sunlac Inn - $85

Travel Inn - $43

Where to Eat

(We tried to include a variety of options for people who have different tastes.)

• Bruno's Pizza
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
• Fireflour Pizzeria & Coffee Bar
• Humpback Sally's
• La Carreta Mexican Restaurant
• MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub
• Peacock Alley
• Pirogue Grille
• Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews
• 40 Steak & Seafood
• Texas Roadhouse
• Toasted Frog Bismarck

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Special thanks to Gustavo Luna for helping me with researching Bismarck, North Dakota as a location. Gustavo doesn't do archery (not yet at least), but he was a big help researching this post. Luna is a commodities trader / energy trader in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Archery in Cameroon

Archery has so many different styles and many of those styles can be found in wide variety in Africa, with many regions having their own distinctive brand of archery. Below are some samples just from Cameroon, a wartorn region under threat from Boko Haram (an extremist group similar to ISIS which threatens Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad).

Due to the threat from Boko Haram, some locals in Cameroon have taken to protecting themselves with archery equipment.

Archery in Cameroon

Archery in Cameroon

Cameroon has a long history of archery. It is depicted within government symbols of power, on their stamps, as cultural icons, and local sayings and proverbs. It permeates their culture.

Archery competitions and events also display the skill of local Cameroon archers.

And send their local archers to the Rio Olympics.

Bowhunting is also quite common in Cameroon, but unfortunately that is often the result of white archers coming over from the United States and other countries, hoping for some big game hunting.

Because nothing tells the world that Americans have tiny packages more easily than going over to Africa to kill endangered animals.

Here is a thought. Why not go to Cameroon, but instead of being a prick and killing endangered animals, why not be nice and just socialize with the local archers instead? Learn more about their culture. Maybe buy a bow or a set of arrows made by a local Cameroon bowyer/fletcher. Learn more about local archery practices that go back millenia.

And then post photos of it and set a good example of what it is like to be an archery tourist as opposed to an endangered animal murdering bowhunter. Show that it is possible to travel the world, have fun, and not kill things during your travels.

Like this post? Leave a comment below and perhaps I will write similar posts about Nigerian archery, South African archery, Zimbabwe archery, and more!

Ballistic Bowstrings from Bradford Ontario

For years now I have been purchasing Ballistic Bowstrings from Tent City in Toronto, which apparently are made in Bradford, Ontario. I am currently looking for archery tourist locations to visit near Bradford.

I figure it is only a short distance from Toronto and should be worth the trip.

Plus when I buy bowstrings I usually buy 3 to 5 of them at once, so maybe I should stock up while I am there.

Arrowhead Souvenirs

One of the things I like to do is look for unusual arrowheads while on vacation. Like the amethyst arrowheads shown below:

Sometimes the arrowheads will be in the form of a necklace, other times they will be normal stone arrowheads made of a variety of materials.

eg. Near Hilton Falls (Milton, Ontario) there is a park called Crawford Lake Conservation Area, which has a museum / archaeological dig site for aboriginal Canadians. The site also boasts a gift shop which sells flint and/or obsidian arrowheads. When I was last there I purchased 20 flint arrowheads and 1 obsidian arrowhead. (I even went through them carefully and picked out flint arrowheads that were the same size and shape, and presumably, weight. I then took them home and carefully weighed them all to pick out a few for attaching to wooden arrows.)

I especially like finding unusual types of arrowheads. So amethyst arrowheads like the ones shown above make great souvenirs in my opinion.

Arrowheads on the ground, all across Mexico

A common sight in Mexico is to find ancient arrowheads on the ground. In places where flint or obsidian are plentiful, you can find lots of them. Such locations were popular with aboriginal flintknappers and the arrowheads you find will be "the rejects" that weren't up to their standards, but will probably still be a prize for your archery souvenir collection.

Arrowheads can be found almost anywhere in Mexico. Beaches. Flintknapping locations. Archaeological dig sites. Ancient garbage dumps. The sites of battles. Prehistoric campsites. Hunting grounds. And so forth.

