Unleash Your Inner Archer: Archery Training at its Best at Archers Arena, Toronto
Hey Toronto, are you ready to master the art of the bow? Here at Archers Arena, we're transforming rookies into archery aces with our hands-on, fully immersive archery lessons! So buckle up, aim straight, and let's dive right into the action!
We've got two kick-ass archery training packages that are just waiting for you to try out. So, let's break them down for you, shall we?
This one's for all you newbie archers out there. For just $66.38 per person, we offer you an hour of jam-packed, high-energy training that includes everything you need to get started. And we do mean everything - equipment, instructor, the works. Here's the rundown:
60 minutes of comprehensive training and practice at our top-tier shooting range with an expert instructor
Fire off 150-200 arrows within the hour, really get that feel for the bow.
Master the art of Barebow Instinctive Archery, and become one with your bow
Choose from different poundage bows available - nothing going over 45lbs bow poundage
Get your adrenaline pumping with some Speed Shooting
Play our highly entertaining Digital Target Games - and trust us, you'll want to play again.
2. Metal Tip (Dual) Archery Training:
Think you're ready to step it up a notch? Let's kick it into high gear with our 1.5-hour Metal Tip (Dual) Archery Training! For $137.17 per person, we'll take you through the archery adventure of a lifetime. Here's what you'll get:
1st half: Foam-Tipped Arrows
45 minutes of in-depth training and practice at the shooting range with an expert instructor
Release 150-200 Arrows in the first half
Perfect your Barebow Instinctive Archery skills
2nd half: Metal-Tip Arrows
Experiment with different poundage bows available
Challenge yourself with Recurve bows ranging from 15 lbs to 32 lbs
Enjoy our super fun target archery games involving balloons and target sheets - it's time to let loose!
And for those of you archers who are thirsty for more, we've got an 8 week-long Metal-Tipped Advanced Course or you can book an Open-Range session without an instructor to practice on your own. Practice makes perfect, and we're giving you the perfect space to keep those skills sharp. We got everything you need to hone your archery skills!
So, what are you waiting for, Toronto? The arrows are ready, the range is set, and we're waiting for you. Come unleash your inner archer at Archers Arena. It's time to hit the bullseye!
Have some questions for us? Shoot us an email at info@archersarena.com or give us a call at (647)-992-7362. For more info, check out our website https://archersarena.com
Guest appearance at Anime North 2017!
Anime North (May 26th to 28th) is right around the corner, and we are pleased to say that we have once again been invited to have our own space since we were such a huge success last year. Ours was indeed one of the biggest attractions at the event, and we intend to keep that status this year as well. Combat archery tag has been on a steady rise since it came to be a few years ago, and we are proud to be the top facility of the regions in and out of Toronto.
Some of you may be wondering: what on Earth is Anime North? Well, to give you a small idea, Anime North is in fact a convention that celebrates Japanese culture in close to every way, shape and form. Primarily, anime, manga, music, and games are most heavily featured, along with numerous guest appearances from people who are somewhat influential in that scene.
One of the best features in my opinion, at any convention, is the cosplaying. No matter your preference of genre, your ability at creating costumes (or simply buying one), or even how resembling you are to the actual character, none of that matters. There’s an implied understanding that any and all cosplay is awesome, and that’s the end of it. Some people take it even a step further, and actually want to learn the style of fighting different weapons require, or simply want to get absorbed in a world outside of their own. That’s where we come in.
Archers Arena offers not only the obvious bow-wielding experience through target shooting and combat archery tag, but we also have our own larping (live action role-playing) system through Champions Arena. We allow these people who want to explore new and exciting worlds a very real way to do just so. From bows and arrows, to dual-wielding swords, sword and shield, or even katanas (and maybe some lightsabers), we have what it takes to make your experience personable, memorable, and unique to you.
Everyone I know of has his or her own entry point to archery; whether it’s an actual person, a character, or even a game. Personally, The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time was my gateway to loving archery (and horseback riding, but that’s another story), as well as my huge crush for Legolas and the elves in The Lord of the Rings. Simply because they were just so damn cool. My point being that everything we see or watch influences our likes and dislikes, and the fact that archery is represented in such a bad-ass way through so many mediums only enhances one’s experience when they come and play at Archers Arena; seeing as regular people can let themselves become their own hero from their own story.
