War bows dominated battlefields across the world for centuries. In their various forms, they allowed trained archers to take down even well-armoured targets from great distances, and played a key role in some of the most famous battles in human history. The composite bow was a versatile and devastatingly effective weapon, on foot, from chariots and on horseback for over a thousand years, used by cultures as diverse as the Hittites, the Romans, the Mongols and the Ottoman Turks. The Middle Ages saw a clash between the iconic longbow and the more technologically sophisticated crossbow, most famously during the Hundred Years War, while in Japan, the samurai used the yumi to deadly effect, unleashing bursts of arrows from their galloping steeds.

Historical weapons expert Mike Loades reveals the full history of these four iconic weapons that changed the nature of warfare. Complete with modern ballistics testing, action recreations of what it is like to fire each bow and a critical analysis of the technology and tactics associated with each bow, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in ancient arms.

'Kit Fielding's debut is a triumph. A story told with brutal honesty, underpinned by humour, love, hope and the inestimable power of friendship.' RUTH HOGAN, author of The Keeper of Lost Things In every pub in every town unspoken stories lie beneath the surface. Each week, six women meet at The Bluebell Inn. They form an unlikely and occasionally triumphant ladies darts team. They banter and jibe, they laugh. But their hidden stories of love and loss are what, in the end, will bind them. There is Mary, full of it but cradling her dark secret; Lena - young and bold, she has made her choice; the cat woman who must return to the place of her birth before it's too late. There's Maggie, still laying out the place for her husband; and Pegs, the dark-eyed girl from the travellers' site bringing her strangeness and first love. And Katy: unappreciated. Open to an offer. They know little of each other's lives. But here they gather and weave a delicate and sustaining connection that maybe they can rely on as the crossroads on their individual paths threaten to overwhelm. With humanity and insight, Kit Fielding reveals the great love that lies at the heart of female friendship. Raw, funny and devastating, all of life can be found at the Bluebell.

If you're serious about improving accuracy, increasing consistency, and achieving competitive success, " Archery "is your guide.

Featuring the in-depth instruction, insight, and advice from the world's top coaches and archers, "Archery" sets a new standard in resources for those who compete with the recurve or compound bow.

"Archery" includes a wealth of information on perfecting stance, body alignment, muscle recruitment, and shot sequence. You'll master the skills and techniques taught at the U.S. Olympic Training Center by legendary coach KiSik Lee. Then you'll prepare for competition:

- Select and properly tune equipment.

- Develop a winning shot sequence.

- Set up, draw, and complete the shot.

- Maximize practice time.

- Train physically and mentally for competition.

- Develop a successful tournament strategy.

Developed by USA Archery, " Archery "is an invaluable resource you'll refer to again and again.

How was it that ordinary men in medieval England and Wales became such skilled archers that they defeated noble knights in battle after battle? The archer in medieval England became a forerunner of John Bull as a symbol of the spirit of the ordinary Englishman. He had his own popular literature that left us a romantic version of the lives and activities of outlaws and poachers such as Robin Hood. This remarkable development began 150 years after the traumatic events of the Norman Conquest transformed the English way of life, in ways that were almost never to the benefit of the English. This book is the first account of the way ordinary men used bows and arrows in their day-to-day lives, and the way that their skills became recognised by the kings of England as invaluable in warfare.

In the Zen tradition archery (or swordsmanship) is not just a sport or a form of self-defence but an art, a religious ritual and one of the many possible paths to Enlightenment.

Few Westerners have tried as hard as Eugen Herrigel, a German professor who lived for many years in Japan, to learn Zen from a Master. In this classic text he gives an unsparingly honest account of how he was initiated, step by step, into the 'Great Doctrine' of archery. At first he was baffled by what he was taught - that art must become artless, that the archer must aim at himself - yet gradually he began to glimpse the depth of wisdom concealed in such paradoxes. While many Western writers on Zen serve up second-hand slogans, Herrigel's hard-won insights were his own discoveries. His fine book offers a beautifully lucid introduction to one of the most haunting and subtle spiritual traditions in the world.