And they can be made of a wide variety of stones, not just flint or obsidian.

Found arrowhead on a beach

How to buy Counterfeit Archery Equipment in China

Or How NOT To.

In 2014 China had over 1200 manufacturers making archery equipment. Factories churning them out in bulk. By 2016 that number has likely gone up, likely between 1300 to 1400 factories.

But not all of them are reputable. Roughly 50 to 70 of those factories are churning out counterfeit archery equipment. Counterfeits are everywhere in China. Over 4% of China's GDP is dependent on the counterfeit industry. Counterfeit cars, counterfeit cellphones, counterfeit computers, etc. It is all about the brand name and abusing the power of brand names to make fast money.

Counterfeit

偽造 or 伪造

Wèizào

When it comes to counterfeit archery equipment most of it, approx. 60%, is arrows, and the other 40% is bows, arrow rests, arrowheads, broadheads, stabilizers, quivers, etc. Even electronic gadgets can be faked, such as range finders usually used by hunters. All using brand names and then sold overseas as the "real thing" for either the full price or a discounted price in bulk.

A quick and easy way to deliberately buy counterfeit archery equipment is to go on websites like Alibaba and Aliexpress and then look for brand name items. It will be advertised as "wholesale products in bulk" and you will be amazed how cheap some of the products you can buy in bulk are.

The trick to counterfeit goods is that they are cheaply made and break easier. So bow limbs will break easily. Arrows will snap mid-shot. Arrowheads will get dented or break easier. That sort of thing.

In the case of mechanical / electronic items like range finders, those will be made with cheaper parts, and overheat easily, break after two months, etc. When that happens it damages the reputation of the brand.

When browsing Aliexpress I also noticed how often archery equipment will be mislabeled. For example I found an Olympic style recurve bow being advertised as "outdoor hunting equipment archery take down long bow 28lbs 70'' bow riser longbow"... Clearly a case of trying to use keywords to try and get more sales.

Because apparently they don't know what a hunting bow looks like. Or what a longbow looks like. It was a red and white Olympic-style bow with cheap wood/fibreglass limbs, being sold for $78 + shipping, for 1 unit.

Having browsed the costs of such bows before, the proper price of that bow should really be between $33 to $50 + the cost of shipping. $78 is a ripoff.

Also it was being sold under the brand name "Bear", as in the Bear Archery company of Indiana, USA - one of the biggest American manufacturers of traditional hunting bows and compound bows.

Here is one of the photos that were shown with that listing. (Anyone familiar with Bear Archery knows they don't sell anything that looks like the photo below. See http://www.beararchery.com/bows/traditional to see what I mean. In the case below, they are using the name "Bear" in an effort to sell more, ignoring what the bows even look like.)

 For fun I decided to search for "compound bow" on Aliexpress and see what came up... Here are the results, in the order I was presented with them:

1. Aluminum arrows with camouflage on them.
2. A children's recurve bow.
3. "Camo Dream" set of compound bow with various items with it. "Some assembly required." I have the strange feeling everything comes in a Lego box, but with no instructions of how to put it together. Ha!
4. Mechanical release, caliper style.
5. An arrow rest that looks like those made by the "Hostage" company, but under brand name it was labelled "Brand New".
6. Mechanical release, caliper style. (Looks exactly like the one above, but is $4 more expensive.)
7. Twelve carbon arrows with 340 spine, pre-fletched with arrowsheads. Price $37.99. (Price in Canada for equivalent should be about $80 to $100+, depending on the brand and model type.)
8. Mechanical release, caliper style. Finally, a slightly different style!
9. Set of 6 fibreglass arrows for "compound bow". Seriously... fibreglass arrows on a compound bow? Get ready to pull broken fibreglass out of your arm after they break midshot.
10. 9 feet of D loop nocking string. 9 feet of the stuff.

Okay, so out of the top 10 results shown, only 1 of those was actually the item I searched for, a compound bow. The other things had something, maybe, to do with compound bows.

I continued scrolling down and most of the remaining items were arrows and arrowheads.

