The Draw

Justin explains the draw technique he uses to shoot a 123# bow.
The military-style "pushdown" draw is an essential part of Gao Ying's Ming Chinese military archery (and any heavy bow variant of traditional archery). This technique will allow you to maximize your body's mechanical advantage in shooting heavy military-weight bows, as well as making lighter bows more comfortable to use.
Bows
* Simon's Raptor (54" model), 51#@28.25"
* MR Bows Despot (57" model), 116#@28.25" (verification: • 116# Verified (Despot ... )
* MR Bows Despot (57" model), 123#@28.25" (verification: • 123# Verified (Despot ... )
Relevant article: "Beyond Strength: Why Technique Matters for Using Thumb Draw to Shoot Asiatic War Bows" (sites.google.com/corp/view/be...)
More tutorials: thewayofarchery.com/tutorials....
Additional info: thewayofarchery.com

[@Joegibbs-archery]

This video is bang on and the draw for heavy bows is explained very well. Top work👌👌 Cheers Joe gibbs

[@TheWayofArchery]

Thank you Joe. That means a lot coming from you. Your work inspires us to keep pushing our boundaries. (For others reading this comment, Joe makes an appearance at 8:03 in the video.)

[@suunraze]

Possibly the single best historical archery video currently in existence

[@17yearoldwarbowarcher]

So true he is very good

[@Woodworkingmasterclass]

Thanks, I get more out of this video each time I watch t. Thanks, also for Translating "The Way of Archery". Purchased a copy recently, love reading it. Gao did not suffer fools lightly by the transcript. I have just taken up Asiatic Archery and at 70 it's great to have a new interest and fresh challenges. Cheers Steve

[@badasshaiti]

As an armchair anthropologist I've seen this release posture in way more than just a few cultures. I appreciated the elephant hunter being added to the mix, to give a hint of how universal or ergonomic this is. In fact I found this channel because someone mentioned this video in a comment on a trebuchet vs longbow video, in which Joe Gibbs' posture grabbed my attention. I have pretty thorough working knowledge of human torso muscles, so when I saw Joe draw and release I knew I was looking at the same thing I'd seen elsewhere, and also knew it was NOT what I had done when drawing bows in my limited archery experience. I had noticed the weakness of the lifting draw that I saw other amateurs doing, but I'd only ever done straight draw, and never tilting to get balance in the back while leveling the trajectory. Now I'm just dying to get my hands on a bow.

[@xudeen]

Much appreciation of showing Gaoying's technique in modern context.

[@MarcMouvet]

This is just what I need. A complete explanation and breakdown of a strong, safe and efficient draw cycle. Now I just have to work on my target panic...

[@blake436]

Sorry to hear you are dealing with target panic. You can try using a tool called a bow hand anchor to help cure it. This is a physical reference point on the arrow that indicates full draw. Read more here: sites.google.com/view/thebowhandanchor/home

[@SarcastSempervirens]

These videos continue to meet the standards of quality information, exhaustive analysis and calm, organized explanation - just fantastic! You learn so much in such a small amount of time. I have to get a Patreon account.

[@rossmcleod7983]

Hypnotic, informative and one of the best instructional vids I’ve seen. When I finally get my bow this will be on high rotation. Many thanks Justin.

[@nicholasswan]

I’ve always thought it would be nice to see people in these videos with their shirts off to see which muscles are engaging and where/when. Really great stuff. Would you consider a video on home work outs to consider for strengthening upper body for archery?

[@TheWayofArchery]

Aside from archery, my other exercises are pretty minimal. My complementary upper body exercise is push-ups (two fists in the center variation). I make sure to do ab work (leg lift) and leg work (single-leg pistol squat) to further complement. One set to failure of each. Daily. We touch on it briefly here: sites.google.com/corp/view/beyond-strength/home I'll take your suggestion of making a video into consideration. -Justin

[@rubenv3026]

I would also highly recommend some rotator cuff work as these are the muscles that keep the shoulder joint stable

[@Jiibeast]

