Comanche Archery HOW TO

How to do Comanche archery Learn in depth practice drills to begin training in this lost and almost forgotten method of Comanche war archery. Comanche archers were the only archers in history who could easily defeat firearms, but how did they do archery? Today Dave Mead tries to explain how Comanche archers practiced fast archery, and what he was taught by Lars Andersen - the world's Fastest Archer.
I was commissioned to make Comanche style bows and arrows for the master archer Lars Andersen at the beginning of 2020. Making the bows and arrows plus animal hide arrow quiver and bow case took many months, the entire project to date is almost 2 years in the making. During this time under the direction of Lars I began training in the warrior form of archery specific to the Comanche and Plains Indigenous people. This was the most eye opening and exciting experience I have had thus far in all my years of archery. Lars is a great teacher and truly wants to pay homage to the Comanche warriors unparalleled archery. Coined "The Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History" The amazing feats of Comanche archery were almost forgotten, we hope to bring it back and pass it along to all. I suggest anyone with an interest in being more intuitive and dynamic in archery to give this a try! We do not know if this is the original Comanche archery we have rediscovered but it fits descriptions and authentic equipment and works well on foot and horseback and can do everything described in historical sources

some of the products used in the video:

references:
Empire of the Summer Moon Quanah Parker and the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne
Letters And Notes on the manners, customs and conditions of the North American Indians: Written during eight years travel by George Catlin (1796-1872)
George Catlin's letters and notes of North American Indians
Encyclopedia of Native Americans Bows, Arrows and quivers by Jim Hamm
Bows and Arrows of the Native Americans: A complete step-by-step guide to wooden bows, sinew backed bows, composite bows, strings, arrows and quivers by Jim Hamm
Mr. Carney Saupitty Jr. and the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center
Timecodes
0:00 intro with Comanche Archery action
0:07 announcing video purpose, next video and thanking everyone
0:43 first practice drill begins
1:05 demonstrating drill
1:30 closeup demonstrating drill
1:55 continued speaking about and demo drill
12:48 examples of how it is used in action
3:11 discussing next more advanced drill
4:45 showing advanced technique 4 arrows into air at once
5:05 demonstrating the drill with bow and arrows
5:45 showing pinch draw and demo 3 shots 
6:18 again showing 3 shots slowly closeup
6:35 discussing how not to let ego control you
6:50 speaking about awareness
7:25 showing and discussing options of targets for training Comanche archery, how to set them up and use.
9:56 discussing longer range training and drawing back further
10:32 shooting at moving targets as taught by Lars Andersen
10:47 using left and right hand to shoot
11:31 pushing the bow as part of draw cycle and aiming 
13:35 what gear can be used for this
13:48 bamboo horsebow
14:17 vintage recurve with shelf
15:11 solid fiberglass bow
15:51 size differences between bows
16:20 nocks, standard vs Comanche
17:00 how I make nocks
17:28 why certain design nocks are important to become efficient
20:25 discussing feather fletch on arrows
21:00 new Comanche nocks I designed for carbon and wooden arrow shafts
21:47 discussing what video to watch next to learn how I make bows and arrows like this. 
22:37 Thank everyone for watching, mention part 2 and wish happy holidays
23:15 outtro 
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Stay safe everyone!
#comanche #fast #archery

[steveheath]

Dave is the real deal! I have witnessed this first hand as well as had the opportunity to train with him several times both at his place in Kentucky as well as my place out in here California. He is an awesome bowyer, archer and instructor. Most may not know but Dave is a great Martial Artist as well and has mentored me on how to integrate my martial arts training with several styles of archery including the Comanche style.

[gurumagoo]

Everybody is doing the Lars Andersen method now. That's what this is. He can get four arrows in the air before the first one hits the target and hit the target with each one. Lars is a legend.

[Joey-yqby]

My grandad is Comanche/Mexican. He always told me about this style which makes sense because he was a badass bow hunter as well as horse rider. Not to mention a Vietnam war vet. Hes the reason the warrior spirit lives on in me and my little bro. I showed him this video and he watched it several times already. I will pass this way down to my son and daughters. Thanks for your videos. They are awesome and Ive been practicing with my son

[Tnkcommander]

I have long appreciated Lars for helping bringing back the true ancient styles of archery, but he hasn't given much instruction on how to do it. As someone who lives close to Comanche Peak, I really appreciate this video for learning the Comanche style that was well-known - and feared - in this part of Texas. Subscribed!

[davidt]

😂Her reaction to him shooting her pillow was so funny. I think it's 9 minutes in.

[chuckcunningham]

Holy smokes! This is one of the most eye opening videos I have ever seen. I wasn’t close to understanding the capabilities and lethality of Comanche warriors until I saw this segment. I can’t wait to get out and try to emulate their techniques.

[Jrish]

I've been shooting a cheap longbow for about a month. It's so fun. I've been wanting to try speed shooting.. This is the best tutorial i've found so far. I've got a turkish short bow & some open knocks on the way. Thanks man!

[DerekBartlettBeorn]

Ok, within 1:50 my eyes are so much wider, I'd have never thought to do it like that. I'm gonna keep watching this.

[citezencitoyen]

I 'm just starting archery, this video is very good, adds fun to shooting instead of the typical form of shooting I have been seen. Than-you I enjoyed it.

[matuskadoun]

Can't wait for part 2, and also if you had a video for making the comanche bow specifically that would be awesome. Great work, great tutorial. This helped me a lot even with some principles in other styles of shooting. :)

[Kiyoone]

Those people back in time where amazing. Hard training and dedication.

[BowtellBows]

I have been looking forward to this video since the first video on Comanche archery came out. Can’t wait to get started! Thanks Dave! I am sure I got a bow or two that will work for this style

[mikeelberty]

Great stuff Dave! Thanks for the detailed drills. Been shooting a plains bow and was not sure on the specific technique. The instinctual shooting style is a blast.

[reginaldlopez]

As a short man 20%pueblo genetics started in grade school with a lemon wood bow and snap shooting as you are doing I'm 67 now and still miss that little bow. Our school system way back taught archery English style they didn't like my snap shooting .

[edwardstowers]

Thanks for this Dave. It is very useful to me, not only on a new way to have some fun, but as a writer of westerns that often feature Comanches, it is fantastic research material for me. Looking forward to the next one.

[jareth]

This is good stuff...stuff I already am well aware of but for those who haven't been doing archery for 30 years this is one of the most informative instructional videos if not the most, so take it from an old hand in archery this guy's information is absolutely correct, accurate and super valuable if you are after learning a way of archery evolved for combat and killing other humans and being able to quickly take advantage of hard to reach food resources so that you may survive in practically any environment from desert to grasslands or forests and jungle or the fricken arctic circle. This is the good stuff folks . High praises and respect to you David great work

[christiananderson]

Thank you for sharing this technique! So simple and yet so fun and effective!

[keithwayneoutdoors]

I've been a self-bowyer for many years, but am just getting I to short bows. Great video and thanks for the instruction and encouragement.

[TexExpatriate]

This is a great presentation. I'm 85 and grew up in Comanche and Kiowa country, where many of us little boys were awed by cowboy skills and Comanche and Kiowa skills. I'm an archer and prefer the short Comanche bow.

[Honorbound]

This is really cool to have a martial art from the most powerful native tribe, can't wait for part 2^-^