ModernChivalry.org
Main => The Courtyard => Topic started by: Sir James A on 2013-06-25, 22:19:34
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Had talked about this video at VARF, and posting it before I forget. Some *amazing* stuff!
Reinventing the fastest forgotten archery. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zGnxeSbb3g#ws)
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Wow!!! :)
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That's impressive...very much so. I like archery; it is nowhere near as easy as he's making it look, I can tell you that. What I'd like to see is that one archer I heard about who uses a researched English longbow with a draw weight of over 100lbs; heard he can place 10 of 12 arrows from over a 100 meters consistently.
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I love seeing stuff like this. I love it because it challenges the old way of thinking. For centuries, people just write off what's described in artwork or text as poetic license or exaggeration because of the arrogant assumption that because we can't duplicate something today, or because with all of our technology we can't understand something, then it must just be incorrect. Then guys like this come along and simply put down the old way of thinking, assume that our ancestors weren't just making stuff up, and think outside the box and prove that these things are in fact 100% possible, and not only possible, but probably common. I think this is why experimental archaeology is an important field. As long as it works within the bounds of history, and doesn't make stuff up on its own, it's incredibly valuable to understanding what our ancestors left for us.
I see this constant battle between the Old Guard of History and the new experimental way of thinking. Go to MyArmoury and you'll see people dismiss perfectly good theories, based on nothing more than "well this is how we've always known it to be." Saying you 'know' something beyond a doubt is a dangerous and naughty thing to assert when it comes to history. Sometimes the things we 'know' discount all practical application or totally ignore biomechanics or material science and if you suggest something that challenges that way of thinking you immediately get dismissed for being naive of foolish. Sometimes the person with less book knowledge and more practical knowledge is the key to unlocking a misunderstood part of history. This is another reason Living History is very valuable. Reading about something, and actually trying to make it work in real life are two very different things. It's just a double-edged sword. Make sure as the Living Historian that you don't make things up on your own where absolutely no evidence exists.
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Well stated Sir Ian and I share the same philosophy and try to apply it with my studies of HEMA/WMA. I can research the translated codices until the cows come home but I won’t really understand it until I actually do the techniques and sometimes from there other more expansive discoveries. :)
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Sometimes the person with less book knowledge and more practical knowledge is the key to unlocking a misunderstood part of history. This is another reason Living History is very valuable. Reading about something, and actually trying to make it work in real life are two very different things. It's just a double-edged sword. Make sure as the Living Historian that you don't make things up on your own where absolutely no evidence exists.
Well said, Sir Ian. That brings to mind a SFI forumite by the name of Bill Tsafa- he was of the mind that practical application might supersede the established knowledgebase and basically got lambasted for it; he then issued a challenge to anyone willing to accept to prove his point. I'm not sure if anyone ever took him up on it (I seem to recall at least one encounter but again, my memory's spotty- we're going back 6 or 7 years) but he was pretty confident in his abilities and he backed up his theories with practical application. His was always a straightforward approach which can be off-putting to some, but I liked it. Made sense.
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Practice makes perfect. As demonstrated, the practicioner who self-improves through studying his art/skill in addition to practice, becomes a true master of his craft. Well-done!!!
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I'm learning "reflexive shooting" by my Knight instructors within the Adrian Empire. The first set of 18 arrows was just them watching me shoot and practicing their reflexive shot. Basically we start with target sight on the bulls, as we bring up the bow, we draw the arrow and by the time the bow is where it belongs my hand is by my cheek and I release. After that, it was moving my feet for the aiming and getting used to that stance. After that it's all been practice, practice, practice with sight picture and concentration. Very, very cool way to shoot.
I'm hoping this Sunday, I'll be able to contribute to this by posting up a video and pictures of me practicing.
And yes Sir Wolf, that means I do have a camera now 8)
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Practice makes perfect. As demonstrated, the practicioner who self-improves through studying his art/skill in addition to practice, becomes a true master of his craft. Well-done!!!
Which was why golf was outlawed, too many people skipped archery practice! ;)
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My first SCA war was as an Archer in 1993. Good war archery is what I miss from back in the day.
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yeah...
last two Sundays got a little FUBARd. This Sunday though I'm really hoping to be able to show you guys what I've learned. Promise. And if not, Sir Wolf, bust out the "BAN!! lanyard!" :D
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It is a BAN HAMMER he wields, good Brother! ;)
And I'm going to get a bow I think.