First shot with Samurai Yumi 55lb

This is my first time with a full length yumi. On behalf of Mike Loades, his vintage Samurai bow has arrived here in my collection. Special thanks to Redwood Kyudojo and Mr. Loades. I will take special care of it.
This is a "heavy" draw weight japanese bow for Kyudo standards, but was likely a light draw weight for samurai and ashigaru.

The bow was made by Ted McEwen for Mike in around 1995/1996 from mulberry and bamboo. 85 inches long, full size yumi.

The bowyer Mr. McEwen is from the UK, and was formerly the editor of the Society of Archer Antiquaries Journal for many years and one of the foremost archery scholars of his generation. He was pioneering horse-archery in the UK in the early 1980s, long before anyone else. He was also world renowned as a composite bow maker, Turkish bows being his speciality. However he also made bows of all kinds including an Egyptian angular bow, an English longbow, a Carib longbow and this yumi.

#shorts
#yumi #shorts #samurai

[quarantinedarcher]

Great job! I knew a heavy weight Yumi would be coming from your channel soon. I hope you'll make a more in depth video soon!

[gizmonomono]

Awesome! Can't wait to see more of this beauty.

[mdstmouse]

I love mikes book, war bows, it's a great primer. u r lucky

[krausearchery]

Good To see your Moving Forward In Experience Thumbs Up !

[srinjoyroychoudhury]

I really wanna see a video on how u make those heavy arrows. Like that red fibreglass arrow that you shot with the majesty bow.

[rooroo]

That’s a hell of a coincidence! I was just in the Royal Armouries in Leeds (I had to go to Leeds for other reasons too, but this was the first time back there since 2013) and I found 2 of Mikes books. One was about the English Longbow, but the other bigger book was about the Warbow. Including the English longbow, composite bow, crossbow and Yumi. I got the bigger book of course :D. I’ve known about Mike for decades though, I watched a lot of his documentaries on the History channel, really interesting stuff!

[TroyArmstrong]

that's exactly what I was trying to tell with previous bow, is to make it Japanese style

[MisterKisk]

There have been historical yumi that have been measured. It was considered a 3-man bow (in the sources Japanese bow weights were measured by how many men it took to string it), and it weighed about 193 lbs.

I don't believe a 55 lb bow would be a standard draw weight on this basis. Indeed, even in the Edo period there are archery sources which talk about how bows have gotten weaker and that to properly get past armour you need a heavy draw weight bow.

I doubt a war yumi would have a draw weight less than 80 lbs.

[peacemama]

can you still speed shoot if so could you make a video

[ymirfrostgiant]

Any idea on how heavy these guys got back in the day?

[pyro]

This very bow was on Mikes Loades doc about the Japanese bow and used for the testing

[HandyL]

Woah, wait what!? I want one! Dude you gotta show more videos of you shooting that.

[amunek]

Awesome stuff!
I have just acquired a 54lb Hankyu from Samat Archery and just starting out myself.
Should have got a lighter one to start with, but i'll just have to work with what i have and build some arm muscle till i can do a full draw.😉

[lexquodius]

Try loosening your wrist to let the Yumi fling outward, string opposite you once you've released

[bythebnro]

I’ve heard that the yumi bow used during warfare had a draw weight of 100lbs or more. Do you know where one of those can be purchased if at all? And why are most of the ones I see for sale only have draw weight of up to 50lb?

[gediminasmorkys]

That little elbow correction in the end :) Was it on purpose?

[marcoliu]

Great video!!!
I want to ask where can I buy a yumi and where did you buy this?

[necrodamus]

Historically speaking- What was the draw weight of the Yumi? I imagine it was pretty high

[zaghardtakal]

Nice one ! Are these available in high poundage ? 100lbs

[izaakaz]

So what's the difference between this Japanese bow and the other Japanese bow that has to be twisted forward to absorb the blow of shooting?