Archery FAQ: Full Body Draw, Slavic Release, Patreon

[@SailingMists]

The Slavic release is referenced in Arab Archery chapter 15, 'On the different draws and the manner of locking the thumb and the index finger on the string, and on the rules of arranging the index finger upon the thumb'. "The Slavs (al-Saqalibah) have a peculiar draw which consists of locking the little finger, the ring finger, and the middle finger on the string, holding the index finger outstretched along the arrow, and completely ignoring the thumb. They also make for their fingers finger tips of gold, silver, copper, and iron, and draw with the bow upright."

[@talmidshooter6797]

Thanks for that

[@SailingMists]

​@@talmidshooter6797 The draw is also referenced in Saracen Archery chapter 10, 'On Locking and Counting'. "There is also the Slav lock in which the archer puts his three middle fingers on the string and extends the index finger along the shaft of the arrow. The thumb has no place in this lock, for which they make finger guards of gold, silver, iron, and copper. With this lock the bow is held in the vertical position."

[@talmidshooter6797]

@@SailingMists Thank you!

[@TTMaster-sp5sj]

I have to say it again : that is the coolest intro

[@randycritzer5608]

I use the Slavic draw due to a broken thumb which will not bend around the string. Best of both worlds.

[@adam-k]

Slavic people on the eastern European steppe were quite familiar with both the long bow and with the composite bows. You can comfortably shoot a long bow with three fingers. However if you try a short horn bow that way your fingers will get pinched. The slavic / persian release is a natural consequence of this. You draw a bow with three fingers and the string pinches your fingers then you relax one finger and get the slavic release. As for left or right. Anybody who practice with a self bow will try to shoot from both sides. That is how curiosity works.

[@markroberts6971]

Nice Blind Nocking and full/rotational draw. I prefer those principles.

[@ziranwolf2696]

In one of Mihai’s videos from about a year ago,”Shower shooting and the Slavic Release” about 2:30 in, he demonstrates a method of holding arrows in the draw hand vertically, (holding nocks with the thumb), while using this release. VERY COOL; another tool to play with. I’m not sure how that would work with a twist; probably just pressure. Again, something to play with. Cheers

[@thomasrobson6370]

The release that feels right for "you" is the best for "you" I wouldn't worry about "historically correct" :-)

[@ArminHirmer]

I am not worried, people ask me about my opinion :)

[@thomasrobson6370]

@@ArminHirmer like when the trolls say you're not doing it right with out a thumb ring:-)

[@Sk0lzky]

Unless you want to progress to historical draw weights and don't want to harm yourself - then taking something that was used with such weights and trying to analyze it from the point of body mechanics is a good idea. Also fun fact: my first year of archery when I was doing stuff that felt right without paying attentions to details of what others do and why they do it gave me shoulder impingement and damaged bursae in the joint. I don't want to know what would happen if my shoulder was slightly more resilient and I progressed to heavier weights (not even warbow ones, I'm pretty sure it's impossible for a human being to draw a 120#+ bow with that shitty form, super jacked dudes who also do olympic archery can't pull that weight with their "proper" form either, I mean like 50+)

[@DK4Code]

I just started 2 weeks ago, this is what I instinctively used when I took my first shot. Very interesting. Gonna do some diggin now. Thanks again Armin

[@jareth7456]

There's something different about the shot that hit its mark , beautiful , im still rewinding and analyzing that shot . Analyzing something so smooth is difficult .

[@metaknight5850]

I like the evolution of your channel. Intro and outro are very cool

[@miguelveratraditionalarche9374]

Hi! Mr Armin😀 as always giving us very good information. nicely shooting using the full body o rotational draw. I started practicing the advanced technique, not because I'm an advanced Archer, yes because it feels very healthy for the body, mind and spirit. And in my personal opinion of course you can be very precise or accurate. Everything that is practiced with focus and passion is achieved. Already from 15 meters using three arrows hit 2 to a can of about 3 1/2 " circular target.I know that training you provide in your workshops and you gave it away with a lot of love for your followers and students, when you didn't have to do it .I appreciate it a lot your trainings and your videos always. Thank you. Cheers!🙏

[@incoblinko]

absolutely love that intro, man!

