Here's something which pops up occasionally. Someone might be looking
for help on getting a bow, and they might get asked "well, do you want to hunt or do you want
to shoot targets?" The response might be well I don't want to hunt, I just want
to shoot targets. The term "target archery" can be understood to mean shooting targets.
This isn't necessarily an accurate definition. Everyone shoot at targets.
...unless you're a "clout" archer, in which case you aim at the ground. Target archery usually refers to the
specific discipline of sport style archery, in contrast to something like
field archery. This often refers to the Olympic style or Freestyle archery.
Target archery, as a discipline, can be indoor or outdoor, and archers will
generally understand it to be based on a set of rules and regulations regarding
technique, equipment, and competitions. Target archery includes various
classifications, including recurve, bare bow, compound, long bow, and so on.
Of note is that target bows are designed for precision and balance and accuracy over
long distances and generally have that sporting look.
Not everyone who does target archery is a competitive archer. Generally, archers
understand target archery to be the structured style they practice. This is
archery as a structured sport with specific rules. In a sense it's similar to taking
up Karate or Taekwondo as a sport, as compared to learning it as a martial art.
There are styles, schools, and students who don't compete using the established
sporting rules. You don't have to jump around in colorful protective clothing if
that's not the kind of martial art that you want to do. Target archery is that
colorful variation. Just like how sports style martial arts aren't necessarily a
practical application of the art, target archery isn't really about being practical,
and is more about scoring points. This is why a lot of people don't like
target archery. The gadgets and rules seem to be a far cry from what archery is,
and that's why many people are attracted to traditional archery or 3D archery, and
as with many martial arts schools most clubs are either based on a sports style or a
practical style. So you might be a target club or you might be a bow hunting club, for example.
Target clubs are affiliated with their local sporting authority, which, in
turn, is ultimately affiliated with the World Archery Federation. If you're going to a
target club, you should expect to be pushed into becoming a target archer
and getting target equipment. It doesn't mean you have to. If you want to
get hunting equipment and shoot at targets at the range, that's fine.
A lot of people do, but if you're looking at being coached then
you're going to be taught
according to the coaching guides based on target archery principles. I've come
across people who hate archery clubs because they teach a particular method.
This shouldn't be surprising. If you're training at a target club, then you will
be taught technique and principles of target archery. And to become an accredited
coach you have to learn these principles.
It's part of the rules and regulations. A closer comparison would be the sports
style shooting competitions. I'm talking about firearms, which are based on the ISSF,
as compared to practical shooting. The rules for the ISSF disciplines are very
specific for that particular style of shooting, and they may be considered
impractical in a different situation, and, simply put, it may not be your thing.
Okay, so how does this classification affect you?
Firstly, if you're looking at joining a club, then it's important know what kind
of club it is. If you're looking at bowhunting, then you might not find much support at a
target club or from its sporting organization. In fact a lot of bow
hunting clubs are associated with their own
bowhunting organization, which is separate from the national sporting body.
This also has the implication that if you want to become a competitive target archer, let's say
you wanna shoot internationals or shoot at the Olympics, then you will have to look
for a target club that is affiliated with a target organization and not a bow hunting club.
Secondly, if you're buying archery equipment, it's important to clarify if
you are doing target archery as a sport, something which you invest in and commit
to, compared to recreational archery. If you are shooting at targets in your backyard,
then that's not target archery. You don't need to get specialized target
equipment, you can shoot with whatever you want.
In other words you can use your Samick Sage to shoot a target, but you probably
wouldn't use it for target archery as a sport and a discipline.
Anyway, this is NUSensei, hope this was helpful, thanks for watching, and I'll see you next time.