Since the dawn of mankind, the bow and arrow has been an integral part of the human experience. It has been a tool that has fed families, built empires and even cleansed the soul of the people who have taken the time to unlock it’s secrets. While times have changed for our species, the art of archery STILL has many benefits that can be utilized to this day.

There as many you may not have even thought of.

Let’s unlock these secrets once again and remember why archery is good for you!

HUNTING

While this seems like an obvious one, there are a few things that many don’t think of on several different levels. I don’t necessarily want to get into the terminal factors or endorphins of the animal aspect but would rather discuss often overlooked pieces of this puzzle. Bowhunting typically has a longer season that can be hunted. It can be done in complete silence, not disturbing neighbors or the wildlife and it will strengthen other skills. Archery, especially traditional archery, aids in strengthening stabilizer muscles for improved pistol and long gun shooting.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

Most people are surprised the first time they try to draw back a bow of reasonable weight. This is especially true of traditional style bows. A correct draw will require the archer to engage their core, their back, their chest, their shoulders, arms and hands in order to lock into a full draw position. Depending on your draw weight, you may also end up engaging your legs as well.

While the strength aspect seems obvious, let’s not forget about an often overlooked aspect of archery…..cardio. No, I’m not talking about running while you’re shooting or some LARP event. I’m talking about the simple act of getting your steps in for the day. You would be absolutely ASTOUNDED at the number of steps you can get in walking just 10 – 15 yds retrieving your arrows.

Shooting arrows at the range beats the treadmill ANY day of the week!

Here’s a hack for you — Take only 2 or 3 arrows with you. See how many steps you get

STRESS RELIEF

Without a doubt, most of the health issues that plague us these days is related to matters of stress. That stress comes in many forms but most of it is related to a state of constant worry or anxiousness. There are so many factors in our modern society that are constantly demanding our attention.

With archery, your attention is focused only at the task at hand. You’re focusing on your muscle tension and relaxing your body into skeletal alignment. Your eyes are relaxed, focusing on your target while you control your breath. On release of the arrow, you let everything open up and tension is released. We have found working with people suffering from issues of anxiousness or come from an over stressed work environment greatly benefit from this practice.

You may say to yourself “but I’ll just be focused on if I hit the target or not”. That is why I have special drills such as “Torba Training” or “Blind Bale” shooting that takes away all of that panic.

CLICK HERE To Learn About Torba Training

IMPROVED FOCUS

Our attention spans are shrinking, one scroll after the next. Archery is one skill that demands singular focus on the task at hand. As someone who has ADHD, I often struggle with attention focused activities. My mind starts to drift and boredom easily steps in to fill the void. With archery, you are dialed in and nothing else in that moment matters. It’s just can’t exist when you’re dialed in at full draw

Many of these lessons are found in the Japanese art of Kyudo — The Way of the Bow

This is one of the beauties in precision based archery. The level that you find yourself needing to be dialed into things like having a correct draw, where your arrow is in relation to the target and your form leaves ZERO room or time for your mind to wander. Once you drift into longer range shooting, and trust me you will eventually, the other factors that demand focus such as wind changes com into play.

There simply is NO ROOM for your mind to drift away from focus

YOU CAN TRAIN ANYWHERE

While there are many archery clubs out there that you can shoot at, archery can also be practiced in a safe area at home. Obviously, you have to be sure to set up sufficient back stops but there are wonderful ones available that are relatively compact and can be set up at home. Many people set up close range targets for drills like “Torba” where they can work on their form in their garage.

There is always the option for shooting blunt tip arrows as well if you’re worried about penetrating your back stop. There are foam tipped arrows that can attach to your regular arrows. Options are available for the individual wanting to get their archery reps in at home.

MEETING PEOPLE

One thing that archery thrives on is community. There are some great people out there in the archery world that can pretty much fit whatever niche you wish to dip your toes into. Most of them are willing to help you in getting set up, offer tips and gear recommendations. Going to the local archery range is always a great chance to meet new people in this world of archery.

One of the great things archery has done for me is expose me to cultures I had previously had little interaction with. This has led me to meet people in Inner Mongolia, Istanbul, Japan and various other countries across the world. While there are oceans between us, the bow brought us together

GENETIC MEMORY

This may get a little “woo woo” for some of you but I believe this to be important. I’m a big believer in humans carrying a level of memory ingrained in our genetics. These memories are our links to our ancestors. While many of us are only a few generations removed from knowing any ancestors that came before us, I believe we can reconnect with those ancestors on a spiritual level by connecting to the things that they did.

There’s a reason people feel more “connected to nature” when they are hunting with a traditional bow. You aren’t connecting to nature but rather connecting to your ancestors. That is what they were doing with a bow similar to yours when they walked this earth. You are here because they did exactly what you’re doing right now with that bow! I believe this connection is vital for our spirit.

