How many arrows would be the limit for a day's practice?
Of course, the matter would depend on personal health conditions and other factors, making it awkward to come out with mathematically precise figure.
But, I wonder whether there is an approximate number of arrows the archer could shoot in a day, without exhausting oneself so much that the archer can't practice the next day. I think I saw a thread in this forum about this matter, but I couldn't find it.
I wonder whether any archers of past wrote about this.
Dr. Klopsteg's "Turkish archery" briefly mentions Turkish archers practicing drawing the bow several hundred times, but it seems like rather an exceptional method.
Of course, the situation might be wholly different when the archer is at war. The archer would be releasing the arrow instantly after finish aiming, unlike during practice.
In the middle of several-ranked division of archers, the archer might shoot instantly without even aiming, as a group of archers would be "pouring" their arrows, rather then to "aim".
But, I wonder whether there is an approximate number of arrows the archer could shoot in a day, without exhausting oneself so much that the archer can't practice the next day. I think I saw a thread in this forum about this matter, but I couldn't find it.
I wonder whether any archers of past wrote about this.
Dr. Klopsteg's "Turkish archery" briefly mentions Turkish archers practicing drawing the bow several hundred times, but it seems like rather an exceptional method.
Of course, the situation might be wholly different when the archer is at war. The archer would be releasing the arrow instantly after finish aiming, unlike during practice.
In the middle of several-ranked division of archers, the archer might shoot instantly without even aiming, as a group of archers would be "pouring" their arrows, rather then to "aim".
I think the text Klopsteg referred to was talking about practising with the kepade shooting into the torba at close range. This kind of practice alternated with shooting regular bows and occasionally practising with heavy bows is a good way to perfect your form and increase your strength.
Klopsteg was describing a training method for people who did not practise during the winter and needed to build their strength up for the flight archery season. You could use the torba indoors and therefore practise all year round if you wished. Flight bows were often heavy and required perfect technique. I believe the method Klopsteg quotes specifically tailored for sport archers.
Your recognition that each person would be different in their training is accurate. You should train until either your performance deteriorates or you get tired. You can strengthen the muscles in addition by using a heavy bow as a form of weight training, but, when you get tired and you are no longer achieving good form, you are probably wasting the training. Instead, you are learning bad habits.
The kepade is a light practice bow and the torba is a sack mounted on a stand used to stop the arrows. To shoot into the sack, which could be filled with wood shavings, you used a special arrow called a torba gezi. They were unfletched arrows with small metal points.
Klopsteg was describing a training method for people who did not practise during the winter and needed to build their strength up for the flight archery season. You could use the torba indoors and therefore practise all year round if you wished. Flight bows were often heavy and required perfect technique. I believe the method Klopsteg quotes specifically tailored for sport archers.
Your recognition that each person would be different in their training is accurate. You should train until either your performance deteriorates or you get tired. You can strengthen the muscles in addition by using a heavy bow as a form of weight training, but, when you get tired and you are no longer achieving good form, you are probably wasting the training. Instead, you are learning bad habits.
The kepade is a light practice bow and the torba is a sack mounted on a stand used to stop the arrows. To shoot into the sack, which could be filled with wood shavings, you used a special arrow called a torba gezi. They were unfletched arrows with small metal points.
Sinsigel; I quote G N Pant, Indian Archery, New Delhi, Second edition, pp. 255-256.
"It has been advised in the Dhanurveda that a skillful archer should shoot about 400 arrows per day; 200 in the morning and the rest in the evening. In case it was not possible, then 300 or at least 200 arrows should be shot every day.....In six months one can learn all about this science and in twelve months he can become an expert archer."
I believe that the Dhanurveda is printed in its entirety in the ATARN archive. Indian Archery is one of the best books on archery printed. Stephen flagged me to this book some time ago. -j-
"It has been advised in the Dhanurveda that a skillful archer should shoot about 400 arrows per day; 200 in the morning and the rest in the evening. In case it was not possible, then 300 or at least 200 arrows should be shot every day.....In six months one can learn all about this science and in twelve months he can become an expert archer."
I believe that the Dhanurveda is printed in its entirety in the ATARN archive. Indian Archery is one of the best books on archery printed. Stephen flagged me to this book some time ago. -j-