Video Description: a video from David the Arrow Bard (@/blumineck) about shooting arrows without using your arms. David is a white man dressed in a tunic and leather arm guards. He is holding a bow and has a quiver of arrows on his back. He is in his backyard. There is a target some distance behind him, at the far end of the yard.
The video starts with the on-screen text: "Shooting a bow 1-handed?" David is facing the camera and says: "I've got a shoulder injury, and that got me thinking about the trope in fiction where characters get wounded and then they keep fighting using their feet or their teeth to shoot the bow." As he says this, he braces the bow against his foot, and then puts the string in his mouth and pulls back. Several images of this trope being used in media also appear on screen.
David continues: "Now the thing is, disabled archery is actually a huge branch of the sport., with accommodations ranging from wheelchairs to prosthetics to using release aids to shoot with your mouth." As he says this, he points to various places around him, and images of disabled archers using the aforementioned aids appear in those places.
The images disappear as he continues again. "But if you're wounded in battle, you probably don't have time to get some new equipment. So what can you do?"
The video cuts to David shooting at the target. His back is to the camera. He says, "Now of course, that depends on your injury. If it's relatively minor, you may be able to just switch hands." While saying this, he switches which hand is holding the bow and shoots another arrow. Then he says, "And likewise, if it's a leg, then you've got options." He demonstrates standing on one leg while shooting, and shooting while laying on the ground.
The video cuts back to David standing in front of the camera. He says, "But what if one of your arms is out of action?" To demonstrate, he tucks one hand fully behind his back.
While turning back to the target, he says, "Pulling with your teeth looks rad as hell." He shoots a lightweight arrow with a bulbous tip using his teeth to draw back the string. It flies fairly slowly in comparison to the earlier normal arrows.
Then he says, "And if you're smart about it, you might be able to fashion an improvised release aid." The bow is nocked with a normal arrow and a small V-shaped piece is hooked around the string. David bites down on the V-shaped piece, draws back the string with his head, and fires the arrow by letting go of the mouth piece. The arrow flies like normal and hits the target.
The video cuts to David back in front of the camera. He says, "Still wouldn't recommend it though," tapping his teeth to suggest that it hurts his mouth to fire. He continues: "If you do it with something heavy, you're liable to lose your incisors." He lifts a heavy weight bow to his mouth, but he doesn't draw back the string.
Then David says, "But if maintaining the power is important, there is another option." He lifts the bow with his leg, drawing back the string with his arm. He says, "If you absolutely need to make that last shot, bracing with your foot can give you the chance to end the fight." He shoots another arrow bracing with his foot while sitting on the ground, and another while dangling from a tree. He adds, "Even if the bow you are carrying is really heavy." David then shoots an arrow from a heavy weight bow, bracing with his foot while standing on the other leg.
The shot cuts back to David standing in front of the camera, bow in hand. "You'll still lose a chunk of power and aiming is a nightmare, but for a fictional character--it's a cool trope." He fires one more arrow bracing with his foot, and it lands in the center of the target.
He ends the video by saying, "Like and follow for more."
