MASUM 2012

• Event      : MASUM 2012
• Venue     : UniMAS, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak
• Date       : 5-16 April 2012

This is the first time ever I need to spend my mid-semester holidays to go 'vacation' on wet range in Sarawak. It was awesome even though I was feeling very upset to sacrifice my holidays. I got new experience in a new environment of tournament. This MASUM event is my second tournament after First National Circuit in Malacca.

Sarawak is quite a nice place actually. A lot of ethnics live there and they are very friendly. And, suddenly, I met my old friend from PD. Wow!!.. We chit chat for quite a long time because I do not see him for a quite long time. According to him, Sarawak is a good place to travel and find some beauty ladies..  :-) 

Apparently, archery event was finished earlier than others. So, to fill our free time before the flight to KLIA, our group leader planed to go for a trip, a one day trip around Sarawak. It was an opportunity to me to explore Sarawak as it was my first time to set foot there. :-)

I Love SARAWAK..  :-)

draw, aim and release (Compound bow)

To shoot well in archery, basically we need to choose the right bow that suit us. NEVER use left-handed bow if you are right-handed person and vice versa. Determine your bow arm and draw arm before you shoot. NEVER release the string without arrow. It may cause injuries and equipment failure.

Step 1

Draw the bow to full draw and secure a solid, consistent anchor point. Your anchor point is the position where you hold your arm, hand and face in relationship to the bow. Consistent anchor points allow you to quickly and easily aim the bow.

Step 2

Level the bow using the built-in bubble level in the bow sight. This ensures your bow is upright during the shot to avoid canting the bow, which can affect accuracy.

Step 3

Look through the peep sight on the bow string and align the peep sight with the sight housing on the bow sight.

Step 4

Use the top pin for close range targets. Most bow sights are equipped with one, three or five pins. A standard setup for a three-pin sight has the top pin for 20 yards, middle pin for 30 yards and bottom pin for 40 yards.

Step 5

Hold the bow as steady as possible while holding the pin on the intended target.

Step 6

Focus on the intended target and slowly pull the trigger to release the arrow.

Full draw, aim, release

Types of archery bows

In this new era, there is great variety in the construction details of bows (both historic and modern) all bows consist of a string attached to elastic limbs that store mechanical energy imparted by the user drawing the string. Bows may be broadly split into two categories: those drawn by pulling the string directly and those that use a mechanism to pull the string. Here are some bows that are usually been used in this new age.

1. Longbow

The longbow is the oldest and most basic type of archery bow. Hunters and warriors all over the world have used this bow design for thousands of years to shoot game, demonstrate skill and defend themselves during warfare. According to Tucson Archery, the longbow is known for its stability and lightweight design, as well as for the surprisingly high velocity with which it can launch an arrow. Longbows are typically made from a single length of wood, often feature a leather grip at the center of the curve and are designed to shoot without sights. These bows are self-nocking, meaning they have small notches cut in at either end of the bow to hold the string in place. A small shelf or notch may be cut into the side of the bow to help hold the arrow as the archer draws the string. Today, longbows are generally not much more than 50lb draw weight. Mainly used in Field archery, though they have their own classifications in Target archery.

A group of longbow archers

2. Recurve Bow

Modern recurve bows use advanced materials and technology in their construction. The risers can be machined or cast from magnesium or aluminium and the very latest technology uses carbon fibre for the riser (much lighter). The limbs are made from layers of wood, fiberglass or carbon on a core of wood or carbon foam. When fitted, the limbs are held in place by the tension of the string.

You can shoot a modern recurve 'barebow' i.e. riser, limbs, string and an arrow rest. Arrow rests are needed on modern recurves because of the design of the bow. But, so long as you keep within the regulations defined by FITA, you can add several aids to accuracy to a recurve bow. In brief these are:

• Sights.
• Pressure Button.
• Clickers.
• Stabilisers.

