Introduction

Archery is a sport defined by the use of bows to shoot arrows at a target. Energy is stored in the bow by drawing it back, which is then released by transferring the energy to the arrow. The person who uses the bow to shoot the arrow is called an archer, and someone who is an expert or keen at archery is sometimes referred to as a toxophilite.

Historically its origins lie in combat, survival and hunting, although today it has developed into a sport that is practised in competition. Virtually every culture in the world has a form of archery in its history.