Olympic glossary: How modern-day archery pays tribute to the Robin Hood myth (2024)

Olympic glossary: How modern-day archery pays tribute to the Robin Hood myth (1)The archers also bagged a bronze in the recurve mixed team event with an easy 6-0 win over Uzbekistan as India concluded their campaign at the continental showpiece with one gold, four silver and two bronze medals. (File)

ROBIN HOOD

Tales passed down the centuries have romanticised the archery skills of Robin Hood. Modern competitive archery pays tribute to one such tale of the mythical marksman that’s titled ‘Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow’.

The story goes that Robin of Locksley is competing at an archery tournament where the prize is a golden arrow. His opponent’s final shot hits the bulls-eye. As Robin steps up for his final attempt, he too hits the bulls-eye – splitting the opponent’s arrow that was already on the target. It’s an achievement that has been dramatised and depicted in the 1991 Kevin Costner Hollywood flick Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Modern-day archers fighting for medals also do a Robin Hood. By no means a common feat, archerypassion.com rates each shot has a 1 in 4,000 chance of being a ‘Robin Hood.’ That’s how difficult it is, especially when you consider that the target, measuring 122 centimetres in diameter has a 12.2 centimetre 10-point ring and is placed 70 meters away. And there’s always wind and weather to factor.

Interestingly, another account about ‘Robin Hood’ claims that he never really split an arrow. In Slate Magazine, historian Thomas Ohlgren – who has specialised in Robin Hood texts – claims that the arrow-splitting story was a misunderstanding. Instead, Robin Hood’s companions would place a ‘wand’ (a small stick) on a platform which would split when an arrow is shot through it.

Fact or fiction, the splitting-arrow story is the one that has stayed in folklore. And it’s the one that is the most sought after – and the rarest of rare – achievement in the sport.

Fishtailing

The arrow is subject to numerous external influences during its 70-metre journey from the bow to the target. The most important of them is the wind. In the ‘glossary of terms’ published by World Archery, there are designated terms for an arrow’s trajectory. Interestingly, these are inspired by sea creatures. The sideways movement of the arrow as it flies forward is called ‘Fishtailing’. The term is derived from the side-flapping movement fish use from their tails in order to propel themselves forward.

Porpoising

The other term is named after a type of whale called ‘porpoise.’ The mammal, similar to fish, uses a flapping tail movement to propel forward. However, porpoises –whales similar in appearance to dolphins – have tail fins that are horizontal (as opposed to vertical fins in fish). That means porpoises flap their tails up and down. That tail movement has led the up-and-down movement of an arrow in flight to be called ‘porpoising.’

Olympic glossary: How modern-day archery pays tribute to the Robin Hood myth (2024)

FAQs

What is the Robin Hood rule in archery? ›

Robin Hoods - if it sticks in the arrow or hits the arrow and falls out, and the arrow it hit can be determined it will score the value of the arrow it is stuck in or damaged. If the arrow deflects off another arrow then sticks in the target it will score the value of where it sticks in the target.

How rare is a Robin Hood in archery? ›

It's been said that archers have a 1 in 3,000 chance of making the rare 'Robin Hood' shot. Eleven-year-old Mike Merriman shows the arrows he struck smack-dab in the center. Merriman has split arrows three times since taking up archery two years ago.

Who is the archer in Robin Hood? ›

Robin Hood (TV Series 2006–2009) - Clive Standen as Archer - IMDb.

Who told Robin Hood about the archery contest? ›

Question 2: Who told Robin Hood about the archery contest? Answer: A little boy told Robin Hood about the archery contest.

What are 3 rules of archery? ›

General Rules

Always keep your arrows pointed down or towards the target. Shoot only at your target. If you drop an arrow, leave it on the ground until you are told to get your arrows. Always walk in the archery range.

What does four or more whistle blasts mean in archery? ›

One whistle blast: archers may place an arrow on the bowstring and begin shooting. Three whistle blasts: archers may walk forward to the targets and pull their arrows. Four or more whistle blasts: stop shooting immediately.