Mobile Archery, Nerf, and Bubble Soccer!
Having a big corporate outing and you would rather host it than moving everyone around in an attempt to keep things simple and organized? Archers Arena has the answer for you. Archers Arena has special packages prepared specifically for those who have the space and the will to receive our battle archery and/or nerf mobile kits. Our website offers additional information on all possible packages and deals, but here is exactly why you should entrust your event to us:
WE ARE EXPERIENCED AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL EVERYWHERE WE WENT.
When it comes to combat archery tag, we have held numerous stations outside for all sorts of different events. We have ranged from being a top attraction at the TNT Night Market to being a fan favourite at multiple Frosh Weeks for Universities and Colleges, so you can imagine the scale at which we can function. Therefore, it becomes safe to say that Toronto already knows us as the specialists we are when it comes to battle archery, otherwise referred to as archery dodgeball. We bring along all the protection and equipment needed, as well as bunkers and huge inflatable walls to delimit the perimeter. Our games are tried and true, and our coaches know exactly how to handle all sorts of different groups.
As for Nerf, although it is our newest attraction here at Archers Arena, it is already becoming a major success. Our choice of weaponry along with the very low amount of jams and hiccups we have experienced is a direct result of learning from all the mistakes other branches of nerfing have had at different facilities. We’ve done our homework in order to bring the best out of Nerf at Archers Arena. We are ready to bring you nerfing in our own special way, with high quality weapons such as Rival and N-Strike, for ammo capacity, reload speed, low to no jamming systems, and overall precision. As for game modes? They mostly follow the general Nerf Wars guidelines, but we do add some combat archery tag game modes or twists, simply to make the games that much more interesting. An exciting twist on an already great system.
Lastly, we do offer to bring along our inflatable bubble soccer kit. We let you play with the huge bubbles as you want, or we can set up different games with them; whichever suits your needs best. Bubble soccer is an instant favorite as both a daily activity or something to do during a break from the main events: battle archery or nerf. The option is there for your consideration.
Summer is right around the corner, and everyone is starting to feel the urge to go outside and soak up the sun. Evidently, this will be done when the weather allows for it, just as combat archery tag and Nerf Wars played outside will both become viable options. Mobile archery and Nerf are both becoming very popular, so make sure to book online in advance to guarantee our services, or give us a call at 647-992-7362.
Tournament Results!
March 26th saw another combat archery tag tournament being held at Archers Arena, and once again, it proved to be a success. Our pool of competitive battle archery players keeps growing and the results of this tournament were extremely close. Our plan of splitting up old, dominating archery dodgeball teams (Blood Bath and Beyond, and Wetshots) ended up being an interesting factor for every team, but especially for the players that were always used to playing together. Facing their old teammates was “really cool and fascinating” as one of them later mentioned to me.
What was fascinating in my eyes was how differently they ended up playing among new players. Not only did they have to gage their new teams’ strengths and weaknesses, they also had to remember those of their buddies so they could exploit what information they had on them. It was a beautiful coming together of old and new discussing strategy and forging plays in order to win a match.
Furthermore, this time around we limited our archery dodgeball tournament to 6 teams, allowing rematches to better gage not only endurance, but how well players and teams evolve together. This new system was definitely a favourite for many players, along with a new twist changing team count from 6 to 5, creating a whole new level of intensity in gameplay. Each arrow fired had to count, and strategies were evolving with every round.
Some other highlights include:
- Shooting arrows at our brand new red ducks for target practice in our range to keep both mind and body warm and ready to go in between matches;
- each team had one coach to play with them, allowing balance to be had in this combat archery tag tournament while making it more interesting for every team coming in;
- retired coaches and members showed up for the tournament, and they had to acknowledge they were now out of practice and on a lower skill level than the new generation;
- an array of creative team names were had: The Lords of the Strings, Power Rangers, XxX, Shake’N’Bake, Strap-Ons, and Bowthoven’s 5th Stringphany;
- new players ended up doing great plays, wonderful headshots and fantastic catches;
- our archery-loving community keeps growing and expanding and that is awesome.
