Customer Reviews (2)

Really Good For Basics
This book is absolutely great for describing the basics of Archery.It walks the reader thought all of the begining steps to enjoying the sport.Additionally, it encourages people not to rush out and buy equipment.Taking your time in purchasing archery equipment is critical to making sure that you get stuff that you like and stuff that fits you.The book could be a little better when describing how to aim.It doesn't talk about reference points or point of aim.Otherwise, the book is great.

Must for the starters
A must read for archery enthusiasts, taking up the sport. The book lays out the basics, and something really important for the beginners, "common mistakes or pitfalls". Gives a good direction of where togo and what not to do in a hurry of taking up the sport. Very goodtoddler's steps. ... Read more

Book Description
One Arrow, One Life is the ultimate study of kyudo (the art of traditional Japanese archery) and its relation to the ideals and practice of Zen Buddhism. But it's much more: It also serves perfectly as an informal manual of practice for anyone who wants to bring a living, moving Zen into the activities of everyday life. Beginning with a solid introduction to the foundation techniques of both kyudo and zazen-breathing, posture, and concentration-and quickly moving on to the subtleties of advanced practice, Ken Kushner then ties it all together into a personal testimony of the pervasiveness of Zen in everyday life. For those interested in Zen and moving meditation, kyudo practitioners of all levels, as well as students of the Way of martial arts, this volume, beautifully illustrated with line drawings by Jackson Morisawa, is an indispensable guidebook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

My number two pick
I need to make this point clear: If you are looking for a technical manual on Kyudo to teach yourself how to do it, your wasting your time. You will never find a Kyudo book with information detailing all the little nuances, tricks, short-cuts, or even how to release the Ya (arrow). Why? Because Kyudo is a journey and figuring it out of yourself is part of that journey. You do this by first mastering yourself, then you can go on to mastering the bow. The best books on doing this are not technical manuals, but the personal narratives of Kyudo masters. You learn a lot more by learning of their journeys, trials, and tribulations through Kyudo. Through this you can make distinctions between your questions, the questions they had, and how they inevitably achieved those solutions, but for your questions, the answers lye only within yourself. This is the only way you will 'really' understand what it means when someone says, "The arrow exists in the target before it is shot."
As for personal narratives by Kyudo masters, this is one of the best.

Will this Keisaku help?
His "Book Description" states....
"One Arrow, One Life is the ultimate study of Kyudo (the art of traditional Japanese archery)". Well I have never read any other book on Kyudo or Zen for that matter, but I can only hope this is not the "ultimate study of Kyudo". If I had to explain this to a friend I would say if you're interested in Kyudo you can read this book and get some information, terminology and Dr. Kushner's experience with Kyudo but don't expect to feel too enlightened when you're done. The book is very short, 111 pages and that includes a 2 page glossary. Also don't expect to be shooting any arrows with better precision after reading this; it's more about Zen then about Archery which is what I expected so I have no issue with that. I kept thinking when is he going to tell me about some great insight, something important about himself; about life or something I can relate to never experiencing the Zen Way before. Well instead I get stories about how to move a rock, how to pick weeds or chop wood and flows of mysterious energy. Good Grief. I am not a Zen cynic, I just think Dr Kushner's experiences seemed a little trivial and not very enlightening. He did not "open up his soul" to his reader....if he thinks he did then perhaps I missed it.Now what did I like, learning the terminology, especially I enjoyed reading about Koans ...."Unsolvable questions..." (Has a dog the Buddha nature or not?). So really it's about a 3 star book, a little light on the depth, experience and inspiration of Zen. And I say this with controlled breathing and no delusive thoughts. In the Way of Zen......" We must recognize these flaws before we can transcend them."

Beautiful Observations
Ken Kushner is a professor at the University of Wisconsin's School of medicine who has been practicing Zen Buddhism since 1978. In 1981 he began learning the art of kyudo, or Japanese archery. The main thrust of this book is showing us the "oneness" of life in archery and life in zazen. The point is not to promote archery as the ultimate path towards liberation, but rather, to demonstrate how any task we do can become a spiritual practice with the right attitude. Yet he does use many analogies by means of archery to make points about life in general.

