Improper Rotation of the Shoulders in Traditional Archery

Written by Alperen Alkan

Mamluk archery is not just a display of physical strength, but a perfect harmony of anatomy and the mind. Taybugha al-Yunani, one of the greatest masters of this ancient archery knowledge, emphasizes the importance of the muscle groups used in archery in the manuscript he left us as a legacy. According to him, 32 different limbs and muscles play an active role in archery: 11 of these must be kept relaxed, 18 tight, and 3 fixed.

In this series, we will address these principles pointed out by our master Taybugha and many other manuscripts one by one. Our first topic is the improper rotation of the shoulders, the most common mistake made by both beginners and experienced archers which invites injuries.

The Most Fundamental Error: Bringing the Shoulder Inward

Archery is essentially a set of "natural" movements. Every extra movement contrary to your nature not only disrupts your shooting quality but also distances you from the art of archery. The most frequent error we encounter on the field is the shoulder of the bow-holding arm bending inward (toward the chest) during the draw.

Usually, the archer, struggling against the weight of the bow, unconsciously tries to gain strength by bringing the shoulder inward. However, this situation brings about three major problems:

·      String Slap: The string continuously hits the archer's arm, causing injuries.

·      Risk of Injury: The draw load falls on the small arm and shoulder muscles instead of the back muscles where it should be. This load distribution leads to chronic shoulder injuries over time.

·     Incorrect Anchor Point: While the place where the draw ends is determined as the ear level for every school within Mamluk archery, it becomes anatomically impossible to complete the draw to the ear when the shoulder is brought forward.

Shoulders should be relax.

Shoulder should be in back.

What Should the Correct Stance Be?

In archery, "comfort" is the key to accuracy. The shoulder of the bow-holding arm should be natural and free, just like your posture in daily life.

·       Do Not Lift It Up: The shoulder should not rise toward the earlobe.

·       Do Not Push It Forward: The shoulder joint should not close toward the ribcage.

·      Squeeze It Back: As an advanced technique; when the draw line is reached, the shoulder should be slightly locked in the exact opposite direction of the error, toward the back.

This correct position takes the draw load off the shoulder and transfers it to your powerful back muscles. Thus, it both provides a more comfortable draw and protects your body.

Remember; in archery, power comes not from the inflating of muscles, but from using the right muscle group with the right angle.