The amount of badassery in this video eclipses all others. *promote

Self promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Friday, January 23rd, 2015 8:03am PST - promote requested by original submitter eric3579.

I just lost all respect I had for archers... For a while there I almost thought of archery as a serious and professional sport, not just a refuge for ren faire LARPers.

HOLY CRAP!!!! That dude's AMAZING! I love that his exemplary skill seems to stem from NOT learning like others do, but research and self teaching. Way to go, man.
*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by newtboy.

This is fantastic. One of the greatest anythings I've seen. It's already been promoted, but I can still *quality it.

This video has already declared quality - ignoring quality request by messenger.

Picturing him in my mind making and narrating this video himself..., talking about himself in third person.

Stack the *promotes!

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Friday, January 23rd, 2015 8:03am PST - promote requested by messenger.

*promote

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Friday, January 23rd, 2015 8:03am PST - promote requested by Deano.

Okay... but with that 2 pound draw bow, where are any of these skills useful outside of LARPing?

I mean, all he needs is a friend with a tinfoil covered wooden sword, and another with a funny hat, shouting, "Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!" for this to be complete.

I guess you didn't watch until the part where he still makes it through chain mail and the padding beneath repeatedly and at speed, or shot arrows out of the air?

Legolas is more believable.

wow.

*doublepromote

Double-Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Friday, January 23rd, 2015 8:03am PST - doublepromote requested by lucky760.

Lars shot first!
*military, *howto, *timeshift

Adding video to channels (Howto, Military, Timeshift) - requested by Zawash.

This is awesome!
But, somehow the way it has been shot or how moves or the voice over or something, it feels like a parody (I know it's not, but the whole time I could not suprress the feeling that I was watching a parody).

LOL I was thinking the exact same thing.

This is almost too unbelievable. But if it somehow is legit, then this dude has seriously gotta don a Hawkeye or Green Arrow costume and take up the vigilante gig.

It -is- too unbelievable, in my view. Which is more reasonable, that some kid has managed to ignore everything anyone knows about archery (after thousands of years) and create an entire new style that, among other superhuman capabilities, makes things like armor useless, or that he's learned some video trickery.

My money's on the latter.

*doublepromote

Double-Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Friday, January 23rd, 2015 8:03am PST - doublepromote requested by Mordhaus.

Um...did you listen to the narration? He did not ignore everything anyone knows about archery, he actually researched how those who used it for fighting did it, and it turned out to be completely different from how compound bow using, stationary, no time limit target shooters shoot. This is not a 'new' style, it's super old school.
It's possible it's faked, yes, but everything he said made sense to me, and it sure LOOKED like he was shooting for real, just differently from how we've seen it done before.

I'm pretty sure chain mail was not designed to stop arrows(anything pointy in general). Also how is this "ignore everything anyone knows about archery"? Seems to me he is actually taking into account the history of archery and mimicking long lost military/fighting/hunting styles (way different then modern target shooting).

-edit-
I see newtboy just made my point

I listened to it months ago when I first saw this video. And all I could ever see was the Star Wars kid, with actual special effects instead of just an imagination. I simply find it totally unbelievable that military techniques from only a few hundred years ago were "lost", and he "rediscovered" them. Especially when compared to the likelihood of ever-cheaper and easier special effects.

Chain mail was never just metal rings...it was always backed by hard leather at the least. I do not find it believable that a 10# bow could penetrate -real- chain mail. When he gets some unbiased, reputable third party to verify his claims I'll reconsider...until then, I can't see this as anything more than some kid's fantasy.

Is it a hoax? I have been rooting around trying to see.

None of the stuff I found on-line has Lars in the same room as the interviewer. He doesn't do speed tournaments because he is so much faster than anyone.

He also has been at this since at least 2012, based on dates of things posted ABOUT him.

And the most damning -- Guinness Book of World Records says Luis Martin is fastest. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-time-to-shoot-10-arrows

If this guy is really this good, why hasn't he contacted Guinness?

I think hoax.

You are certainly welcome to your opinion, I just disagree.
I find it easy to believe that closely held military techniques could have been lost once the tool (bow) was no longer useful in the military. That is certainly the case for sword fighting/making.
As he mentioned, the method used today is better for stationary target shooting, the kind of shooting done today. Old school methods are so lost that most people believe in the back mounted quiver, which he showed clearly doesn't work in practice. Aiming with one eye also doesn't work on moving targets at different ranges, you need both eyes to determine distance properly.
As for armor, long bows penetrate plate armor, with mail beneath, and leather beneath that, at serious distance. It seems like a non-broad head arrow should penetrate chain mail and leather padding relatively easily, it would only need to split 1 or 2 rings to get through as I see it, which isn't that much. Also, I note at least one of his bows is not totally old school, but seems to be an odd compound style, probably giving him more power than it seems.
Shooting the arrow out of the air, I won't call fake, but probably took dozens of tries to get, even though the arrows were lobbed at him. Splitting one was likely unintentional, but still cool!