Foresight only are allowed. Basically an adjustable (vertical & horizontal) viewing ring that you center on the target. Pressure buttons are spring-loaded plungers that help to counter the tendency of the arrow to fly off to one side. Clickers are simple strips of spring steel that 'click' against the riser once the arrow has passed them on the draw (helps with consistent draw length). Stabilizers are those big long things that stick out of the bow. They help to balance the center of gravity of the bow and reduce the vibration that the sudden release generates. Vibration = wasted energy.

It all might look and sound complicated but in reality you begin shooting a recurve bare bow and add things one at a time as you progress.

Recurve bows with accessories 

Aiming / Full Draw

3. Compound Bow

The compound bow is the most advanced bow design. It features a variety of built-in gears, cables and cams that reduce the amount of effort required to draw the string. These mechanisms provide an easier draw and can also hold the string in a fully drawn position with little to no effort from the archer. This allows the hunter or marksman to hold the string and perfect his aim without wasting energy. Compound bows provide superior accuracy, shooting velocity and distance compared to a longbow or recurve bow, as noted by Tucson Archery. The modern compound bow is made from aluminum or composite materials to provide strength and durability without the heavy weight of wood.

Compound bow without any accessories

Make it SIMPLE

The Basic Things You Need to Know about ARCHERY

Graphic explanation about modern archery competition 

Standard FITA target face that used in tournament

Paralympic archery game

The modern archery equipment

more about archery (types of games)

Types of Archery Tournaments

Here are some types of archery that usually play by archers around the world. Different types of environments determine the type of archery game you play. You can choose from indoor and outdoor gaming for archery. This is a plus for being able to participate in competition during inclement weather situations. Choose to play in field competitions, or run, influence, and flight archery games.

1. Target Archery 

Target archery is the only form of archery allowed in the Olympic games and has over a hundred member nations throughout the world. These nations are represented by the Fédération Internationale de Tir à l'Arc (F.I.T.A) which is the international governing body for the sport.

There are quite a number of different target archery rounds, but generally, target archery consists of archers shooting a fixed number of arrows at a specified distance. That target is circular with 10 concentric rings. The inner ring of the gold scoring 10, to the outer ring of the white scoring 1. After an end of arrows, usually 3 or 6, all arrows are scored. At the end of the day, the person with the highest score wins! Simple!

A wonderful and probably unique aspect of archery is the opportunity for competitors of any ability to compete.

A paraplegic archer won the Gold Medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, paraplegic archers also competed at the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games alongside the able-bodied competitors.

Outdoor  target archery

Archer  is taking his score and mark arrow holes on the target face

2. Field Archery

Field archery is, in effect, hunting with a bow. The quarry is not a deer or a hare but a substitute target set in a 'field' environment. These targets can be of the concentric ring variety or 2D representations/pictures of animals or even 3D replicas of animals. Shooting is often made more difficult by having to shoot up or downhill, by having to shoot 'around' a tree or an obstacle (so that you cannot shoot in the upright T-form as you would in Target archery) and by having to shoot across varying light - from full sun to shade or from shade to full sun.

As in Target archery there are many rounds which can be shot but, unlike Target archery, the distances can vary from one shot to the next. A typical field round will involve shooting at 14 or 28 targets, one after the other. The archer starts from the first 'peg', shoots at the target and then walks on to the next peg and the next target. Depending on the round, the distance to the target may be marked or it may not and can be anything from 20yds to 80yds. As often as not the distances are not marked and the Field archer has to rely on judgement and instinct for each shot.

Aiming for accuracy

A 3D target in  field archery

3. Clout Archery

Clout archery takes place in a flat field, similar to Target archery, BUT in this type of shooting the target is marked out horizontally on the grass. A series of 5 concentric circles are laid out around a central marker flag and the archer shoots from a distance of 180yds (less for juniors). Alternatively, no circles are marked out and scoring is achieved by pivoting a rope or cord coloured for each scoring zone around the marker flag. In a Single Clout 6 ends of 6 arrows are shot, and a Double Clout consists of 12 ends of 6 arrows. Scores are 5 for the innermost circle, down to 1 for the outermost. A large field is needed for clout shooting - at least 250yds to allow for overshoot.

