Highlights from the International Combat Archery Tournament 2023 at Archers Arena Toronto!
Hey all you archery aficionados from coast to coast! 🏹 If you missed out on the action last weekend, let us fill you in! On August 26, 2023, Archers Arena hosted its International Combat Archery Tournament, and oh boy, did it set the city on fire!
A Smackdown Like No Other🏹
Teams from Boston, Montreal, Ottawa, and, of course, our very own Toronto, took to the battlefield in a show of archery mastery that had us all at the edge of our seats! And the winners? Drum roll, please! 🥁
🥇 1st Place: "Casual Tease" from Ottawa
🥈2nd Place: “Tri-City Originals” from Montreal
🥉 3rd Place: "Untouchabows" from Toronto
Big props to the champs and all the teams who battled it out for glory! 🎯
Kudos to Our Coaches and Game Masters!👏
Could this event have been so smooth without our amazing coaches? We think not! Hats off to our refs Manny, Arian, Aravindan, Kelvin, and let's not forget our hype-man and games master Arshia. These guys were the oil in the machine, keeping everything flowing seamlessly. 🔥 👌🏻
One Big Archery Family ❤
What warmed our hearts the most was the archery community coming together. We had participants from all across Canada and the US, united by the love of hitting bullseyes and dodging arrows. Shoutout to all the teams for showing up and making it a memorable day! 🎉
The Excitement Continues...
Can't get enough? Neither can we! The excitement's only going to ramp up, folks. Stay tuned for the next epic showdown—we promise it's going to be even bigger, bolder, and more arrow-tastic! 🏆
So, Toronto and all you die-hard combat archers, are you ready for the next challenge? Keep those bows at the ready and quivers full; we're just getting started!
Till then, keep practicing those shots and may your arrows always find their mark! 🏹
Join the Fun at Archers Arena: Community Nights
Hey Toronto, guess what? It's time for our epic Archers Arena Community Night! Twice a month, we rally up the troops for some action-packed Combat Archery that's going to send your adrenaline levels soaring. Mark your calendars, because every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, it's time to channel your inner Katniss or Hawkeye and hit the arena for some arrow-flying fun!
We're rolling out the red carpet for both seasoned archers and curious newcomers alike, so whether you've got the precision of Legolas or you're picking up a bow for the first time, there's a place for you here. And the best part? You get two thrilling hours of Combat Archery for the price of one - just $39.82 per person. Double the action, double the fun, for the price of one!
The 1st Tuesday of the month is our regular session. This is where the pros come to play, and when we say play, we mean shoot hard, fast, and no mercy! But don't worry, if you're up for a challenge, we'd love to have you join us. Just remember - the competition is fierce!
On the 3rd Tuesday, we slow things down a notch. This is Beginner Night, perfect for those who are new to Combat Archery. Our experienced regulars are welcome, but only if they bring a newcomer along. It's a great way to get a taste of the action, learn the ropes, and have a blast. And who knows, you might just discover a new passion!
Here's how it goes down: If you're a first-timer, make sure you arrive before 7pm for a quick training session at 6:45pm. From 7pm - 9pm, it's all-out war in the arena with the Combat Games!
Check out these pics from our last Community Night. Looking good😎
But Community Night is not just about the games. It's about meeting our amazing community of regulars and coaches, and forming bonds that extend beyond the battlefield. We can't wait to welcome you into our family, Toronto. Get ready to let those arrows fly!
Click here to join us!
Want to know more? Email us at info@archersarena.com or give us a call at (647)-992-7362. For more info, check out our website https://archersarena.com
What’s Community Night?
Are you looking to try archery, but can't do it during practice hours? Well now there's an opportunity for everyone who wants in on some action!
Join us this month at our Monthly Social event - Community Night. We'll provide all equipment, just show up with your friends ready-to go!
Every first Friday of the month, we gather together at the Arena to shoot arrows and meet new friends. It doesn’t matter if you’ve picked up a bow before, or even played here before - it’s great for beginners to try out!
