I'm having difficulty interpreting the descriptions of the bow hand grip described in Chapter XVI of "Arab Archery" (Nabih Amin Faris and Robert Potter Elmer, p. 46--49 of the 1945 edition). Would someone be able to post pictures of what they interpret to be the 3 different grips described by the author?
Bede
Are you enquiring about square, intermediate and oblique grasps? On pages 46-49, the square in Saracen Archery is called the straight. The problem with Arab Archery is that the authors did not seem to distinguish between the parts of the grip clearly. Sometimes they use the word "grip" to mean the matn or the ridge on the back of the grip of the bow.
The explanation in Saracen Archery is clearer, if simplified.
Following Arab Archery, the Straight Grip is close the the Korean style. The Oblique Grip is closer to the Turkish style with the hand turned down. The position of the matn in relation to the joints of the fingers is really relative to the size of the archer's hand and the grip of the bow he is using.
There is another problem in that the grasp and the grip of the bow are confused in the translation. The first is the method of holding the bow and the second is the handle of the bow. This is why they can write:
Those who face the target sideways should make the grip of the bow square and should hold it obliquely. The first grip is the handle of the bow and the second one is the manner of holding it.
Justin Ma
Bede wrote:
The explanation in Saracen Archery is clearer, if simplified.
Following Arab Archery, the Straight Grip is close the the Korean style. The Oblique Grip is closer to the Turkish style with the hand turned down. The position of the matn in relation to the joints of the fingers is really relative to the size of the archer's hand and the grip of the bow he is using.
Thanks, this is very useful (I need to get my hands on a copy of Saracen Archery). I've been trying to interpret the passage by Gao Ying (1637 AD) on grip technique, and I'm hoping to get some clarity by reading other sources (such as Arab Archery). I'll put up a post about Gao Ying's bow hand grip descriptions.