In kyudo, it is said that it can take up to 30 years to master the art, so indubitably the way of archery requires a lot of practice. It's a lot like Zen, it takes practice which really doesn't end. To enhance his abilities concerning archery, Kushner realized zazen meditation was the driving force behind it all; for in zazen we face the difficulties of our lives, and with dogged determination they diminish. Zazen is all about attaining a one pointed mind, which of course is never without us, enabling ourselves to take on each task as though it is our one and only task. No future, no past, and not even a present. Only "this."

The title says it all. Everything is included in this life, there is no real dualism or separation. Every arrow which is flung is it, no going back. That's life. You must believe in your shot 100%. This book truly is a must have for all practitioners of Zen for it's contributions to our philosophy and way of life. Enjoy!

The arrow may not hit, but it does not miss
The traditional Japanese school of archery -- Kyudo -- is more than a technique to have an arrow hit a distant target. As one of the classic Ways, like flower arranging or kendo, it is an exploration into oneself. The author, now a Zen teacher and university professor, is not some a kid talking about how a day of Zen turned him into a Judo machine; rather this is a well thought-out, well-written journey of both Zen philosophy and martial arts practice. We follow Kenneth to Japan where he sits cleans the dojo, sits in zazen meditation, and becomes expert in Kyudo.

One of the first books to introduce a Way of Zen to the West was 'Zen in the Art of Archery.' Now `One Arrow, One Life' references Herrigal's classic, while providing a fresh expression of learning an ancient physcal skill, making them perfect accompaniments. The author has a deeper understanding of the history and methods of Zen, and clearly explains how they mate with a big bow, and how to carry the lessons on to your whole life. This book would be super for someone new to Zen, as well as someone who wants to revisit Herrigal. A lot of ideas that people talk about were put into place in my mind, then to my body and soul, thanks to this book.

Introduction to Zen
The author uses his study of Kyudo and relates to the ideals and practice of Zen Buddhism. This is a good book of practice for anyone who wants to bring a living, moving Zen into the activities of everyday life. Kushner takes us through his life experience in learning Zen. Is failures and his success. Lets us know that Zen can be understood and practiced by anyone. This book is very a important addition to all who study Zen. The addition of this book should be required for all practictioners of Martial Arts who wish to reach the pinnicle of their art. Kushner begins with a solid introduction to the foundation techniques of both kyudo and zazen-breathing, posture, and concentration. Shares his experiences with us. And lets us follow him through his advance studies. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
Kirk Ethridge is one of the most well-renowned archers of all time. Former world champion and 10 time US indoor champion, his "street cred" is unassailable! This book is the result of years of trial-and-error and intensive study; archers can save months and thousands of dollars in lessons simply by reading and using "Professional Archery Technique"! Written in a straightforward and entertaining style, the book is intended for beginners and experts alike. Indoor "dot" archers and 3D archers will benefit equally (there's even a chapter on range estimation for 3D and field archery). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Lacks substance
While Kirk is a great shot he doesn't really give you the ground work to become a good archer or improve your current form. This book is esentually "This is how I do it, oh and by the way I've won lots!"
Kirk doesn't really show anything that you could not have learnt looking at photos fromatournament.

Common sense combined with technical information
There is nothing in this book that most archers couldn't come up with on their own, eventually.What it does, however, is provide accelerated learning and eliminate a lot of trial and error.This book takes all of the key elements of becoming a good archer and combines it into one easy to read reference.I can't speak for the more advanced or competition archers, but as someone who has been shooting for some time, it is an invaluable reference.It also gave me more confidence in that my form was already pretty good, but provided me with better ways to reproduce my form.Although the information for bow tuning is available elsewhere, it is a good reference for tuning your bow, as well.The range estimation portion of the book is especially useful for all archers, be it 3-D, hunting, or other competition.This is a great manual to help improve your accuracy.

This book is my personal archery trainer!
Kirk Ethridge's book is an instant classic.Great for thebeginner and expert alike, everyone (including myself) can improvetheir shooting significantly.Kirk is a real insider...anyone who has shot the Vegas shoot in the last 10 years knows the only man who ever won 10 National Championships.A former world champ, he is a true master of the sport.I recommend this book highly.The appendices are worth the price of the book, with explanations of elevated shots, drug testing, and others.Great for 3D shooters (there's a chapter on range estimation that is CONTROVERSIAL and a real EYE OPENER), or targeters alike.