This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to try out their skills with archery or just want an excuse hangout on Fridays since classes are always cancelled anyways (ya know those lockdown days?)
The game is an excellent way for people who are interested in fitness to get their fix. It’s fun, it’s easy to pick up, and exercising without realising it by running, dodging, and shooting like Robin Hood.
There are digital targets to shoot at in the range as well! You and up to 6 of your friends can play together - with everyone for themselves by seeing how accurate you are, playing speed rounds (or both!)
Personal scores and stats can be generated and if you compare yourself across the different session, you’ll be able to measure your progress and improvement! Plus if one person has been playing longer than another maybe he knows some secrets that might give him an edge?
It’s a great way to improve before going up against our regulars, but what’s the fun in that? Community Night lets you dive straight into the deep end and lets you feel like a true archer while still having some laughs!
Come join the regulars and play with our coaches at 7pm! Hopefully we can get up and running again with the next session starting in February the 4th, if the lockdown ends…
Toronto Has Gone Back To A Modified Stage 2 And We Are Limiting Our Services
Hello amazing customers and community of Archers Arena. We regret to inform you that we’ll be limiting our services until at least mid November. We were having fun starting up again with you all, but COVID cases are on the rise and new limitations have been put on indoor groups and recreational sports. Toronto, Ottawa, and Peel Region are going back to a modified stage 2. For the time being, we are limiting our services to only training sessions. That means either Target Archery, shooting on our range, or Archery Lessons. We based the decision to just stick to training on the guidelines below.
This way we can meet the requirements and keep everyone super safe in our 10,000 square foot facility. We hope you are all staying happy and healthy these uncertain times. Our hearts go out to all those affected by COVID as well as those affected by the lockdowns. Hang in there, stay strong, and know that we’ll get past this together. As one of the last standing Combat Archery facilities in Toronto we’ve gone through pretty much everything by now. We know the road before us won’t be easy and may be more of a mountain, but we will figure out how to adapt and climb it, we always have.
We’re passionate about all of our activities and giving people of all ages an extremely fun workout, and a place to play. Really though, we’re passionate about you guys. Whether it’s those who have just come once for a birthday, bachelor party, bar mitzvah, or those who are a part of our amazing and ever expanding Combat Archery Community. We’ve celebrated and played so much with you all, and we look forward to doing it again. Thanks for the good times, and trusting us with your days and nights of fun.
We wish you all the absolute best. Take care of each other, stay kind, stay safe, and we’ll hopefully see you all very soon!
Much love!
-Team Archers Arena
To stay in the loop with all our latest updates, and see some of the fun content we have planned for this quiet month, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, or Tik Tok. We’ve got a bit of time on our hands and we’re going to be spending some of it entertaining and educating about all things Combat Archery and beyond.
First Eastern Canadian Tournament. The Results are IN!
For those of you that might have missed all our original posts on the subject, on the 5th of February 2017, Archers Arena has hosted the first eastern Canadian combat archery tag tournament! From far in wide, Toronto has received a team from Ottawa, one from Windsor, two from Montreal, and we had five teams representing us. With intense gameplays fought, ridiculous turnabouts, quick moves and quick thinking, there is only one word we can use to describe this event: epic.
On the eve of the battle, both Ottawa and Montreal teams came to practice at the Arena, leading to the first contact between the various people who were going to play each other the next day. The comradery was frank and forthcoming, although you could tell that no one would go easy on the others the following day. It was great to see so many passionate people that just love the game of archery dodgeball, and who work at bettering themselves all the time.
When the morning came, coffee and breakfast were awaiting all the players, but the hype was already alive and going. The atmosphere was unreal, the anticipation crackled in the air as all awaited to take each other on. The game was on. Bows at the ready, getting the stretches in, focus was all on strategy and gameplay. Friendly banter in the air, with the underlying current of rivalry made it even more intense, yet still fun.