^I noticed in this other video (below) of a different shooter using one of Lars' 'tricks', similar speed and accuracy is achieved by using the method of holding the arrows in the bow hand, and could be sped up by more than double the shooting speed if the method of notching the arrow on the outside were used. This other video shows how useful speed is in 'battle', and shows just how much only one of Lars' tricks speeds up the shooting speed without diminishing accuracy.
I admit, it is odd that Lars is not recognized as the fastest arrow shooter by Guinness, but not definitive. Some people just don't care about recognition or Guinness. I'm now on the fence, but still leaning towards it being 'real'.

*related=http://videosift.com/video/Rapid-Fire-Bow-Shooting-From-Horseback-Mongol-Hun-Style

Rapid Fire Bow Shooting From Horseback-Mongol/Hun Style has been added as a related post - related requested by newtboy.

He cares enough about recognition to make/participate in these videos and post them...that's -got- to be more of a pain than dealing with Guinness would be. Especially when he's been doing these for several years now, and -claims- to be the world record holder.

By that standard, I could claim to hold any world record I wish, too.

The technique to making true Damascus steel was lost in the mid 1800s. The technique and composition to Greek Fire was lost in the 13th century or 19th, depending on whose stories you want to believe.

We were well on our way to losing the schematics and information on our original Apollo and Gemini space programs until they started trying to sort and salvage that data a few years ago. The problem is that when we replace something old with a better technology or limit the knowledge of a technique to a few people, we rapidly lose the methodology of 'how' to do the technique.

In the case of proper war and hunting archery, when guns became more common and easier to use, people gravitated to them because they were MUCH easier to learn than archery. Archery required specific training for war and for survival it was from the time you could hold a bow. Anyone could learn to use a gun quickly, so people just....forgot how to properly use bows. Probably as soon as the remaining archers died out.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I've never tried to get a Guinness judge to verify anything, it might be incredibly difficult or expensive these days, for instance they might require him to fly to their headquarters, or pay the judges travel expenses. I'm just playing devils advocate though, he should have found a way to make it happen by now. He shouldn't make the claim without the accepted verification/certification.

http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2tj3eo/ama_request_lars_andersen_master_archer/

This video definitely needs more Lars.

I think you're underestimating the draw on some of those bows as well. They look like kids toys, but classic short bows (rather than modern compound pulley bows), particularly horn ones, can range from 45 to over 100 pounds draw. You don't need a deep draw to propel an arrow at killing speeds, particularly at targets under 20 feet. Even in chainmail.

This is obviously a very great skill and at the same time it has its faults. It's also obvious to anyone with common sense that he IS a "trick" shooter. I mean almost every demonstration in the video IS a "trick" shot of some kind. Would any of these things come in handy in war... Certainly, many of those "tricks" would put him at an extreme advantage--especially if he could do this extremely well on horseback (and you must be a GOOD horseback rider, motorcycles don't count--a horse is a whole different story; especially if you plan to do some of the *feats* I'll mention below, while in combat). He would be even better if he had mastery over the shorter bow(s) he uses in this and also a longbow for long targets and heavily armored enemies.

As for him penetrating chainmail, that is a good question and I do believe he could quite possibly end up penetrating the chainmail in some situations while (possibly still getting through the chainmail) being stopped in others (he shows being able to penetrate mail with an under armor of some type, but we don't get a lot of details about that situation to be honest). It depends on how his bow is made, the string it has, the type of arrow he is using (or the tip, to be honest), and his draw strength (along with this is range). On the chainmail side it depends on what type of chainmail the enemy is using and then whether they have an under armor of some kind--and again, range.

The problem in this video--except for a few shots--is that he does shoot very close in many of the cases; within 30-20 feet. In a close combat experience--which wasn't necessarily unusual for archers in the past (especially as I mentioned mounted ones--of course you'd be nuts to not be mounted at these ranges--or at the least be a swordsman as well...which was even more rare) he would terrorize opponents... Unless they are wearing plate or other heavy types of armors, then he is in a bit of trouble. But if he really does have great accuracy, then even many of these armors types wouldn't necessarily help you--and could eventually lead to your own death.

I say we give this some time and see if Lars gives us more answers (like "records", competition, types of bows and arrows, chainmail used, etc...).

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Sift of the week!

Just trying to figure out how fast an Arrow looses kinetic energy, this is a neat site.

http://www.huntersfriend.com/carbon_arrows/hunting_arrows_selection_guide_chapter_5.htm

67 seconds seems a pretty long time for just ten arrows, which suggests they have some requirements that would probably disqualify this guy here. Distance, accuracy, draw force of the bow, something?

And that in itself is why a lot of people DO NOT do Guiness (or think they are the "all-knowing God" of records). Because in a lot of situations you have Guiness (and THEIR sponsors) make up arbitrary rules to support their "name to fame"; sometimes to draw an audience no less. Then they let their guy have at it, and then tell everyone to come challenge this "feat". Meanwhile, everyone else is doing all sorts of different things.

So not being with Guiness doesn't mean it is a hoax, but it may mean as @direpickle said, they have very specific "rules" if you want to break a record...

Haha, ya'll fell for it!

I thought many of you, who left comments, would be interested in the article Trance found. I know i was.