I started Archery around 10 weeks ago in a german archery club. i always found bows very beautiful and was interested in shooting them since a child, i think many children are, but now with 20 ( i guess better late than never) i finally joined a club to learn shooting bows. Sadly we have very very few barebow archers, and even less people shooting traditional longbow or similar. I started with barebow and want to switch to longbow, after my bowrental is over, and i love informing me on the right way to shoot or new tricks, and just see those beautiful "old" bows and techniques. I started off and am still only shooting an 18lbs bow (as i am a moderately skinny champ) , but my goal as i said is, to be shooting a longbow, a heavy one that is. I really want to go up to 24 lbs ( i know that still is nothing, but rather not hurt my back and shoulders and keep it steady) in a week or two perhaps and up the ante, but the low draw weight, is actually helping me out so much as a beginner, to better concentrate on form and aim, than just on pulling too much weight for me. I have a few trainers that try their best, but they can only teach me that much, as they concentrate and have learned recurve for national competitions, but im trying to learn everything i can from them, form, aim, shot cycle etc. And am always trying to become better, asking questions all the time, when im unsure and something new pops up. And that's why im so glad for videos and channels like these. Here i can get the fix, my trainers cant get me! Thank u for the informative Video, the technique looks nice, and is effective! I already started doing something similar, but I didnt quite know how to do it right, thanks to you i now know! I will try implementing it in my training tomorrow! Thanks again and kudos!

[@comfusedpassanger3399]

Hi. After two years since you started archery, do you still shoot and which bow type do you prefer? Thanks

[@gizmonomono]

Justin is not a very imposing guy, but he draws that 110 pound bow with relative ease. Just goes to show how effective these drawing techniques are.

[@blake436]

Great demo. Thanks, Justin. 👍

[@thomasturpen8400]

Excellent! Thank you for sharing this.

[@Ratt611]

This helped me immensely, thank you.

[@olsongeorge1478]

i am now 75 & am having difficulty drawing my Sysichian 50 # bow from about 15 yrs. ago . i am now getting back to where i yusted to be thanks to your great explanation of body/ draw mechanics . Thanks Justin

[@christopherherrmann921]

GREAT explenation!!! Thank you very much!

[@TV-kl5vd]

really helpful. I appreciate it.

[@user-ey5fm7lu1x]

Thank you so much! I've just started archery. My shoulder muscles have been telling me I've been doing it wrong. I just tried the higher draw you demonstrated and my shoulder isn't complaining. I still have a ton to learn, but hopefully it will be a less painful experience.

[@GamelessOne]

Excellent video!

[@suzannetate2238]

Thank you Justin - so nicely explained!

[@marcocammozzo7553]

Very very good content as usual. Keep It up guys!

[@emarsk77]

Best and most thorough explanation I've seen so far. Thanks!

[@pemanahpemalas1929]

Superb, Justin

[@staso28]

Excellent explanation. Thanks.

[@TimothyCampling]

Very well explained. Thank you!

[@johnhanley9946]

I'm getting a lot out of these videos, thanks for posting. I had always believed this about the pushdown draw, but I'd never seen it explained so clearly until now.

[@alexandersalomatin8650]

Thanks very much ! Very useful and informative masterclass!

[@GurpreetSingh-mj4wy]

I bought your book and it was great ! But the videos just put it all into context ! Thanks !

[@gerhardheydrich3146]

Justin, the exact information I needed, thank you!

[@garysmith3173]

Absolutely brilliant,thank you.

[@roman_sudneko]

Great job! Thank you!

[@douglassourbeer5636]

Excellent demonstration, thank you sir.

[@ARTCHILD]

Thank you so much! You answered many of my wonder’s.

[@MinhTran-sl7kc]

After watching you and reading your book. I can now draw my 60 pounds with ease and no shoulder pain, thank you

[@permadynamicsnewzealand2698]

Thanks Justin. so helpful to see that in motion in combination with your book, bringing Gao Ying back to life. Great to see your back muscles synchronizing. Made things a lot clearer

[@CarlDWardJr]

Thank you for your instructions, very helpful!

[@philipp7935]

great explanation!

[@user-fl7kp8ru4l]

Thank you for sharing🙏🏻

[@ArcaionV]

If only I've seen this video 6 Months ago. Thank you for nice explanation.

[@avva4090]

Criminally underrated video, thank you for sharing this information!

[@tradbowtimewithuncledan2686]

Very well explained sir!