[@bobjones-dz6zx]

I like the feel of this Slavic draw. Thank you for sharing

[@robsarchery9679]

I'll have to try this release.Thanks Teacher

[@slowdancer5563]

Who's the man? Master Armin. Great video!

[@AndrevanTonder67]

I love the curves of the bow you are using. It also seems to be a very smooth shooter. Which bow is that?

[@baseermirza2947]

The Slavic Release is mentioned in the book Arab Archery. The author give a brief description on how it works and claims it to be an interesting draw used by the Slavs. So it must be historically accurate as Arab Archery was written around 1300

[@gizmonomono]

It's 6 and a half minute monday 😁 Very nice. Thanks for the info. I think this point about people not being stupid back in the day can be applied to most historical questions. Yet people seem to miss it a lot.

[@gabrielboileau5896]

Btw great content as always, and a freaking good group Yes slavic is historically correct( at least partially) , mentionned in arab archery but they used the pinky as well, they also had metal finger tips (copper, iron, gold, silver ) Ps. (yes see ASHLYNN comment below for more details) Its not mentionned which side of the bow is used though (to me, more logic on the right side as well , or the inside of the bow)

[@garymickus6412]

In my experience, the rotational draw helps align the bow hand, shoulders and draw elbow.

[@h0tkoko]

Hello @Armin , can you please do another video on "aiming" in traditional archery? I noticed you do not "hold" your draw for a long time unlike Olympic archery. When do you start to "point" to your target and when do you "feel" it is time to release? I like the way you shoot - not hasty, neither too slow. Any tips?

[@ArminHirmer]

I did

[@LOFIGSD]

Your opinion on long distance shooting? abdulkabza says he shoots instinctive out to 40M and uses an aiming point beyond that?

[@ArminHirmer]

up to 30 is fine for me, beyond is a bit tricky for instinctive shooting :)

[@steven03048]

3:06 Or they were just as narrow-minded as many archers today...

[@Hotspur8383]

I have to learn not to hate the people who give a thumbs down here. There's already too much hatred in these KZbin comments ;-)

[@ArminHirmer]

if they would at least let us participate in their infinite knowledge why they give thumbs down - would be funny to know :D :D

[@Hotspur8383]

I'm afraid we'll never find out. But maybe it's better that way ;-)

[@FinnisJaeger]

ARMIN make your next video about different arrows and you favourites!

[@habeck13]

Not for nothing, but outside of the cultural revival my father taught me the "Slavic draw" in the nineties. Even though we were shooting modern bows. In America. He just called it drawing with two fingers, and when the arrows fell off he abandoned the index grip. We also use an earlobe anchor. I think it's just another skill that never got written down. It's just how his family does things. For map makers, they come from former Prussia.

[@ArminHirmer]

Cool

[@kovarilaszlo3146]

Thank you for the great info! :) I have a problem though. I practiced three finger mediterranean till now, and started doing some thumb release recently. I got relatively nice groups within a few days with thumb release (using khatra), but if I switch to slavic/ three finger under, my arrows fly all around, especially to the right. Doing khatra doesn't help, doing huuuge khatra helps even less, ruins the shot. I can't get groups, even though with thumb release I managed pretty quickly. Is it a matter of a cleaner release? Or what should I pay attention to? Thank you for the video again, pls answer.