Throughout the morning, the plays were non-stop. Teams were learning how to face each other and strategies had to be changed and adapted to who was playing who. Evaluating the other players and understand how they play combat archery tag, and how to counter them was not an easy task, but it had to be done in order to win the tournament! After the first few rounds that comprised Round Robin style of play, Toronto came out on top with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, while Montreal took 4th and 5th.
However, in a complete change of pace during the finals, Montreal worked together for an epic comeback to win the tournament, and won against the newly reformed team Kyron’s Angels, known previously as Wetshots, which did end up winning our 7th local tournament. As prizes, Montreal Originals ended up going home with six of our beautiful, hand-painted 26 pound bows.
All there is left to say is that it was truly our pleasure to host such great teams from all over. All we can hope for is to have an even broader turnout from more Canadian cities in the next major tournament, which will be hosted sometime during the summer. We will be working out, and standardizing, Canadian rules so we can all train and play in the same frame of mind. Looking forward to the next epic combat archery tag Canadian tournament!
Larping at Archers Arena – Champions Arena
Larping, as some of you may already know, stands for live action role-playing. You may wonder, what does that have to do with Archers Arena? Well, here we are introducing a whole new concept of roleplaying named the Champions Arena; which does not focus on the storyline, but on the peoples own abilities. This is where you can come test out how well you can actually do with our legitimate, high quality larping weapons, by trying out different classes that have different perks during play. Champions Arena allows for full-out, yet completely safe, medieval combat the likes of which has never been seen in an archery facility.
The concept of Champions Arena was created by larpers, for larpers, old and new, with a twist. Here, you get your pick from 5 different classes that have all been calibrated to have at least one other class that can compensate against the given advantage each individual class brings to your team as a whole. However, it will ultimately rest on teamwork, cooperation and skill to determine the winner. That being said, some players may show prowess as one class, and be terrible at another, so mixing things up is always an interesting option.
Our five current classes offer a variety of opportunities to act out varied yet interesting characters that all have a lot to offer both strategically and physically, so you can play to your strong suit, or choose you want to get good at something new. Wither you wish to claim as your own the nobility of the knight with sword and shield, or go crazy as the berserker with two swords, or perhaps even defend your teams’ honor as the katana-wielding samurai, each class has perks that allow for either strong offensive or solid defensive. If you prefer not to be part of the front line and play the game from a distance, then you could give the sneaky rogue with throwing axes a go, or even shoot from afar with precision as the archer.
With such distinct classes, we had to come up with some pretty awesome games to play which all give a different, yet always satisfying, goal to accomplish. From hack and slash, to Tower Defense, different game types allow for different strategies, and teamwork is a must if you want to come out victorious! Jedi Master also guarantees a unique, killer workout, just as fun as defeating hordes of foes with a lightsaber sounds like it would be.
In conclusion, Champions Arena is a new, fun, and unique way to live intense combat in an environment that can only be experienced at Archers Arena. As different an experience as it is from combat archery tag, it is its own challenge and demands completely different sets of skills to master. If you’re looking for an even better workout than archery dodgeball, or even just an excuse to wack your buddies, you should really give these games a try.
Archers Arena for Kids Birthdays: Safe and Fun for Everyone
Being a kid, everybody always went off and played their own little stories where they were always the hero, regardless of if it was a romantic princess story, fighting off robots, riding dinosaurs, or even surviving in the wilderness with animal companions. At some point in time, every child has heard the tales of archery icons such as Robin Hood, Legolas, or even Katniss Everdeen. Archery has effectively grown into an activity numerous kids crave to try their hand at. What better way to give them an awesome birthday present than by allowing them to let loose their inner archer? Here at Archers Arena, we are always more than happy to oblige, and here are a few of the reasons why you should bring your child here to come try out his skills at archery dodgeball.