And here it is being discussed http://www.reddit.com/r/Archery/comments/2trrc2/a_rebuttal_to_the_lars_andersen_video/

@all those who commented

Until there is a new version of the video where Jimmy Kimmel gets an apple shot of his head in the end, I am going to stick with Lars.

I mean, if it's not true, then I (and 111 other sifters) upvoted something fraudulent, that is simply inconceivable to me.

In any event, the video is apparently (looking at the on-line reactions) a gold mine for tidbits to piss off real archers with should I ever meet one.

Falsehoods masquerading as revelations will do that. But if you get your jollies by trolling people and being a general douche, who am I to stop you.

@eric3579 I never had an issue with all the details of what he is doing -- couldn't care less about bow strength and armor. I was more curious if he is ACTUALLY DOING IT, or if this was some sort of CGI.

I did find this one article about him, posted Jan 2015, with these two quotes that spoke to my issues:

"This guy is the Clint Eastwood of archery," says Tim Wells, professional bow hunter and host of the TV show, Relentless Pursuit. "Or if I was talking to someone who had never shot a bow and arrow, I'd say he is the 'Bruce Lee playing ping pong of archery.' We have all played ping-pong and none of us can play with nun chucks — that's what this guy's skillset with a bow is comparable to. He's a badass."

Experts agree that the skills demonstrated in the video are unbelievable, but also completely real. "His skillset is tremendous," says Byron Ferguson, owner of the Bare Bow Archery School and star archer on the History Channel's show, Extreme Marksmen. "These shots are legitimate, despite some video editing. His speed is almost unbelievable."

Read more: http://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/outdoor/the-story-behind-lars-andersens-new-level-of-archery-video-20150126#ixzz3Q3tKMqJK
Follow us: @mensjournal on Twitter | MensJournal on Facebook

I can't tell if they have met this guy or not, or if they, too, are just looking at the videos. That other "world record"? All I can find is more videos and nothing from Guinness or anyone else.

So at present, I am going to stay neutral as to whether this guy is for reals or not.

Interesting that he chose that analogy.

If someone said to me he's the 'Bruce Lee playing ping pong of archery', I would take it to mean it's all faked. (Bruce Lee never played ping pong with nunchaku, it's a well known fake).

I asked a friend of mine about it. He has represented his country in archery, so I trust his opinion on it.

Paraphrased:

Yeah, it's real.
No, it's not that impressive.

He didn't "rediscover" any of the techniques he claimed to. Most of them have been known for ages, and the change for modern archery was intentional and well known. the whole "studying ancient manuscripts" etc etc is bollocks

the catching arrows thing: difficult but not impossible. you use a very light bow, and it's actually not that hard

his accuracy is mildly impressive. not what I'd call amazing at the ranges he shows

he is fast, i'll give him that

Thanks for that link. Most people are just whinging about how he presents himself. I couldn't care less about that. He's doing something new, and way better than anyone else has done before.

@ChaosEngine.

THANK YOU to you and your friend for clearing that up for me.

Although that nunchuck analogy does give one pause, doesn't it? Makes you wonder if there is collective leg pulling going on.

I'm going with your friend who knows, though. He's doing it as presented.

Fast. Very fast indeed.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/anna-maltese/yes-ive-seen-the-video-thank-you-for-posting-it-/10152769003622585?pnref=story

The one part that I did have probably the most griped about (OK they were two, and @Trancecoach's article mentions it too). First, the catching of the arrows in mid-air. I really believe that those shots were actually (delivered/shot) towards Lars at a low speed; sure he caught them and did his thing, but had it been WAR I highly doubt he'd be pulling this stunt off every single second (plus, eventually he would hurt his hands, which is the utmost no-no for an archer). Lastly, the splitting of the arrow in mid-air. Again, this had to be semi-staged (for a huge laundry list of reasons). That is why I mentioned at the start of my comment that is was utterly obvious that this guy is a trick shooter and that also means he uses/engineers/ and applies all of the "secrets" of his trade to make his audience go: "OOoooOhhh, AaaAAaawwwWw!)...

I will also agree, as I said, until Lars comes out and talks about this or goes to competition, I have to sit partially on the fence on this. It looks neat, but there is so much editing and camera angle shenanigans, plus whatever else they decided to throw in (like pre-scoring arrows that get "split" in mid-air). We have no real idea what the range, power of his shots are--and as also noted we also don't know how much he had to try to get this all correct, which means we have to also wonder what his actual accuracy is too.

It could be real, but I'm going for the 50% real, 50% marketing setup. Still neat, especially if he can ever do it live.

A Response to Lars Andersen: a New Level of Archery

A Response to Lars Andersen: a New Level of Archery has been added as a related post - related requested by RFlagg on that post.

Ah! Snopes took this on!

http://www.snopes.com/info/news/larsandersen.asp

Tricks employed but no digital manipulation of the footage! My answer obtained.

*related=http://videosift.com/video/Lars-Andersen-shoots-arrows-the-fastest

Lars Andersen shoots arrows the fastest has been added as a related post - related requested by kulpims.

Lars Andersen, world's fastest archer, responds to critics has been added as a related post - related requested by kulpims on that post.