Arrows being the most commonly counterfeited item as far as archery equipment goes. Arrowheads I am guessing probably ranks up there too.

Thus lets pretend you are traveling in China as a tourist and you decide to stop and buy some archery equipment, what should you buy? Well...

#1. Go traditional. Don't buy anything "brand name" in China because chances are likely they are counterfeits. Instead try to find locally made traditional equipment. Chinese bowyers who don't work in a factory, but instead make their own bows, their own arrows, and do it the traditional way.

#2. Contact the companies back in the USA (or wherever) and ask them if there are any reputable stores in China that sell their equipment. This way you can go to the store, buy what you are looking for, and you know the company in question supplies products to that store and it is indeed the "real deal".

#3. What the heck, lets just get cheap bamboo arrows! No seriously, bamboo arrows are so cheap you can buy a large number of them for very little. On Aliexpress you can get 12 shafts for $20, but that is actually expensive by bamboo arrow standards. eg. On Alibaba I found a seller who was selling 100 bamboo arrows for $10. That is 10 cents per arrow... but sadly I know you can find them even cheaper, to the tune of 1 cent arrows if you are willing to buy in bulk. If you buy a hundred of them so cheaply, are you really going to care that they break easily? Especially when a normal "good arrow" in North America is about $10? Probably not.

 However before you decide to buy super cheap bamboo arrows, remember that those bamboo arrows were probably put together by children working in slave labour conditions where they are beaten if they do sloppy work. Huzzah, you just supported slavery in China. (Technically China outlawed slavery decades ago, but the practice continues to exist.)

#4. Find the local archery clubs in the big cities around China. Go there. Meet someone and use your limited Chinese (or their limited English) and find out where the "good archery shops" are located in that city. Then go there and buy equipment which should be locally made, hopefully not in sweatshop conditions.

#5. When in doubt, ask an old archer. Not to be ageist, but elderly archers often know all the best places to buy archery equipment. Definitely don't ask some 20 year old or a teenager who barely even knows how to shoot. No, ask the guy in his 60s who has been shooting for 40 years and he can probably tell you the best bowyers and the best fletchers - or better yet, he might BE a bowyer or a fletcher.

Hot Tip!

Do not buy archery equipment in "souvenir shops". Those are fakes not meant to be shot at all. They are just for looks.

One Last Tip!

If the price looks too good to be true, it is probably a counterfeit.

The Jarawas - Archery in India

The Jarawas / Sentinelese people of India are highly protective of their culture and way of life, living as they have done so for approx. 10,000 years, their culture virtually unchanged during that time.

How do they manage to stay isolated and unchanged?

Lots of arrows and vigilance.

Intruders on their land are often met with a very large number of arrows. Those few who have encountered them peacefully have witnessed them bowfishing, some impressive feats of archery and some unusual methods of bowmaking and stringmaking. (The image below shows a man wetting his bowstring with saliva to make it tighter and more durable.)

The Jarawas are not the only people like this either. But they are one of the few who remain isolated and virtually untouched.

Visiting them as a tourist however is not recommended. They are just as likely to shoot you. A fellow archer however, coming in peace - they might get them curious however.

Above a Jarawas man shows off his ever-present bow and arrows. 

Note that they don't fletch their arrows, since fletching interferes with bowfishing accuracy.

Below a Jarawas man sharpens a metal arrowhead made from scavenged metal.

 Above, a group of Jarawas men and women are fishing with bows and nets.

Below, two Jarawas men show off their pre-draw archery form. Note the very wide open stance.

February 23rd - International Samurai Day

In a fitting tribute to February 23rd, International Samurai Day, aka "Day of the Samurai", we offer the following images of samurai archers.

In addition to swordsmanship and archery, samurai were also expected to master horsemanship and many other skills, and they were expected to honour the ways of Bushido, the samurai code of conduct.

While being a samurai was predominantly a male occupation, it was not unheard of for women to also become samurai, like the photograph below of a female samurai.

Equestrian Archery in Japan