What was Robin Hood's favorite weapon? ›

In the traditional stories, although Robin Hood uses a sword and a quarterstaff (a big stick), it is the bow he is most famous for. On TV and in the movies, however, the 'bad guys' always use crossbows.

What is the most legendary bow? ›

Immortalized by the Mongols during the 3rd-century onwards, the Mongolian recurve bow is widely considered one of the most powerful, and deadly, bows in history.

What is the name of Robin Hood's bow? ›

Yew Bow: The Bow of Prayer ( 祈りの弓 イー・バウ , Inori no Yumi Ī Bau ?) is a crossbow made from the wood of one of the Yew trees from Sherwood ForestWP, which Robin Hood used as his base of operations. He makes use of it as a regular bow to shoot arrows and utilizes poison arrows to poison his targets.

Was Robin Hood a good archer? ›

Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman.

What is the basic story of Robin Hood? ›

Stealing from the rich to give to the poor, Robin Hood and his Merry Men are a permanent part of popular culture. Set in England during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart, the adventures of Robin Hood follow the noble thief as he woos the beautiful Maid Marian and thwarts the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

What is Robin Hood in English? ›

Meaning of Robin Hood in English

someone who takes money and other things from rich people in order to help other people: He is regarded by the poor as a Robin Hood who fought the ruling classes on their behalf.

Who was Robin Hood's right hand man? ›

Little John is a companion of Robin Hood who serves as his chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.

Who shot the arrows in Robin Hood? ›

Howard Hill, who is listed in the credits as "Captain of Archers", also played "Elwyn the Welshman" in the archery contest. Hill actually made the shot where we see one arrow split another and he did all the shots which required hitting human targets.

What is the first known reference to Robin Hood? ›

The first literary references to Robin Hood appear in a series of 14th- and 15th-century ballads about a violent yeoman who lived in Sherwood Forest with his men and frequently clashed with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

What not to do in archery? ›

Never shoot over a ridge. Only shoot when you have a safe range or shooting area, and a safe backstop or background. Avoid dry-firing a bow (releasing the bowstring without a nocked arrow). It may cause serious damage to the bow and can injure the archer.

What are 5 facts about archery? ›

  • 10 Fun Facts All About Archery. ...
  • Archery has Latin roots. ...
  • The oldest archery artifact is 64,000 years old. ...
  • The second oldest archery artifact is 48,000 years old. ...
  • The oldest archers to medal at the Olympic Games all received their titles in 1904. ...
  • The youngest archery medalist was 14 years old.
Jul 21, 2022

What is the 1st law of motion in archery? ›

Newton's 1st Law

When the arrow is loaded in the bow, it is not going to go anywhere unless you release it and spring force sends it forward. After it springs forward it will go forever until forces like air resistance, gravity, and normal force when it hits the target.

What does 50 mean in archery? ›

Draw weight explained

Draw weight is the amount of weight, in pounds, that you have to pull against to get a bow string all the way to full draw. Meaning that if a draw weight is set at 50 lbs, the shooter will need to apply 50 lbs of force at some point during the draw cycle to get the string all the way back.

What does dry fire mean in archery? ›

The term “dry-fire” doesn't mean a fire sparked in dry conditions, but it's definitely a hot experience and something to avoid in archery. It means shooting a bow without an arrow nocked on the bowstring. It can damage the bow and injure the archer.

What does knocking arrow mean in archery? ›

What Does It Mean To Nock An Arrow? Nocking an arrow is the process of holding the arrow against the bowstring. It involves fitting the arrow to the bow, by the notch that has been cut into the feathered end of an arrow.

What is Robin Hood weakness? ›

He retains his resistance to Bless, and his weakness to Curse. He loses his weakness to Curse upon evolving.

What was Robin Hood's talent? ›

Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw in English folklore who was also a highly skilled archer and swordsman.