Kirk's in rare form!
I found that this book goes beyond the ho-hum of most ordinary archery technique books.Most archery books start with the boring tasks of identifying basic tools and then expands from that point on.Kirk namesproducts, and also evaluates them. I also was thrilled to read the personalphilosophy of a down to earth, yet obviously good shooter.I'm waiting forKirk to put out another book, hopefully with more on the brain portion hetouched on in this book.

This guy is the greatest archery teacher of all time!
My score went up 25+ points since reading this book.It is the greatest! :-)Very conversational in style.Recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
This CD is designed to help you improve your sport of archery, and crossing the line from just doing well to being GREAT! You will maximize your aim and shooting ability. You will harness the power of your subconscious mind to do the following: You will tap into your full potential. Your mind will make certain that you devote the amount of time to archery that is required by you. Learning to work through any blocks you may have. Feel happy when you practice. You will be Utilizing Self-Talk, recognizing negative thoughts and remove them subconsciously. You will be working with any FEARS you may subconsciously or consciously have. Anchoring feelings of confidence. Obtain proper arousal level. Focus your attention and block out external stimulants. Concentrate on your movements. Do not listen to this CD while operating a vehicle or machinery, as it does relax you totally. Dawn Slavings, CH has been a Certified Hypnotist since 1996. She is a member of the National Federation of Hypnotists OPEIU local #104. Dawn also holds certificates in Hypnosis Pain Control, Sports Hypnotherapist, and is an Emergency Hypnosis Instructor. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Beginners Book
This book is short, sweet, and to the point.It covers the basics about form and follow through and all of the essentials that you need to know when you are learning how to shoot, or even if you are just looking to improve your form.It includes several checklists and even a whole chapter dedicated FAQ.It has lists of problems, and then explainations on how to fix them.Overall, this book is well worth it.

Honestly a handbook
In a world where many books promise a lot and finally appear to offer the half of that, this is a book that keeps it's promise: It is a usefulhandbook; just what it claims to be.And yes, it is a good handbook forbeginners in archery -like me, for example-. It provides the reader withuseful tips and secrets of this wonderful and so special sport, withoutunderestimating the new athlet. Frankly, it helped me a lot when I firststarted with archery but that's not the reason I like it the most; It isfocused on the theme and the author doesn't let himself be carried away bypeddling details and useless comments, but in the same time, it exhauststhe most important things as much as it's necessary so that they arecompletely apprehensible by the simple reader.

In a few words: it is asgood as it claims. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Kyudo - Grace
I haven't actually finished the little book yet.I was disappointed it was so thin; but after I started reading, I realized that there was a lot of information packed in there.

I also haven't finished it yet, but the book has really peaked my interest.I've started looking for local tournaments, so that I might start as a spectator.

Of interest...just
Kyudo: The Japanese Art of Archery
By William R.B. Acker,Joseph Acker.
A little book so if you fancy it order it with another to keep the postage down. Interested in Archery whilst based in Japan the author decides to take the Japanese route to Archery, and as with most sports in Japan there is adiscipline of archery called Kyudo. There are some good interesting comments on physical stance and concentration that will make the difference to improving your skills.

Not an adequate or satisfying introduction/technical manual.
After reading this book in one short sitting, I am unsure as to why the author wrote it. The book basically describes a step-by-step process of Kyudo with several anecdotes sprinkled here and there. The reader isprovided with many technical details, but is left confused from the lack ofa fluid overview of the subject matter. The few illustrations that do existprovided very little descriptive aid to the text. Noticeable aspectsof the book are its tone and language. The writing style is both cumbersomeand reminiscent of a 1940's technical manual. The author also assumes thatthe reader knows very little of the Japanese culture and beliefs. Whilethis is not a fault, it is an ineffective assumption for such a short book.I assumed that the book was meant to be an introduction to Kyudo. In thisregard, the book failed to accomplish its goal, leaving anyone interestedin Kyudo to search for a more substantial and clear text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

spellbinding reading
This is a treasure of a book.If you're an American history buff, you will love this.Maurice Thompson writes about his adventures afield with bow and arrow in the post-civil war South.His descriptions of daily life and customs left me with a sense of the times.His commentary is by present-day standards very politically incorrect; however, it comes off as just being authentic.Finally, his detailed accounts of the habits of animals and birds, the weather and trees bring out his unapologetic love of the natural world.He has a most earnest and gentlemanly style of writing.I imagine he was a thoughtful, courteous, and respectful individual.