Archery for Beginners is the complete instructional guide for anyone interested in taking up recreational archery. This book covers all the essentials for the beginning archer--from basic skills and equipment to effective and safe training methods. There are chapters on both recurve and compound bows, the two most popular types, as well as information on how to track your progress. Topics included in this book are: Compound and Recurve bows Archery equipment and accessories Training preparation and safety Advanced shooting methods Fun archery games How to make your own bow With over 150 illustrations and full-color photos, step-by-step instructions, and easy-to-follow directions, Archery for Beginners is the go-to guide for anyone interested in learning archery basics. Be the next to join more than 8 million Americans who enjoy this popular pastime.

Crowood Sports Guides are the perfect tool for anyone wanting to improve their performance, from beginners learning the basic skills to more experienced participants working on advanced techniques. These practical, no-nonsense guides will help you give you that all-important advantage. Archery - Crowood Sports Guides gives a clear explanation of bow set and arrow tuning; detailed advice on how to produce a good shot cycle; choosing the right bow and arrows and how to prepare physically and mentally for competition. There are photographic sequences clearly illustrating how to achieve good form and close up photographs of equipment and accessories. Contents include: practice tips for performance; helpful hints to improve scores; making the move from club to competition shooting and finally, how to prepare physically and mentally for competition.

This unique book looks for the first time at archery techniques from the point of view of the interrelationship between the anatomy of the human body and the anatomy of the bow. By highlighting the primary power sources involved in the performance of the sport it enables coaches and archers alike to understand and perfect their skills in ways that use the natural movements of archer and bow in co-ordination.

The book is not tied to any specific national or international rules; it can be used by archers throughout the world to gain an understanding of the biomechanics of the sport. Originating from the author's awareness that the basic problems of most archers stemmed from their ignorance of these aspects, it should make an invaluable contribution to the overall improvement of performance standards.

Archery is a great sport and many understand the benefits of taking a bow while camping, hiking or traveling. Yet if you need to travel by bus, foot, plane or bike, it can be very difficult to carry a full-sized bow and set of arrows with you.
PVC plumbing pipe, while an unlikely bow material, allows for compact and effective take down bows to be made. With just a few simple techniques, a simple pipe can be transformed into a powerful and compact traditional bow that can easily fit in a pack or bag.
"Take-Down Archery" will show you how to build your own bows, put together take down arrows, make strings and other essential tools for your own portable archery kit.
Take-Down Bows:
Form PVC pipe into effective archery bows that break down to a compact size. These bows can be made to fit easily in a bag or pack, making them great for camping, hiking, travel or just transport without worrying about a large bow.
Take-Down Arrows:
Convert commercial arrows into break-down versions that fit right alongside a take-down bow. Also build a jig for putting feathers and vanes on your own arrows at home or in the field.
Bow Strings:
Build the jigs and tools to help make your own durable and efficient bow strings. Learn to make an endless loop bow string, a basic but efficient and precise string for any traditional bow.
Release Aid:
Make a simple release aid that saves your fingers and increases accuracy with shorter bows.
Arrow Rest:
Shoot both feathers and plastic vanes with a simple flip style arrow rest.

Archery technique and training tools geared to help you avoid problems and improve your score.

Written by an acknowledged expert, this invaluable book is aimed at archers of all levels, from those starting out in the sport to those taking part in competitions at the highest levels. The author analyses shooting techniques and tuning, and also emphasizes the development of mental toughness; he argues that this goes hand in hand with the mastery of the physical aspects of the sport. This comprehensive guide to shooting covers: how to get started in archery, the costs involved, choosing and using equipment and the basics of shooting; setting up your equipment and initial tuning; the biomechanics of shooting; the tactics and preparation work involved in archery competitions; physical fitness, nutrition and psychology; arrow selection and preparation; making bowstrings and, finally shooting techniques, improving performance and the fine-tuning of equipment.

Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Experienced bow builders and practical archaeologists describe the history, evolution, and construction of European style longbows in the revised second edition of this engaging book. For the beginner, clear, uncomplicated instructions are offered, including updated descriptions of construction techniques, tools, materials, and shooting styles. For more advanced bowyers there are tips on choosing wood and adhesive, and explanations of the evolution/adaptation of bow design, including precise dimensions for replicating special historic bow types, from Stone Age bows to modern laminated longbows. This book also offers comprehensive instructions on how to properly test your newly built longbow and construct arrows. This guide is ideal for the bow hunter, bowyer, and marksman looking for a new challenge.