Did Robin Hood have any enemies? ›

The hatred between Robin Hood and the Sheriff forms a fundamental part of the tales. The Sheriff veers between serious and comedy roles. He's a seriously dangerous opponent in Robin Hood and the Monk who commands a powerful body of men to capture Robin at St Mary's Church in Nottingham.

What is the hardest bow to shoot? ›

Due to the lack of technological advancements, the longbow is the most difficult of these four types to handle and shoot accurately. As the bow gets longer, the draw weight also increases. These bows required incredibly strong archers in warfare and provided deadly power.

What is the strongest bow ever made? ›

So the answer is straightforward, the most powerful modern bow and arrow is a crossbow.

Who is the best Robin Hood ever? ›

1. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) Over 80 years after he first leaped across screens, Errol Flynn is still the definitive Robin Hood, despite countless new retellings. All later adaptations seem to rip off Michael Curtiz and William Keighley's iconic Golden Age swashbuckler in one way or another—and rightly so.

What was Robin Hood's bow made of? ›

Robin Hood's bow is one of his most recognized symbols and his weapon par excellence. His bow can be identified with the longbow, a tall and lean bow made by an only piece of wood, known for its precision and its wide range and particularly well-liked by English bowmen during the Middle Ages.

Which archer is most accurate? ›

(b) Archer W is most accurate because 3 shots are in the bulls-eye.

What are 10 sentences about Robin Hood? ›

1) The horseman came up to Robin Hood, brandishing his sword. (2) Robin Hood had no scruples about robbing the rich to give to the poor. (3) Robin Hood asked to be buried where his arrow landed. (4) Robin Hood was an outlaw who lived in the forest and stole from the rich to give to the poor.

Why is Robin called Hood? ›

The most obvious explanation is that it was a man's actual name - Robin was a common diminuitive of Robert, which itself was a common name in 12th and 13th century England, and Hood is a common enough English surname.

Is Robin Hood a person or a fox? ›

Most of us remember the Disney adaptation of Robin Hood, portrayed in the cartoon as a sly trickster fox.

What is Robin Hood short facts? ›

Robin Hood was a fictional character from old English stories. Robin Hood was said to be from a place in England called Nottingham. Robin Hood was a bandit, or a criminal. Along with his friends, whom he called Merry Men, he would steal from the rich people in town and give the money to the poor people.

Who was Robin Hood's best friend? ›

His followers, the Merry Men, included a band of thieves, a friar (Friar Tuck) and Robin Hood's love interest, Maid Marion. His best, most loyal friend, was Little John, who was his second-in-command.

Who was the villain in Robin Hood? ›

The Sheriff of Nottingham serves as Robin's chief antagonist. He is collecting the money for Prince John and was shown as ruthless in the case of caring for the poor.

Where is Robin Hood buried? ›

Robin Hood's Grave is the name given to a monument in Kirklees Park Estate, West Yorkshire, England, near the now-ruined Kirklees Priory. It is alleged to be the burial place of English folk hero Robin Hood.

Who is the god of archery? ›

Apollo and Artemis, twins born of Leto and Zeus, were the divine archers of Greek mythology. They were similar in many ways — they both had a love for archery and the hunt, they were equally, highly venerated, and they often chose youthful forms to express themselves.

What civilization had the best archers? ›

Perhaps the most legendary early mounted archers were the Scythians, a collection of aggressive nomad tribes who struck fear up and down the Silk Road around the 7th century BC, and whose archery skills were lauded across antiquity.

Where did Robin Hood shoot his last arrow? ›

The dying Robin Hood, helped by Little John, prepares to shoot a final arrow from his death-bed in the upper room of the Kirklees Priory Gate House.

Is Robin Hood a legend or a myth? ›

So, Robin did exist, but not in quite the same way as the Robin Hood we all think of, the cinematic Robin of Sherwood, Prince of Thieves! His story however, remains one of the best known tales of English folklore.