[@Wrathington]

answers I have been looking for on youtube for months thanks very much! liked and subbed

[@tomwarrick4945]

VERY useful there is much for me to work on. Thanks

[@user-si6fk9er8i]

really good and meaningful video, thanx

[@williamberne]

I like this video! I think this is your best video so far :) !

[@joerglammers3160]

Very good demonstration Top

[@dominic6634]

working my way up to heavier bows. this helped a lot

[@michaelmitchell5045]

May be one of the best instructional bow videos out there. Keep up the excellent work. Very clear and precise.

[@maxyakubovsky5193]

amazing info thank you, great channel

[@jimmyghersi]

I truly enjoyed this presentation!

[@yellowsundarkside1418]

very well information... THX

[@gordonallison1055]

expertly explained and well demonstrated

[@comfusedpassanger3399]

I have benefited greatly from this video, and other of their videos, many times. All over, this channel has helped me focus on small, but important, details I otherwise would not have done. Thank you so much.

[@SuperBigsupa]

Thankyou Justin Ma!

[@johan23sep]

I wish I had this video together with your bor arm one a decade ago. Fantastic info!

[@matthewmaxcy1574]

This video has helped me immensely in my draw and release..thank you.

[@blakegundry]

Amazing video. Put words to what I had to learn over years of trial and error.

[@hanqingliu2009]

Thanks for your great tutorial. This is the first video which explains the traditional way of Chinese archery in really detail.

[@73afndy]

At last i have found the draw technique which suits me....thanks again for the video...i manage to shoot into the red and yellow ring from 30m with this technique since i can reach my full draw and stable anchoring before the release....

[@Synthmilk]

Absolutely wonderful, having an explanation beyond "pull with your back" for a draw has really got me re-interested in archery from when I was a kid, hopefully when this pandemic is over I can get into it.

[@EnriqueLUrcia]

You really explain very well. I really enjoy shooting using this technique you describe. I wish you would talk more about the bow hand. cheers.

[@nitromaroder]

Thank you very much for this tutorial! Greetings from Germany!

[@imronaziz_101]

definitely useful instructional videos in traditional archery technique I've ever seen

[@darrylpatterson1091]

Justin, I have been avoiding your videos because I thought that they were purely Asiatic archery only. I shoot western style traditional and I think this pull down draw will work well. It certainly feels stronger, more solid enables more draw length. Will take a bit for the back muscles to get used to. Thanks for your clear common sense explanation.

[@gegaoli]

This is fantastic.

[@slackerpope]

Hi Justin, we met at Jaap's a few years ago. I really appreciate this video. It is very helpful to have a reference to watch (and rewatch) before I go to the range. Also addressing the different ways of doing the push down draw while maintaining range rules and etiquette is especially helpful. Keep up the great work. Cheers!

[@richardquick826]

you are very good teacher. thanks richard

[@sjohnson4882]

Well done. Thank you.

[@laurentmeiller5171]

hi, you're the first to teach the preparation before shooting ! excellent !

[@janhvizdos]

Nice Video, Justin! Hello from Slovakia. Path of life is Target ;)

[@gizmonomono]

It's all abot comfort and feel. You can feel when the draw is taxing on your shoulders when you're not doing it correctly. This is an awesome tutorial, no matter what draw weight you shoot.

[@rodneylangstroth4577]

Thank you for sharing this with me. For many years I have been drawing the bow wrong and the locals couldn't really explain what the problem was. Now I will be able to draw and shoot properly without hurting my bow arm and shoulder

[@SuperHyee]

Thanks and respect !

[@danielkelecsenyi5767]

It's a very nice technique, I haven't seen anything more beautiful recently. Congratulations, it can be a lot of work.

[@mocheford]

how is that even possible to be such a good teacher as you are..? wow.. gold

[@duongtieuta223]

The lean and the bow arm bend comes instinctively for me, could not reason it for a while. It just feel so right to do so. Thank you for the clear explanations. This really open up a total new horizon of understandings for self-taught archers.

[@incorporeal3793]

As a beginner that has given me a much better understanding of what I should be doing when drawing my bow back.