Safety First
We are completely aware of the fact that bows and arrows are still, in fact, weapons. In regards to that, we ensure that our training along with the equipment we provide allow for safety for and from players. Our staff is knowledgeable and patient, and have quite the knack to deal with hordes of kids who cannot wait to start shooting arrows. Although we do have a set program on how to teach newcomers, we always adapt to every situation, and kids are no exception. We know the attention span is small, so we focus on the important parts of the teachings and guarantee that they can effectively shoot arrows at each other, all the while being safe about it. We also have smaller bows to accommodate our small friends.
Private Group/Fun for Everyone
Because we want to make sure that everyone is getting the most out of their session as possible, we tend to ensure that kid bookings are private, even if it isn’t necessarily asked for. Let’s be honest here, we don’t want adults to overpower the children, and on the other hand, it’s simply not as fun playing with kids that can barely shoot straight. That being said, if there is a situation where we have no other choice but to combine bookings, we limit the draw strength of bows for the adults that will play along with the kids, therefore ensuring that no one gets hurt. This also applies to adults who are part of the booking who want to play with their kids.
Party Room
Another strong reason why you should bring your kids’ group of friends here is because we do have a party room where all the festivities can take place after the combat archery tag session. Depending on the booking you make, there will be warm pizza delivered just as the kids are done playing, and we have a large fridge that can accommodate a birthday cake. There is also the option of bringing in your own food, and arrive early to decorate the room as you like; it’s yours for a whole 45 minutes after your hour and a half session, to relax in and enjoy as you please.
In the end, wither you are still a kid at heart or not, there is always a nice sentiment of joy that comes along when you see a child truly having fun. The innocence, the wonder, and the brightness in their faces when they are handed bows and arrows always adds a little something extra to the experience. Furthermore, I can attest that every single session I’ve held with a group of kids, wither it was for a birthday party or just for fun, everyone always left with a huge smile on their face, and that includes the parents that were there to accompany and supervise, regardless of if they played combat archery tag with them or not.
Combat Archery: 4 Reasons You Should Make Archers Arena Your New Gym Membership Option
If you’re like me, then you need motivation to work out. I find that going to a gym doesn’t cut it simply because it’s no fun. Running on a treadmill blankly staring at a TV (if you’re lucky), pedaling your life away without moving an inch, lifting weights over and over, I get bored rather quickly of the mind-numbing, same old, same old routine a gym offers. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to play sports, where you have a clear and fun motivation to get active. Here is why getting a membership at Archers Arena for combat archery tag will save you the boredom of an average workout session.
Cardio
If you’re playing the game properly, you will be constantly on the move. The more you’re moving, the harder it is to get a good shot at you. There’s also an initial sprint for the arrows in the safe zone at the beginning of every round. If you get to play full court, which means both of our courts combined, then you have two courts you need to cover and access at different points in the game to either press on the offensive, or support the defensive. It does require fast reflexes and quick moves because enemies can (and will) shoot at you cross-court. Dodging is a must if you want to survive long.
Upper Body
As mentioned previously, if you’ve never used a bow before, you will be surprised at all the muscles involved in the form. To have all of your power in a shot, you need to fully draw your bow. The only way you can properly do that is actually thanks mostly to your back, but also your shoulders, arms, and chest. We have bows that are 22, 26, and 29 pounds. Most competitive/athletic players end up using the 29 pound bows, which means every time they shot someone, they’re doing an upper body rep of 29 pounds. It might not seem like a lot, but in a session of an hour, you will easily have fired off close to 100 arrows. That’s close to 100 reps of 29 pounds in an hour.
Lower Body
As much as shooting is fun, you do need to pick up the arrows that you want to shoot. This implies that every time you reach for an arrow, you will either be lunging or squatting to reach. So if you take our earlier 100arrows per hour shooting statistic, it would mean you are performing around 100 squat and/or lunge throughout your hour session. In addition, when you are dodging, you are simply dropping out of the way, and demanding your muscles move quickly, so there’s constant use there too. And then there is hiding behind bunkers. None of them are tall enough for people to comfortably stand behind them to be hidden, which again would involve you to get down however you choose. However, when you go down, you must come up and muscles do come into play. It might not seem like much, but you do feel the burn the day after.