Is there a real Sherwood Forest? ›

Origins. Sherwood Country Park lies just north of Edwinstowe, two miles from Ollerton and 17 miles north of Nottingham on the A614 Nottingham-Doncaster road. The park is within an area which originally bore a Viking name “birch lund”, now known as Birklands.

Was there a real Robin of Loxley? ›

Loxley is a real place in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but there's no evidence that anyone in the Middle Ages associated it with Robin Hood. There may well have been a 'Robert Hood of Loxley' at some point, but that's just a coincidence of names.

What are Robin Hood limitations? ›

Robinhood's range of offerings is extremely limited in that it only offers stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency trading. Robinhood doesn't support mutual funds or fixed-income products, and you can't trade commodities, forex, or futures. If you choose Robinhood as your broker, you can invest in: Stocks, long only.

Does a Robin Hood count? ›

Does A Robin Hood Count In Darts? A Robin Hood in darts does count as a throw but does not count for points. The reason is that in order for any dart to count for a score, the tip of the dart MUST come into contact with the dartboard, and must stay in the board.

Why was Robin disqualified from the competition? ›

Former trainer Robin Bastiman has been disqualified from racing for three years after administering a horse with a prohibited substance which contained elevated levels of cobalt.

What is the world archery rule change? ›

The change being introduced in March 2022 is to allow 30 seconds. This gives the archer 3 minutes for 6 arrows, and 90 seconds for 3 arrows.

Is there any proof of Robin Hood? ›

Well, the historicity of Robin Hood has never been proven and has been debated by historians for centuries. However, there is equally no evidence or scholarly support for the view that tales of Robin Hood simply stemmed from mythology or folklore, from fairies or other mythological origins.

What is the Robin Hood phenomenon seen with? ›

Introduction. Reversed Robin Hood syndrome (RRHS) has previously been described in cases of worsening neurological deficit after an index stroke event [1]. The steal phenomenon has traditionally been visualized using transcranial ultrasound.

What is the Robin Hood effect in psychology? ›

The Robin Hood effect meant charging those in affluent areas for training and seminars so that she could offer free and discounted counseling services in lower-income areas. This Robin Hood theory allowed her to lead the group to success.

Is Robin Hood a fact or legend? ›

Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman.

What happens if a dart lands on another? ›

Each dart thrown counts against the three in the player's turn. But any dart that misses, bounces off or falls from the board, earns no score. If a dart sticks in another dart, it counts as a throw but gets no score.

What are the primary facts about Robin Hood? ›

Robin Hood was a fictional character from old English stories. Robin Hood was said to be from a place in England called Nottingham. Robin Hood was a bandit, or a criminal. Along with his friends, whom he called Merry Men, he would steal from the rich people in town and give the money to the poor people.

How did Robin Hood win the archery competition? ›

Hoping to lure Robin to him, the Sheriff announces an archery competition. Robin learns of the competition and decides that he and some of his men will compete in disguise. He shows up dressed as a beggar, fooling the Sheriff, and wins the competition.

Where does Robin hide after the archery competition? ›

That is why he had moved into Sherwood Forest. He dressed in green from cap to boots so the trees of Sherwood Forest could hide him as he hunted the King's deer.

What gives Robin away to the beggars? ›

Eventually, Robin calls for a truce in which Robin agrees to give over his mantle and horse, and the beggar his coat and bags. They exchange clothing, and Robin, now in the guise of a beggar "brave and stout" (II.

What is the gender ratio for archery? ›

31.3% of archers are women and 68.7% of archers are men.

Why are men's and women's archery separate? ›

Men and women compete separately in individual archery competition because men's scores are typically higher. For example, the new WRs are 700 (male) and 673 (female). This is in large part due to the men having higher arrow speeds.

When did archery become obsolete? ›

Worldwide, horseback archers were eventually rendered obsolete by the full development of firearms around 1500 AD, although many cavalry forces in the East did not replace the bow with the gun until shorter, more practical firearms had replaced the musket centuries later.

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