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nPostednon May 14, 2016
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Ifnyou’re a toxophilite, you probably already know that, in the UnitednStates, the second Saturday of May is Archery Day.
Ifnyou’re a toxophilite, you probably already know that, in the UnitednStates, the second Saturday of May is Archery Day.n
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nInknow that toxophilite sounds like someone who loves toxins (poisons),nbut it really means someone who likes – or is expert at –narchery.
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nInnother words, someone who knows how to use a bow to send an arrownflying through the air to hit the intended target.
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| Check out that bow! |
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n(AndnI bet you thought such folks were called archers or bowmen. So theynare, of course! But somewhere along the way, this other word was alsoncreated! Aaaaand, I guess someone can be a fan of a sport withoutnactually doing it. There might be a few “armchair archery fans”nsomewhere about; I gather from the “fond of” part of thendefinition, they too can be called toxophilites.)
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nThisnancient activity used to be more about getting food to eat than aboutnsport, but of course even prehistoric people liked to play atnimportant activities in order to get better and better at them. Therenhave probably been archery contests as long as there have been bowsnand arrows. n
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Archerynis considered one of the safest sports, and even though it seems likenit wouldn’t require a lot of stamina – you stand still in one spotnfor long periods of time! – it does of course require strength andnstamina to hold a bow through those long periods of time, not tonmention the muscles needed to control one’s body well and keepnconsistent form while shooting.
Archerynis considered one of the safest sports, and even though it seems likenit wouldn’t require a lot of stamina – you stand still in one spotnfor long periods of time! – it does of course require strength andnstamina to hold a bow through those long periods of time, not tonmention the muscles needed to control one’s body well and keepnconsistent form while shooting. n
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nTo be really good, archers tend tonlift weights and do cardio exercises; the weight training increasesnstrength, and the cardio helps with stamina.
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Inthought it was interesting to realize that archers still compete innthe rain – and they have to adjust their shot, knowing that arrowsnwill fly lower when they’re getting hit by raindrops. Also, if therenis wind, you might have to aim off the target for it to actually hitnthe target!
Inthought it was interesting to realize that archers still compete innthe rain – and they have to adjust their shot, knowing that arrowsnwill fly lower when they’re getting hit by raindrops. Also, if therenis wind, you might have to aim off the target for it to actually hitnthe target!n
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nBynthe way, archers don’t keep shooting when there is lightning! Afternall, the bows and aluminum-filled arrows could act as lightning rods.
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nHere are some reasons to try archery:
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- It’s a sport you can do all your lifetime. And you don’t need to find a team. Neither of these is true about, say, football!
- You can do it in bad weather. Can’t say that about tennis, unless you have an indoor court available.
- It’s in the Olympics and the Paralympics. Something to shoot for!
- Interest in archery is on the increase, and so are college scholarships for the sport.
- Last but not least, archery is so darned cool!
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nTonlearn archery, try websites like this one.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Anniversary of William Close playing his Earth Harp on TV
Anniversary of William Close playing his Earth Harp on TV n
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nNationalnDance Like a Chicken Day
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nNationalnMiniature Gold Day
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nWindmillnDay
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nMovienproducer George Lucas’s birthday
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nUndergroundnAmerica Day
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nBotanistnMikhail Tsvett’s birthday
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nMathematiciannJohn C. Fields’s birthday
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nPlannahead:
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Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nMayn holidays
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nMayn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in May
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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n Historicaln anniversaries in June
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