The victors were the cleverly named The Lords of the Strings (personal favourite pun), which was composed of 4 higher level players instead of the regulated 5, winning by only 1 point at 19. Second place was the less-cleverly named Strap-Ons with 18 points, a team that has been building itself from the ground up at Archers Arena with constant practice and coming out on Coach nights (every Tuesday). Goes to show that dedication really pays off. Third place ended up being a tie between XxX, and Power Rangers at 17 points.
Here’s to a next tournament just as successful! Keep a look out for it in upcoming blogs or through our Archers Arena facebook page.
18 Benefits of Playing Combat Archery Tag at Archers Arena!
Archery is widely known as being a therapeutic sport because of its calm, focused nature. However, combat archery tag (or archery dodgeball) is a much more active version of archery, which still encompases many of the same benefits, along with a few more of its own. The following are just some of the perks or skills you get out of playing combat archery tag here at Archers Arena.
1. Exercise
Combat archery tag is known as a workout; you will be leaving sweaty and satisfied.
2. Upper Body Strength
The constant, repetitive motions of drawing and firing a bow activates the major core muscle groups in the upper body.
3. Agility
Your reflexes and quick moves will be put to the test while playing archery dodgeball, allowing for constant improvement.
4. Instincts
At Archers Arena we encourage instinctive archery, which means less thinking and more feeling for more accurate results. Having a clear mind really does improve and sharpen your skills.
5. Balance
To successfully hit stationary targets, stillness is key, therefore control of your body is essential, and that develops one's balance.
6. Hand-Eye Coordination
Not only does it improve by shooting, it also improves with catching oncoming arrows.
7. Mental Focus
This is a big one. You have to both focus on hitting your target, while also keeping track of everything else going on in the game.
8. Analytical Skills
Because there is so much going on during a game, players eventually pick up prioritizing certain plays or tactics to either gain the advantage or survive an onslaught.
9. Teamwork/Communication
Lone wolves don't survive in the arena, no matter their potential. Working as a team always brings the best results as one player may see something others don't. Communicating is key to adapting to given circumstances.
10. Patience
The key to winning in archery dodgeball is patience, along with timing. Mastering archery takes time and requires a certain softness, kind of like a bow itself.
11. Confidence
Another big one. Seeing yourself improve and your shots landing is always a great way to boost both your self-esteem and your confidence, along with our encouraging coaches.
12. Community
We at Archers Arena are building a community of players that simply love the sport, and we all support and push each other to get better. There is nothing but love here, and it really shines through.
13. Safety
We provide arm guards and helmets, as well as a training which shows you how to handle our equipment safely and effectively.
14. Stress-Relief
No better way to let off steam than by shooting other people and they still get to walk away unscathed.
15. Two Outlooks
Combat archery tag can be conducted both in and outdoors.
16. It's Fun for Everyone
Kids and adults alike always enjoy their experience with us, and who can blame them? Archery is already badass, and now you get to make an hero out of yourself on our courts.
17. New Sport
Combat archery tag is a relatively newly developed sport, meaning that there are still various techniques and tactics waiting to be discovered to enhance the game.
18. Easy to Learn
Literally anyone can pick up combat archery tag if they truly desire to. We provide in depth training to ensure every new person starts on the same level as everyone else, personal predispositions notwithstanding.
These are just a few of the reasons why both Archers Arena and combat archery tag have become such popular attractions for the people of Toronto, although archery dodgeball itself is making it's way worldwide. It really is a choice that you simply can't go wrong with because it appeals to everyone on different levels. Whether it's from the excitement of being a bow-wielding warrior to even just being a competitive person who enjoys pushing their own limits, there really is no bad reason to want to play the game.
Intense Training at Archers Arena Thursday Nights!