ARCHERY IS FOR EVERYONE

Whether old or young, there is a bow out there waiting to be put in your hands. Every age group can benefit from the lessons the bow has to offer. I’ve worked with the elderly helping them get some low impact exercise while working a little bit on their focus with a dash of stress relief. I’ve also worked with home school kids on the same thing.

Bows come in a variety of weights that can fit any hand! I’ve sold bows for children as young as 5 yrs old and to adults as old as 85 yrs old. There is a bow for everyone! All you need are a few things, a decent coaching program and you’re off.

Why Aren’t You Practicing Archery?

Our motto has always been that we want to put a bow in every hand and joy of archery in everyone’s heart. What’s important is to find the bow that fits you and what your goals are in pursuing this art.

The rewards archery has to offer are endless

–Alan Odinson ( Instructor, owner Odinson Archery )

The legendary Turkish composite bow is known for it’s lightweight and compact design. Capable of sending arrows at incredible speeds, Turkish style bows are known for their power as well as their distance shooting.

The Odinson Archery Alp Turkish is the PERFECT set up for recreational shooting, target shooting or hunting in the field.

Our customers who are looking for a bow that is light, powerful and compact that offers blistering speeds in the small package are huge fans of “The Alp”. Many of our customers who hunt tend to find this Turkish model to be the PERFECT companion for hunting in thicker brush or who find themselves in tighter spaces in the field.

OVERALL SPECS
* Overall Length – 50 inches
* Draw Length Max – 32 inches
* Ambidextrous
* Materials – bamboo/maple/fiberglass
* Arrow Speeds Through Chronograph at 220 fps (420 gr arrow)

**Available in multiple draw weights**

**Option to purchase with 3 arrows, 6 arrows or pack w/ 6 arrows and quiver available at checkout**

Olive Green Hunter Special

(Available in multiple draw weights at checkout w/ options for arrows and quiver)

PRICE – $299 plus shipping

Blue w/ Black Limbs

(Available in multiple draw weights at checkout w/ options for arrows and quiver)

PRICE -$299 plus shipping

The Korean Bow was the most important weapon for Koreans in wars with Chinese dynasties and nomadic peoples, recorded from the 1st century BC. Many legends follow it’s use throughout Korean history. The name “Hwarang” comes from the legendary elite warriors of Korea during the Silla Period

While historically pieced together and flexed with animal glues, this version of the Korean Bow utilizes a modern lamination method. Featuring a bamboo core combined with fiberglass laminate to give the bow a FAST shot and superior durability, our Korean style bow can handle ANY condition!

This bow features an ambidextrous design and is able to be shot using split finger or traditional thumb draw method seen in Eastern Asia.

Hwarang Bow Specs

• Overall Length – 48 inches
• Weight – Under one pound
• Ambidextrous
• Max Draw Length – 31 inches
• Speed – 210 fps through the chronograph (420 gr arrow)

Hwarang Korean Bow (all black)

(multiple draw weights available at checkout)

PRICE – $275 plus shipping $249 plus shipping

Always looking to expand ourselves into new avenues of archery, Odinson Archery is proud to offer our new line of composite bows for our customers. These bows will feature a variety of new styles and designs with a variety of different types of laminate wood/fiberglass designs

If you have been following Odinson Archery on our social media platforms, you’ll see many of these bows in action

As they become available, they will be listed below along with their prices.

Composte Wood/Fiberglass Turkish Horse Bow – $265 plus shipping

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Composite Korean Gakgung Bow 50 lb (Black) – $265 plus shipping

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Composite Korean Gakgung Bow 35 lb (Black) – $265 plus shipping

One of the most common questions I get is in regards to draw length. Many people don’t understand the process of finding the correct draw length for their bow.

Don’t worry! I’m gonna make it nice and easy

Here’s a simple process that you can do real quick with a tape measure:

Simple and to the point!

This will prevent things like over draw which could lead to things like limb failure, lack of consistent anchor and less than optimal draw weight

To insure that you’re getting the best out of your bow, be sure to measure your draw length and let me know if you draw length exceeds 29 inches.

A Odinson

Need gear?

Odinson Archery Oak Arrows

Falling in line with our “Traditionals Series’, Odinson Archery is bringing to you our signature Oak Arrows. These style of arrows offer a heavier design that the classic cedar arrows but this is excellent for stiffer target shooting. This enables the shooter to use the same arrow in a variety of different draw weights. The lower cost alternative model of arrow offers the archer a much smoother grain with a gloss finish. All oak arrows are set to a standard 28 inch draw length unless otherwise stated.