'Clout' is an old name for cloth. Originally a piece of cloth would be set on a short pole as the central marker. Again, the origins lie in medieval archery practice - shooting at long range against a foe.

Clout archery target on the ground

Retrieving arrows after a few shots

4. Flight Archery

Flight archery is about shooting for maximum distance - pure and simple.

This type of archery needs a lot of space and level space at that. As in other types of archery there are various classes for different bow types - longbow, recurve, compound and specialist flight bows. Flight bows and arrows are at the cutting edge of archery technology as flight archers strive to get the maximum possible from them. It's like Formula 1 motor racing, where improvements to the cars and engines (like ABS or computerised engine management) can eventually be adopted by the mainstream car manufacturers. Metal risers, carbon arrows, faster strings and a lot more have come from flight archery.

3 arrows an end are shot, and then the archers go looking for their arrows. If they find them, the furthest arrow of the end is marked and another 3 ends are shot (in the USA, only one end is shot in competition). Furthest distance wins!

Special bow for flight archery

Aim high to score best points

5. Papingo Archery

Also called Popinjay or Parrot archery. Not that common in the UK but incredibly popular in Belgium for some reason. It is mentioned here purely because of The Ancient Society Of Kilwinning Archers from Ayrshire, Scotland who have hosted a Papingo Shoot since 1483 (or 1488 according to some sources), with a break here and there. This is the earliest recorded archery tournament in the UK by some margin.

In Popinjay, or Papingo, arrows are shot vertically to try and dislodge wooden 'birds' fixed to a wooden pole at height. There are usually a few birds, the 'Cock' scoring 5, four Hens scoring 3 each, and a minimum of 24 Chicks scoring 1 apiece.

In the Kilwinning Shoot, the pole extends 10ft out from the tower of Kilwinning Abbey, at a height of 116ft and is host to a solitary 'bird' or 'parrot'. Archers take turns with longbows and blunts - arrows with rubber tips to prevent any more damage to the tower - shooting from the bottom of the tower with one foot on the Abbey steps. The order of shooting is decided by a Butt round which is held beforehand. Whoever shoots the bird down first gets a very old silver trophy.

Aiming in vertical position

6. Horseback / Mounted Archery

A horse archer, horsed archer, or mounted archer is a cavalryman armed with a bow, able to shoot while riding from horseback. Archery has occasionally been used from the backs of other riding animals. Mounted archery was a defining characteristic of the Eurasian nomads during antiquity and the medieval period, including Iranian peoples (Scythians, Sarmatians, Sassanids) and Indians in antiquity, and by the Mongols and the Turkic peoples during the Middle Ages. By the expansion of these peoples, the practice also spread to Europe (via the Sarmatians and the Huns) and to East Asia. In East Asia, horse archery came to be particularly honoured in the samurai tradition of Japan, where mounted archery is called Yabusame.

It developed separately among the peoples of the South American pampas and the North American prairies; the Comanches were especially skilled.

Shooting while riding

my top 10 favorite ROCK songs..

Top 10 favorite ROCK songs of mine

I love ROCK musics. So, below are the top 10 most played songs in my phones and my laptop. :-) enjoy the show..  

1. Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix

2. Time - Pink Floyd

3. Back in Black - AC/DC

4. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

5. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake

6. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen

7. Crocodile Rock - Elton John

8. Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

9. I Remember You - Skid Row

10. She's Gone - Stealheart

First National Circuit 2012

First National Circuit Archery Tournament 2012

Date    : 21-25 March 2012
Venue  : UTeM, Ayer Keroh, Melaka


Being an archer is a great challenge to me. I need to spend extra time on field rather than doing anything else that I used to do before involve in archery. First National Circuit 2012 was my first tournament since I set my first footstep in this university. Actually, I used to be an archer during high school. :-) So, I was not feel too nervous to join this tournament.