[@ArminHirmer]

back tension first, release like with your three finger draw, you will get there - takes a bit

[@kovarilaszlo3146]

I just found it out finally!!! I have to do more of an outward khatra. All kinds of release get instantly cleaner if I don't "do" the release, but pull the string out of my fingers with the bow hand. A bit of side and a tinier bit of forward khatra does the magic with arrow on the right side. Arrow on the left I use only a tiny bit of forward khatra, and I can alternate all the techniques, arrows group nicely :D of course, not like yours, but... still broke two nocks today, never believed I would be so happy to do so :)

[@rodolfosjeronimo9274]

Oh the Raptor...that's It, that's the comment. Also...I've being playing with the persian draw a little (short distance), It is awesome.

[@waddaho]

I’ve got the exact same arrows!

[@justneedductape5093]

I wish I have a range of more than 30m. Barely reaching 20m and only have a good grouping.

[@danielberridge885]

What bow is that ?

[@ArminHirmer]

Raptor by Simon's Bowcompany

[@danielberridge885]

Hmm looks like I'm going to have to save some Penny's up. Thanks for all your content armin you got me back into archery after many years. 👍

[@ramaarchery9939]

Hi armin... when your online lesson start?.. how if we want to join it?.,thanks

[@ArminHirmer]

soon on Patreon

[@ramaarchery9939]

@@ArminHirmer ok

[@mcmuffler1147]

hey Armin! what would you say is a good mongol starter bow? Or any kind of asian bow that you can shoot with thumb release

[@ArminHirmer]

Hi. Depends on your budget. I reviewed many in fiberglass, they would do the job. Like Ghengis Khan by Alibow

[@mcmuffler1147]

Armin Hirmer thank you

[@jinan_hwasal]

What is the difference between korean bow and turkey bow? Btw the into lit tho 🤣🤣

[@zorbahak11]

I think turkish bows are a bit shorter for more horseback riding, bit both use same method

[@ArminHirmer]

korean bows have more flex in the siyahs and different handle

[@jinan_hwasal]

If have more flex what thats mean because i used to shoot for recurve for 10 years but i have 0 experience on traditional archery btw ty for reply guys

[@zorbahak11]

Did ur recurve have a nock in the handle so the arrow sits straight? Traditional horse bows dont have this so u have to drvelop good khatra and practise so ur arrows dont vear right too much (assuming ur using turkish style and not mediterranean in which case wouldbe left) i had this problem when i made the switch

[@robsarchery9679]

Great info.If it works,do it.I think.

[@Sk0lzky]

I've seen Mihai shoot in many different ways so I'm not convinced all of his flashy displays of skill were done using slavic. Afaik he also doesn't use warbows for speed shooting (no idea about other disciplines) so it's speed for its own sake, not a legit attempt at "bringing back the skills of old"

[@ArminHirmer]

Of course not and that's not the point :)

[@gizmonomono]

The problem with archeology is that people forget to use common sense. If there is no definitive evidence, it never happened. And yet, some still use presumptions, and guess work, and present it as evidence. But neglect reason when it doesn't fit their narative. I've said it many times but I'll say it again.... as you say Armin "if it works, it was probably used by ancient people's".

[@petitpanierdosier]

Did you know? People discovered common sense only very recently like in the 1950's if I'm not mistaken

[@gordonallison1055]

nothing new under the sun with regards to Persian release, as you say Armin if its in use now it was in history. Arrow storm- was it anything other that a really impressive trick- not sure. Certainly not good for accuracy- or else why don't target shooters use it?Arabic archery doesnt recommend it for general special archery. Not good for hunting as you should count on one shot, or else that animal is away looking like a pin cushion or not, but certainly not dinner. I think not so good for combat UNLESS its close up and you wanted to take out as many of the oposition before going to side arm- because why would you want to: 1, use all of your arrows really quickly? Surely, you would make each count if you could, and personally I'd like a few back for just in case the enermy breaks through. 2, It would tire most archers out with a heavy war bow, its fine for light bows I suspect. What are your thoughts?

[@lingling-tw1zj]

First react and comment!

[@ARTCHILD]

I shoot Slavic on both sides of the bow…you can see over @arcane_romance thanks again for another film.