These arrows weigh in at around 640 grains, have our cut self nock design, target tip, the Odinson Archery “Red/Black” feather fletching with sinew wrapping in the front and at the nock. This front wrap gives rotection for the hand of the shooter and allows for longer feather life. Many arrow manufacturers miss this crucial piece in the arrow making process.

Three Pack Oak Arrows – $35 plus shipping

Six Pack Oak Arrows – $58 plus shipping

ARMOR PIERCING BODKIN ARROWS

No combative archer’s arsenal is complete without a set of ODINSON ARCHERY BODKIN ARROWS!

These arrows are the ARMOR PIERCING ROUNDS of the ancient world. Designed to break through armor plating of medieval knights, the bodkin tips were considered the most deadly arrows in the battlefield. With modern testing, Odinson Archery has also found that these bodkin arrows STILL easily pass through modern day Kevlar designed to stop rounds like a 12 gauge slug!

These bodkin arrowheads are fixed to our Odinson Archery Heavy Ramin Arrows. Feather fletched for high performance out of our Odinson Archery bows. We design our Bodkin Arrows to have a slight taper towards the end of the bodkin that enables stronger stability on impact. This also provides the specific weight desired for MAXIMUM PENETRATION. All wooden arrows are custom designed for indexing when grabbed at the nock. This allows for you to instantly line the nock with the string you may reload without looking at your arrow.

If you’re serious about taking your combative archery to the next level; the Odinson Archery Bodkin Arrows ARE FOR YOU!!! Get yours while supplies last!

3 COUNT BODKIN ARROWS – $40 plus shipping

Odinson Archery Carbon Arrows

Without a doubt, the strongest and most durable arrows on the market today are carbon arrows. Light weight, fast and able to take a hit; carbon arrows are the best on the market right now for the modern archer. The only issue is that finding feather fletched arrows at a decent price is nearly impossible. This is mainly because each arrow usually needs to be custom made. Buying carbon arrows with plastic fletching just doesn’t cut it for a self or recurve style bow.

At Odinson Archery, we have remedied that issue with our Odinson Archery Carbon Arrows. These arrows come feather fletched with our classic “Red/Black” design and are ready for a variety of different weight bows. Our arrows are 28 inch in length for the modern archer looking for a solid arrow. One big advantage our arrows offer over most of the feathered arrows on the market is the wrap around the front of the feathers. This saves feather life when shooting and prevents an feather from sticking into the hand which is a common issue for self bow shooters.

**ALL CARBON ARROWS COME WITH A FREE SET OF TIPS**

 

Three Pack Carbon Arrows – $30 + SHIPPING

Six Pack Carbon Arrows – $55 + SHIPPING

Thumb Draw Archery: A Traditional Technique with Modern Appeal

Archery has been practiced for thousands of years, and over time, different techniques have emerged in different parts of the world. One such technique is thumb draw archery, which has its roots in Central Asia and has been used by nomadic tribes for centuries. Today, thumb draw archery is gaining popularity around the world, as people rediscover this ancient technique and its unique benefits.

So what exactly is thumb draw archery? At its core, it’s a technique that involves using the thumb to draw the bowstring, rather than the fingers. This allows for a smoother and more consistent release, which can improve accuracy and reduce the risk of injury. Think of it as the primitive version of the trigger release used on Compound Bows today.

One of the key benefits of thumb draw archery is its simplicity. Once the method is mastered, there’s little room for error in achieving a clean release.

Another benefit of thumb draw archery is its versatility. This technique can be used with a variety of bow styles, including recurve bows, longbows, and even modern compound bows. This makes it a great option for archers of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced hunters with proper training.

In addition to its practical benefits, thumb draw archery also has a rich cultural history. This technique has been used by nomadic tribes in Central Asia for centuries, and it’s still practiced today by traditional archers around the world. By learning thumb draw archery, you can connect with this rich cultural heritage and gain a deeper appreciation for the art of archery.

The biggest learning curve for getting proficient at thumb draw is aiming. You’ll find many different schools of thought out there on how to aim correctly but I find that most of them require excess bow movement and tend to frustrate the student. At Odinson Archery, I’ve simplified this method to an easily teachable form to have students on target in record time.

If you’re interested in learning thumb draw archery, there are many resources available to help you get started. You can find instructional videos from Odinson Archery on various methods of training to become a skilled thumb draw shooter.

Here’s a Basic Tutorial on a Consistent Thumb Draw

https://youtube.com/shorts/ggtquYCigI4?feature=share

With practice and dedication, you can master this ancient technique and experience the unique benefits of thumb draw archery such as speed shooting and multiple ways of deploying arrow into the shooting hand.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced archer, this technique offers a range of benefits and can help you connect with the rich cultural history of archery. So why not give it a try and see how thumb draw archery can elevate your archery game?

–A ODINSON