[@ponchopantera8282]

Thank you Mr. Ma for sharing your knowledge and experience it's a great help for me I recently had x-rays done on me and I have arthritis in my spine plus being 52 years old is not helping but at least I'm active before I started archery 🏹👍

[@dgriswold93]

Great analysis Justin. I shoot mostly compound bows these days, but I'm still getting up there in weight, 85-90 lbs. The push down draw is what I have found to be most effective. Compounds reach and maintain peak weight so early in the draw cycle that it is in my mind the only good way to draw them! Thanks

[@hunsbrown8288]

Very helpful! Can't wait to get my Way of archery book and Manchu bow. I've been learning Chinese archery on my own and it is very clear I need some lessons 😂

[@rosehep3301]

Great video, thank you! Watched it after the bow arm video. As a beginner, I'm shooting a ridiculously light 18lb longbow. Recently got a critique on my form, and when I attempted to follow some of the advice, it did not feel helpful (actually seemed detrimental) on my dominant side - but was valuable when practicing with my non-dominant. Your two videos have given me a bit of confidence back in my dominant draw, which was getting fairly accurate at 10 yards. The critique faulted me at beginning my draw too soon, and having a dead release. I've come to believe that both "problems" are simply because my bow is SO light, I "get away" with it. If I had a heavier bow, it would be much more difficult to start drawing early, and probably impossible for me to keep my draw arm still after release. Thanks again, looking forward to more videos!

[@bogdankrupa9096]

Excellent job! Very informative. I'll improve my technique as a self-taught archer. I would be thankful if you could make a video about applying proper sideways torque (so-called "khatra" prabably by the turkish archers)

[@yoyoghurt1467]

Thank you so much, this channel is so great! I'm using it as a reference for my writing and I love how clearly you explain the technique so even someone who knows nothing about archery like me can understand the mechanics of the draw! Big thanks! It's amazing!

[@ten5487]

I was just thinking that. What a great channel for resources.

[@olsongeorge1478]

as an aid to get back to where i was i have a 30# bow on order as per your suggestions . . Many Thanks Justin !

[@paulkim6866]

This guy knows everything!!!

[@iyoo1]

great info. thank you. :)

[@ebehdzikraa3855]

9:53 i prefer this style of draw. It looks beautiful and majestic at the same time

[@MrTheFu1981]

Hi Justin I am a big fan of your format... and I watch all your videos. I started archery months ago and have watched many videos. This one on how to draw the bow correctly is by far the best you can find on the internet. I have been following and learning for hours like a little monkey :-D Now I draw my "Grozer" ottoman horsbow with much more stamina and I'm getting better and better. I wanted to thank you for this video. Unfortunately I don't think you make videos anymore :-( Greetings from Germany

[@aal-e-ahmadhussain3123]

I watched this again today. MashaAllah really really good instruction. Once you mess around with it on heavier bows you understand what’s being described much better: heavier bows need more muscle groups involved instead of just the arms, and they need good skeletal form to relieve the burden from muscles. My problem is that when I practise and get better at something, I undo the last thing I practised and learnt 🤕

[@sveng35]

Drills -> like in the army

[@liammerrick6399]

looking forward to trying this today. ive been shooting horizontal. my bow is only 50# but ive got used to it in recent months so im looking forward to see what difference this makes

[@MeadLongbows]

Awesome!

[@RICE4azns]

Just saw your videos. Good stuff

[@JorgeSantos-nl8he]

Loved it! 5*

[@toxolite]

Very informative and well presented, particularly through the use of your rear view, sans shirt.

[@juls4559]

Thx a lot for this very teaching video I just start archery with a Tibetan Qinghai and that'll help me to work my draw. Thx.

[@tangobayus]

Excellent. I see Japanese archers doing this draw. Now I know why. I'm using a kid's bow for low draw weight while learning the correct motions.

[@brucenovotny5924]

Been following these instructions for almost 2 years now and I must say it totally feels most natural way of drawing bow.... thanks Justin 🙏🙏 👍🙂🇨🇦

[@muazhdarchery2473]

Thanks for a detail and each step of explanation.. I'm able to draw 90# 😄

[@bullranderman]

Fascinating..when canting the body down to level the bow for aiming, in Tai Chi we call that sitting , in the case , into the left hip, therefore extending the lower spine, or soft stretch. Its important not to let your hips go out of alignment....we can see that if in the Tor Yu exercise ( look up Master Moy Taoist tai chi )

[@serba73]

you are great. thank you

[@wadesaunders583]

well that was impressive!