We are now introducing a new evening where you can interact and evolve alongside coaches and members, as well as other fellow players who want to improve. You may already be familiar with our regular Coach nights, every Tuesday evenings, but you may not have heard yet of Thursdays being our combat archery tag training nights. None other than our own Jones Santiago is behind the idea, and he has been working hard to provide the ideal drills and necessary exercises to create a solid archery dodgeball player.
The idea behind the whole process is not only to help players hone their skills, but also to get healthier and fitter by going through 3 separate segments of training during the evening. With the training running for a little over an hour, we are subject to a cardio warm-up, body-weight workout, and drills. The warm-up is simple enough, it’s to get your body ready to work through cardio. The workout aims at developing core strength, while the drills focus on your agility. It’s a killer combination to turn you into someone more agile that can keep up with faster-paced gameplay.
Although there is a strong physical component to Jones’ training, there is also an archery component incorporated. During the whole session, you must keep your bow at your side, and use it throughout. Within the drills, there are multiple arrow reloading and shooting scenarios, which have you aiming at targets near and far, all in the interest of developing your instincts and furthering your accuracy while under pressure. It teaches you to focus and take control of your nerves before they take control of you.
Another huge part of combat archery tag is teamwork; you’re only as good as your weakest link. Not only communication is vital, but knowing your teammates and how to work together is a huge part of winning the games. Higher level of archery dodgeball requires smart gameplay, and you have to be on your toes as it constantly evolves. That’s why within the drills training, Jones can pair us up in teams to create a competitive environment to put us under more pressure to perform. Getting acquainted not only with your teammates, but also with that pressure, ensures that it doesn’t take you by surprise anymore whilst playing.
The intent in the end is to give you more control over your own body, by becoming faster, stronger and more agile. We want you to be able to move as fast as you think, so you can have an edge over your adversaries. This program will develop numerous facets of your personality, while offering training you won’t find anywhere else. You’ll always have a team there to support you, and push you forward in your development, wherever you want it to go. Come give it a try: you have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain from just one session.
Your Break from your Kid's March Break!
March break is coming up, and you don’t know what to do with your kids? Want to able to go to work worry free, knowing that they will be taken care of properly? Archers Arena has the perfect solution for you! We are going to hold a day camp filled with great activities to keep your kids busy all day, while spending all of their energy keeping healthy, active, and fit.
From the 13th to the 17th, for only 75$/day or 295$/week, the camp is open to kids aged from 8 to 13 years, with the possibility of signing up for one day, or to come in for the full week; hours going from 10am to 5pm. At this point, you may be wondering what exactly IS your child going to be doing throughout the day? Let’s have a quick look at what our daily schedule entails:
9:30am Drop-Off
10am-12pm: Combat Archery Tag
12pm-1pm: Lunch and Board/Card Games
1pm-2pm: Supervised Nerf Wars
2pm-3:45pm: Movie Screening
3:45pm-5pm: Ninja Academy (Training/Fitness)
Because we always put safety first, Archers Arena guarantees that every activity will be completely safe and secure, not only with all the equipment we provide, but also with the excellent staff and coaches we employ.
Everybody knows that kids have excess energy, and we’re very well suited to handle and guide how to use said energy. We are fitness enthusiasts who know that being active is part of a healthy lifestyle, and who also know that the best way to grow healthy is to start young to build and develop the habit. Archery is also a very disciplined and calm art, and we hope to instill in them some of that quietude.
Getting your kid into this camp is a great way to insure yourself peace of mind at work as well as some quiet time when you come home, knowing your child will be spent energy-wise while being taken care of properly. It also becomes a place where they can learn and try new things, in a positive environment. You can rest assured that your child will be having so much fun they won’t want to leave!
Popular Archery Icons and How They’ve Affected Today’s Archery
Archery has come and gone from the front interest line due to its growing and receding popularity on-screen with either movies or TV series, and even in video games. It becomes super trendy, and cool, and hip when viewers see their heroes handling a bow, and then when the movie or show dies down, or the game gets old, so does the archery trend before it comes right back strong as ever. So here is a tribute to the various inspirations and forms that archery has shown through to make its place in our culture throughout the times.