Benefits
Other than the physical benefits of playing combat archery tag, there are also a lot more reasons to choose to get the membership here at Archers Arena. There are constantly more players getting high on the game, which ensures that the quality of gameplay on Coach Nights always exceeds expectations. We encourage playful competitiveness by still playing our hardest, but also taking it easy when the time or the situation calls for it. You will also get to meet and get close to our already existing and expanding pool of members and coaches. Best way to learn and get better is to interact with stronger players on and off the court. We’ve created an atmosphere of kinship here where everyone is friendly and warm toward one another. On a more technical note, you also get the chance to drop in once a day on existing sessions at no extra cost.
When it comes to combat archery tag, I find it to be a very effective workout because not only is it fast-paced stop and go, but you get to work some muscles you didn’t even know you had, especially if you’ve never handled a bow with arrows before. It helps build a strong core as well as develop quick reflexes, flexibility, and agility. Archers Arena also provides a great atmosphere to play and grow in. Just be prepared to work up a sweat when you come and try it out.
Hear ye! Hear ye! 'Tis Tournament time! Again.
Due to the great success that was the last combat archery tag tournament at Archers Arena, we are now officially introducing our next event! This one is happening on the 22nd of January, and we are expecting a fierce competition once again. Players coming in have stepped up their game, and it gives the event an intense, competitive level of gameplay. Definitely not for the faint of heart!
Our latest tournament has been held on the 27th of November, in which we had a full roster of 9 teams competing. All of the teams were of high caliber and the competition itself was incredibly close. Every win had a huge impact on the score board, and yet, the spirit of comradery was incredible to witness. As intense as games could unfold to be, every team was a good sport, win or lose.
In our previous tournament, Wetshots had claimed the title of champions, but it was expected that Bloodbath and Beyond, our dethroned champions, were going to come back, bows blazing. Indeed, in a breathtaking finale, both teams ended up with a one point differential, which effectively returned the crown to the hands of its original owners: BB&B.
In a spectacular array of arrows fired, dodges made, headshots, bow shots, rolling catches, and overall archery excellence as well as incredible agility, speed, and skill, this tournament brought a whole new dimension to the sport of combat archery tag.
If you are new(ish) to the sport and still want to get a feel of what a more competitive gameplay entails, but with lesser stakes, we do have our Coach nights every Tuesday where you can come play for 20$ from 7 until close alongside both coaches and members. This is the perfect time to train and improve your archery skills, where we can show you the ropes of real combat archery tag, and develop tactics for you to get better. Come become a pro at quick-drawing and catching arrows while creating bonds with people who are just as passionate about the sport!
As is tradition, Archers Arena top coaches always face the champions at the end of the tournament. Needless to say, we are still undefeated after 8 tries! Here’s to us hoping to get an actual challenge next time around. So tell your friends, and come show us what you’re made of!
Top 6 Reasons Archers Arena is a Perfect Corporate (and Other) Holiday Event
With the holidays showing up around the corner, businesses generally have an outing with their staff to consolidate workplace relationships. There are always multiple options as to where to go, and what offers the best kind of experience. Here is a comprehensive list of reasons why you should consider Archers Arena as a top contender in your choices.
1. Great Team Building
Combat archery is a great option for team building simply because you have to work as a team to win a game. Very straightforward, but some of our game modes demand a high level of cooperation that necessitates communication and teamwork. On the flip side, it also allows coworkers to hash out their inside grudges, or to get even with someone by shooting them while still allowing them to walk away uninjured. It really becomes a win-win scenario!
2. Good Exercise
Believe it or not, combat archery remains a very good workout for those who actually give it a try. There’s something about shedding sweat together that just consolidates relationships between people. Perhaps it’s the rush of adrenaline and dopamine which always accompanies a session, or the constant smiles that show up on every face after a great play, but something tangible is created when people play, and it tends to stick around.
