Archery has been around since the beginning of man, so why do we have one of its classifications termed Traditional? For thousands of years if you said archery everyone would know what you meant, today however the term could be associated with sport that is so modernized that the Archers of the past wouldn't even be able to recognize. Its true that progress has brought us several great advancements, but it has also removed something from us. The farther we progress away from the use of skill obtained through hard work, practice, and discipline we lose something truly Human. With the invention of the compound bow in 1966, humans strayed from the ancient path of the stick and string.
The compound bow uses pulleys to increase the shooters leverage at the end of his draw: this does two things. First, it allows the archer to hold the bow at full draw with less strain that at the middle of the draw. Second, it creates a slack area after the cams "break over" that doesn't change the energy that would be released into the arrow for several inches of draw. This is a great advantage for the person that didn't want to spend hour after hour working on a consistent form. Another thing the Compound did is allow the shooter to hold the bow at full draw longer and steadier. once this advantage was realized the addition of sights were added to the bow. What once took a lifetime to master, now just takes enough muscle to pull the bow back and a properly tuned bow.
Humanity loses something every time a machine takes its place. The disciplined hard work of archers in the past did more for their souls than just cast a accurate arrow. It taught them patients, humility, and showed them the results of hard work. When a Archer became proficient back then, it meant more than he had a good proshop tune his bow.
It is to this purpose that this blog has been created. Not to promote elitism, but to promote the Character one can draw from becoming a proficient Traditional Archer/Hunter. In a "instant gratification" world, this blog intends to motivate people to take the time and pour the effort that is something worth doing...not only will your own soul benefit from it, but the world around you will to.