First off, I am going to start off with one of the classics of our culture; Robin Hood. There have been multiple takes on this very old tale, from the Disney animated movie featuring foxes as the main characters, to the very funny spoof Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and even the more serious feel the 2010 movie featuring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett gave it. In all of them, Robin’s talents went uncontested and he managed some very impressive tricks with his bow and arrows, which no doubt have fueled the imagination of many a youth.
In the world of video games, I can go all the way back to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for inspiration. Playing as Link and shooting everything with the bow and winning challenges and competitions always gave me such a feeling of satisfaction that my own personal love for the art came from there. In more recent years, the reboot of Tomb Raider in 2013 had Lara survive with only a bow and arrows to start off her adventure, which obviously got me hooked, but so did a lot of other players from all the positive reviews the game received.
Probably one the most iconic bow-wielding characters in my opinion comes from the Lord of the Rings franchise. Being a personal favourite of mine, Legolas has all the moves down in the series and just flat-out makes archery look so damn good, and not just because of his looks. His elven efficiency and accuracy just change the name of the game, and he comes up with tactics that we can’t even begin to replicate (lack of having elephants handy being a main one), although when we play, some of us do come out with bruises from time to time, just as he will always sport one of his forehead after a battle.
There have been a lot of popular icons in the recent years popping up on screen, such as Katniss from The Hunger Games, Hawkeye in The Avengers, Merida in Disney and Pixar’s Brave and even Oliver Queen in the Green Arrow TV series, which have all fueled a different wave of archery love. People want to try it out and see how they fare at it, and generally, when archery is picked up, it’s rather hard to put back down. That being said, here at Archers Arena, we want people to find their true potential not only at archery, but at the new sport that has been created from it: combat archery tag. It brings out a whole new dimension reminiscent of video games and medieval combat. This new trend is definitely here to stay.
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.
Archery Lessons at Archers Arena!
Wither you’re already an active combat archery tag (sometimes referred to as archery dodgeball) player, or you are still completely new to the whole archery thing, taking lessons is always an excellent way to get better faster. Our lessons are given by coaches that are both skilled and knowledgeable, so we do have a guarantee that we know what we’re talking about, simply because we use those techniques all the time when we play. Here are a few of the reasons why you should come to us to learn, either as a beginner, or as a fellow player.
Our Facility
Our facility is spacious and composed of two very separate archery parts. First off, we have our actual training range where there are various different targets placed around that offer different challenges. We also have the actual full-sized arena that can be used for further lessons depending on availability. Both courts offer their own share of varied challenges that will help better a player.
Our Coaches
As mentioned earlier, our archery coaches are professionals that actually know what they are talking about. This comes not only from being trained properly for coaching, but mostly because we play all the time, and therefore we ourselves learn and grow all the time. When you get to apply the principles you are teaching, that is when you get to understand them in a better, fuller way; and it inherently makes you better at your craft.
Personalized Training
Obviously every coach is at a different level, and some are better teachers than others, so we always make sure that clients coming in for lessons get the best possible coach for them, which will vary depending on the needs. We always assess our students’ strengths and weaknesses individually, then have them work on different things to assure constant improvement. You will always leave a session being better than you were walking in.
Consistency is Key
If you really want to get good, then the saying “practice makes perfect” definitely applies for archery. It is a very technical ability, and only through repetition will you really catch the flow of how it should go. If you start out at Archers Arena where we teach you the proper forms, stances, and techniques, then you can rest assured that your basis is going to be strong, and from there, you can choose to keep coming in for improvement, or you can keep improving on your own. As long as you keep practicing, then you won’t lose your touch. Alternatively, if you do need a refresher, we will still be here to gladly accommodate.
Unlike other facilities, all of our staff are avid players and love the game of combat archery tag for all the different challenges that it brings, but in the end, you always have to go back to basics (standard archery) to improve and evolve. There are always new ways to shoot that are brought into light, and it’s always fun to explore those different options with a teacher that can, and will, help better yourself. For a unique, personalized lesson in archery, Archers Arena is the place for you.