Bedtime Reading
A gentle book telling tales of archery in the deep south of USA, poetic and visually descriptive of the slower life of holiday adventures and the enjoyment shared by two brothers with the bow and arrow during the late1800's, don't be put off that it is a photocopy book of an out of printedition, the print might be bad, but the content is good. Good bedtimereading.

Like meeting a stranger you have known your whole life.
Like twenty serpents bound together hissed the flying arrows feather.Mauriece Thompson wrote this book in a gentler time for a less politically correct reader.

If you're into archery you must read this book!
The documentation of two brothers who go into the woods to escape yankee persecution after the civil war. Living off the land and surviving in the swamps of Florida, they live off the land with what their hand-made bows and tackle can produce. If you're into archery or the post civil war this is a must have(if someone had not seen fit to steal my original copy I wouldn't be looking for another). ... Read more

Book Description
How can a high school student find the perfect college for his or her interests, strengths, and personality? College Matchmaker, 2007 Edition is a comprehensive book of college lists designed to help students pinpoint their ideal colleges, and it’s produced by the same experts behind the top-selling Best 361 Colleges.

Surveying thousands of undergraduates to provide a microscopic level of detail, lists include everything from academics and dorms to the best places for hang gliding or studying animal nutrition. By consulting and cross-referencing lists, a student will be able to find that one perfect fit–for example, a liberal arts college with great study abroad opportunities, or a college offering a mythology major and a fantastic lacrosse team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lists almost any criteria a college applicant or parent might find important
Nearly three hundred original college lists, all compiled by the staff of The Princeton Review, lists almost any criteria a college applicant or parent might find important, from outstanding academic programs by major to schools with the highest percentages of students receiving financial aid, academic opportunities outside the classroom, and more. Any collection, whether it be high school or public lending library, catering to college-bound patrons needs this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Every bit as basic as the title implies.
Basic Essentials Archery is exactly that - the basic essentials.If you've been shooting for 6 months or more, stop reading now.You already know everything in this book.If you are considering archery for the first time, read on.

Construction: this 64-page book includes table of contents, index, and glossary.The chapters are laid out in a logical progression.Editing is good overall, though some simple grammatical errors (including several occurrences of unnecessary hyphens) were missed.

Style: Beth and Stephanie write in a conversational style that is easy to read and lends itself to understanding with minimal effort.Ideas are presented in a logical, organized fashion, and I never had to reread a sentence to understand the point.

The authors do not always seem to take their audience seriously, as they frequently point out the obvious:

"... once you have mastered the basics of archery, you can even shoot by yourself." (p. 49)

Content: Few pages, largish type, and frequent illustrations make BEA a very quick read.I am slow reader, and I finished it in 2 sittings.

The book opens with a brief historical intro, providing some simple illustrations of archery's impact on history.While the history lesson is vaguely interesting from an academic standpoint, it is irrelevant to any audience looking for elementary archery information for competition or hunting.Even if you want the history lesson, chapter one is shallow enough that it probably contains nothing you don't know already.I suggest skipping this chapter.

Chapter two is a more logical introduction, as it presents the three common bow types (long, recurve, compound), and illustrates their components.This is a good source of terminology, but nothing you can't get for free on the Internet (or just pick up by talking with other archers).

The authors offer the dubious suggestion that you can buy enough equipment to get you started for $100.This may be enough to pick up a used bow on eBay, but even then you don't have a string, arrows, a target, armguard, or finger tab.

If you want to learn about archery equipment, consider the excellent Hunter's Friend Bow Selection Guide (http://www.huntersfriend.com/bowselection.htm).This will give you more information and a much better understanding than the material presented in BEA chapter 2.

Chapter three briefly glosses over how to store and clean your equipment.

