The Way of the Bamboo Hawk

I'm Garrett, a self-taught traditional archer. I train in several draw styles, including the Asiatic thumb draw on horsebows, Mediterranean, and other standard and European styles. I also train NTS, USA Archery's National Training System, the step-by-step shot process taught in its Level 2 instructor certification, which I'm completing before I open lessons. I'm also working on mounted archery. Nobody handed me a system. I built my practice one arrow at a time, and the Bamboo Hawk Forge is where I share what I've learned and what I make along the way.

Why a forge

A forge is where raw material becomes something useful: steel into a tool, effort into skill. That's how I think about training and about the things I build. Both get shaped by heat, repetition, and patience, and neither is finished in one pass.

The crest

The mark you see on this site comes from my family's kamon: crossed hawk feathers within a circle. A hawk is patient, precise, and always scanning the horizon. Bamboo bends under pressure and doesn't break. Together they're the spirit behind everything here.

TakeNoTaka Do (the Way of the Bamboo Hawk)

It's my personal martial philosophy, built on three principles:

• Trust yourself. Your training only works if you believe in the work you've put in.
• Know your limits. Honest self-assessment is how you stay safe, improve, and last.
• Push beyond. Once you know your limits, you'll know exactly where to push past them.

What you'll find here

Instruction in archery and martial skills, handmade gear and targets as I build them, merchandise, and a short list of equipment and makers I trust. If I recommend something, it's because I'd use it.

Whether you're picking up your first bow or chasing your next goal, you're welcome here.

Forge Your Skills