3. Affordable and Accommodating
We offer package deals to make sure you can get the best of your experience here with us, which can include the use of our private party room after your session to relax, unwind and restore yourselves. We also have an ongoing deal with Dominoes pizza, which can be delivered warm and delicious right at the end of your time in the arena to satisfy any craving intensive gameplay can create.
4. Awesome Staff
Our staff have always been the center-point of reasons why customers keep coming back to us. We are professional, friendly, and (most importantly) fun. We know how to customize the experience to the different groups’ wants and needs, all to make sure that everyone walks away feeling like they have been part of something special. We love what we do, and we genuinely enjoy sharing our passion for the sport.
5. Fun for Everyone
From athletes to not-so-athletic people, we have received all kinds of personalities here, and have found that the most important factors is to be willing to give it what you have, whatever that might be. Everybody goes through the same training; sure some will get it quickly, others get to have a more personalized training to make sure that everybody is on the same level when they walk onto the courts, and those accommodate different types of players as well, from more aggressive to more casual, there is a place for everyone here.
6. New Sport to Discover
Combat archery is a relatively new sport on the Toronto market, our location having just celebrated its first birthday during the summer. A lot of people have not yet had the chance to experience the awesomeness that is shooting each other with non-lethal arrows. It is indeed a hybrid mix of different sports, including but not limited to paintball and dodgeball. Most people who enjoy intense sports end up loving combat archery and keep coming back for more.
For these reasons and many more, Archers Arena is the place to come to for a successful corporate outing. However, as intense as we can be, safety always comes first. We always provide clean and effective equipment to ensure safety and comfort, and teach you to be the best archer you can be for a first try in an atmosphere that will make you want to come back for more.
Why Archers Arena?
Why Choose Archers Arena?
With more and more archery facilities opening up their doors in the GTA, people will start to wonder where they will have the best experience. Although we do believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, here are a list of reasons why we think Archers Arena should be at the top of your list.
Coaches
There is no better way to make sure that you will be getting an awesome archery experience than by having coaches there that not only love what they do, but also enjoy teaching and sharing their knowledge of the art that is the efficient handling of a bow and arrow. From private lessons to team learning, our coaches are more than experienced enough to handle large groups and make sure each individual is capable of hitting targets by the end of the session. We pride ourselves in our know-how, and nothing makes us happier than knowing that we have successfully taught people, and helped them become better archers along the way.
Facility
From our awesome, chill-out zone lobby to our comfy party room, we at Archers Arena know how to greet guests and keep them entertained while they’re waiting for the late comers of their group. Our range offers a variety of targets, from hanging ducks, to our human cut-out form (affectionately named Will). We also have two courts which offer two completely different challenges in their arrangements, along with sniper towers in-between and an array of bunkers varying in shapes and sizes.
Champions Arena
Our new baby, Champions Arena allows for full-out, yet completely safe, medieval combat the likes of which has never been seen in an archery facility. You get to choose from 6 completely different classes to fight each other, each with exclusive perks that can give your team an edge. From hack and slash to Tower Defense, different game types allow for different strategies, and teamwork is a must if you want to come out victorious! Jedi Master also guarantees a unique, killer workout, just as fun as defeating hordes of foes with a lightsaber sounds like it would be.
Tournaments
For our more competitive athletes, we hold regular tournaments where the best come toe-to-toe and compete for the chance to face our undefeated coach team! Every tournament has seen its fair share of excitement, with underdogs overcoming previous champs, and the emergence of new talent to come learn from the established forerunners. A great opportunity to come witness the sport of combat archery at a higher level, and learn from some of the best.
What really sets us apart if the feeling of belonging that we bestow over all that wish for it. We are a welcoming, friendly facility who tends to attract warm, cheerful individuals, and our fast-growing group of regulars (or members) easily link up and build friendships from a common interest. We are always growing, and love to have people come in who can help keep us growing and better ourselves, because at the end of the day, we really are here for the love of the sport, and that is all we want to share with everyone that comes through our doors.