My team members and me before going to Malacca

To perform well during tournament, my lovely coach keep reminding me to control my bow arm very very well. Bow arm is the main key to make sure the accuracy of the arrows. Yes, I got a major problem to control my bow arm at first as well as my draw arm. But, after a few trials, I feel better and can shoot well but not too in the game.

Compound Bows are ready

Recurve Bows before action

For me, it doesn't matter if we win or loose. The most important thing is we enjoy to do what we like. I enjoy to join archery as it can teach me the meaning of discipline, teamwork and stay focused.

Quivers of us.  Mine was 19B.

Compound Women during action.

Compound Men during Elimination Round

Recurve archers competing to the top.

Senior vs Junior.

Utem, Ayer Keroh

A Brief Info about Archery

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat, while in modern times, its main use is that of a recreational activity. A person who participates in archery is typically known as an "archer" or "bowman", and one who is fond of or an expert at archery can be referred to as a "toxophilite".

(source: Wikipedia)

Equipments (Modern Era)

• Bows

Compound Bows

Recurve Bow

• Arrows

Techniques

1. Treestand Technique: When people miss from a treestand, they often miss high. There are two reasons. First, the deer itself may “jump the string.” Almost all of them drop at least a little, some drop a lot. Second, some archers lower their bow arm instead of bending at the waist to create the downward shot angle. This also tends to produce high hits because it changes the relationship between the bow arm and the upper body and thus between the bow and the eye.

2. Relax: It starts with your feet and legs and leads to your bow arm and bow hand. Everything should be relaxed. Bend your bow arm just enough to unlock the elbow and let your fingers hang naturally in a relaxed grip.

3. Focus on the Spot: You have likely heard the old saying that if you aim small you will miss small. That is definitely true of archery. Learn to maintain a sharp focus on the spot you want to hit.

4. Follow Through: The follow-through is both mental and physical, and serves to hold everything together long enough for the arrow to escape the bow. On the physical side, your grip-hand must stay relaxed until the arrow hits the target. Many bowhunters snap it closed at the same moment they release the string—destroying accuracy. Resist the common tendency to drop your arm when you release the string.

5. Two-Finger Release Technique: There’s no question that the mechanical release is the most accurate way to shoot an arrow; however, if you want to stick with fingers, then use only two fingers to hold the bowstring at full draw. After reaching let-off, drop your top finger off the string and then execute your anchor and release with the other two. The best finger shooters carry 70 percent of the holding weight with their middle finger.

6. Make a Surprise Release: Target panic is the attempt—and the inability—to hold the pin steady on the intended target while taking a shot. Invariably, the afflicted will issue a “Now!” command in their mind when the pin hesitates on the spot. Trying to time the shot eventually creates a mental gridlock resulting in very inconsistent (and distressing) shooting. The cure is simple, just learn to create a surprise release.

7. Float Your Aim: One of the most damaging misconceptions in archery involves aiming. Many feel that the pin should settle rock-steady on the spot they want to hit in order to enjoy great accuracy. This is where target panic gets the spark that turns into a flame. If you are releasing the string correctly, with a surprise method, you won’t be able to time the shot, nor do you have to. Just let the pin float around and over the spot. When the surprise release goes, you will be amazed by how close the arrow hits to the center. It is spooky, really, but one of the keys to good shooting, nonetheless.

8. Aim Time: Studies show that seven seconds is the longest an average person can stay focused on one thing without distraction. Make every attempt to perform your shots within seven seconds from the time you lock on the spot.

9. Mid-Flight Obstacles: Because arrows do not fly on a flat trajectory, you can often lob a shot over an obstacle. With your bow at full draw, aim at the intended target with the correct sight pin and check the pins for the yardages in between and you can do this.

10. In-Season Practice: Most bowhunters make the mistake of shutting down their regular practice when the season starts. You need to keep up your strength and maintain your form throughout the season so it will still be sharp when you need it.

Simple Guide to Archery