Chapter four is an introduction to archery safety.This is one of the better chapters in the book, and provides a good grounding in what not to do.Unfortunately, it offers a few dubious pieces of advice:

"Cracked bow arms: If a crack doesn't get fixed, the bow could break under the tension of your draw and cause an injury." (p. 26)

This statement implies that a cracked limb can be repaired.The only safe remedy for a cracked limb is replacement.There is no way to make the limb as strong as it was before the crack.

"Get someone else to stand in front of the target or prop a bow or quiver on it so no one will try to shoot at that target as you look for arrows that you've overshot." (p. 31)

I won't explain why it's a bad idea to stand in front of an archery target.I can only wonder why the authors would suggest something so obviously unsafe.

Some suggestions are provided without explanatory details:

"Make sure that the bowstring (or bow cables for a compound bow) is positioned properly." (p. 27)

No details are offered to explain proper string position, or how to achieve it.

Chapter three ends with a brief summary of strength and flexibility training.This would have been a really useful section, but the authors assume you are already familiar with strength training terminology.Unfortunately, exercises are presented with no explanatory detail:

"To develop the muscles in your shoulders, try lateral raises as well as bent-over dumbbell flies."(p. 33)

No attempt is made to explain this exercise or how to perform it.

Chapter five is actually a pretty useful reference.It explains the T-form shooting posture, explains three different shooting stances (open, closed, and regular), wrist angle, and finger placement.This chapter includes a simple step-by-step shooting method, and some basic troubleshooting suggestions.These are all useful details that I have had surprisingly little luck finding on the Internet.

The book's final chapter provides a rudimentary explanation of several types of competition.By the time you are thinking about competition, you will have left this book far behind, and that's just where I intend to put mine.

-sean henning

Ideal for New Archers!
Children and adults who are new to the sport of archery will find this book extremely helpful.This brand new, reader-friendly paperback by Habeishi and Mallory includes a variety of information -- from a brief history of archery to the tools you need to get started in the sport, practice safely and effectively, and properly use, care for and store archery equipment. I highly recommend this read to anyone who has never picked up a bow and arrow or to those who haven't attempted a shot since 7th grade physical education.

Very Basic...
This book is excellent for someone who is just starting the hobby of archery and who has not yet learned ANYTHING about different types of bows, arrows, and shooting stances.The authors have done a very good job of making the fundamental concepts of archery easy to understand for someone who has never dealt with them.For anyone else involved in the hobby, this book is very basic and is probably below your level of skill. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Mental side important
This book is not for the person who doesn't know how to shoot. It's for the experianced competitive shooter who wants to win, hence the title Understanding WINNING archery.Archery is full of advise on equipment and form so it's great to read something from another point of view. Henderson coached some of the best recurve olympic shooters in Pace and McKinney so unless you are winning everything I would buy this book if I was you.

Al has coached gold medal winners for the US. nuff said
Al understands the mind of the serious archer and puts his coaching techniques in print. Many books talk about the mechanics of archery but this book was unique at the time since it dealt with the mind. I've read it several times and get something out of it every time I read it... Highly recomended for all levels of archers.

Not about Understanding Archery, rather amateur psychology.
This book was highly recommended to me by a top British Archer when I asked if there was a book that would help me understand the Physics of the sport. Neither he nor Al Henderson, the author, seem to know what Physics is, because this book is about the amateur psychology of archery. It's the kind of thing that will be popular in the US, but is probably not a lot of help to the rest of us, except if you find this kind of work funny. I roared all the way through it: "When I get a chance to talk about that great human game called "passing the buck", I get get right up on a soapbox and cut loose."

The book is just crammed with anecdotal advice from this old boy, whose English comes with the twang and syntax of upstate Arizona: "It takes backbone, not wishbone, to succeed at anything."

Al tries to prepare the prospective archer for the possibility that they may not win (mere participation not being the object of sport for many in the US), and even quotes that pillar of American society, OJ Simpson, who advises, "Give it your best. If it doesn't work, it just wasn't your day that time."

To be fair, although there's nothing at all in the book about understanding archery, it might help you understand your own approach to any sport, and has, in fact, helped me improve my groupings by getting me to look at myself a little closer. For this alone, it was worth the asking price, and if you can get through it without flinging it in the fire, then you just might find that Al's annoying advice will help you , too ... Read more