ABOUT THE LOADING PHASE by Mihai Cozmei

ABOUT THE LOADING PHASE

In mounted archery, the nocking operation is supposed to bring the archer how fast possible in the "ready to shoot" position.
If the "forward punch" include all the elements of the shooting phase (drawing, aiming, release), the same logic applies to the loading phase:
Grasping the arrow, taking it of from the quiver, nocking and locking the string with the fingers of the drawing hand should be performed and formed just one motion.
The loading must be perfectly balanced with the shooting sequence, each phase supporting and creating the other one.
The last Living Arrow quiver was designed to make possible a very simple and efficient archery form.
The main characteristics of it is the alternative and rhythmic thrusting forward with the both hands on the shooting line:
The forward punch with the bow hand during the shooting phase, (already explained)...
while the loading operation is shaped as a short forward uppercut to the chest like in the Mike Tyson "peek a boo" style of boxing.

It is a whip like accelerated motion in three steps:
First one is swinging in front on the horizontal line of the arm and elbow with a push from the chest opening to the target.
Second is the thrusting toward in front of the right hand together with closing the armpit and turning the forearm in supination and contracting the triceps muscles.
Third is the snatch of the fingers and of the wrist, turning the palm upwards.

This uppercut thrust is completed with a very fast rotation of the arrow on the shooting line, with the thumb pushing on the shaft while the middle three fingers are pulling in opposite direction.
The hand being turned upwards in supination,
the inside part of the wrist come in contact with the string and the nocking is finalized with the fingers in proper position.

The arrow is grasped deeply between the tip of the thumb and second phalanx of the index finger, while the nock is pressed horizontally against the base of the thumb with the tip of the middle finger.
The flattening of the shaft at the base of the feathers is of a big help in order to have automatically the nock in the correct position.

While the T-Rex arm is already completed at the end of the loading, the forward punch is following immediately, while the drawing fingers remains locked for Slavic (or Persian), draw.

Obviously, the quiver should be attached to the left side of the upper body, with the arrows near horizontal and the nocks pointing in front in a ideal position for grasping, in front of the heart point.
They should be very stable inside but also very easy to be taken of.
The most of the other side quivers are attached oblique to the front of the body, with the tips more forward than the nocks.
In this case the straight motion of the right hand is not anymore possible, and the continuity of the entire archery form is affected.
Sometimes, small details makes big difference!