ABOUT US

G’day, my names Tom and I’m the founder & sole operator of Asiatic Bows Australia. I’m a 30 year old living with disabilities in Western Australia. Archery has been something that has directly contributed to the improvement of my quality-of-life. I’m passionate about Archery, and Asiatic Archery is an avenue that I am mildly obsessed with. I’d like to share a bit about my story with you, so that you might be able to understand how archery has changed my life, why it’s my passion, and why archery is so important to me.

Like many others, I had a mild obsession with characters portrayed in modern media. Particularly ones based in Medieval or ancient times. Figures such as King Arthur, Robin Hood and Mel Gibsons “William Wallace”, all play a fond part of my childhood. I would not be able to tell you how many times I sat and watched “The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men”, or “Robin Hood, Men in Tights”. These were some of the only ‘good movies’ my Aunty had at her house, so I would watch one of these movies every time we would stop by for a visit.

Early in my life I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in more joints of my body than without. Growing up with an autoimmune disease also caused there to be many visits to doctors, specialists, and trips to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne. My day-to-day was very inconsistent, as my condition often resulted in health problems and discomfort. I would often try to join in on after-school sports like Cricket and Footy, knowing full-well that I would feel absolutely awful after these periods of excessive strain. The physical discomfort and pain that would come from these active periods was a lot to deal with, and it eventually became too much. One day I was happy, playing Cricket and Footy with mates, and the next day I was bedridden. It was a lot to deal with.

This frequent ‘punishment’ after periods of excessive pain eventually caused me to drop my attempt at an active lifestyle. As I made it to my early-adult years, my health began getting worse and I found myself looking for an activity that would allow me to stay active but wouldn’t cause severe discomfort or pain. I had been given a recurve bow by my parents when I was younger, and I enjoyed shooting it at my local indoor range, but I didn’t quite have the discipline back then to dedicate myself to the sport. It was just something I enjoyed and would do when given the opportunity. In my 20’s I decided to revisit this old hobby and start shooting again. It has been truly life-changing and I’ve made immense progress towards a healthier life.

In the last 12 months, thanks to my supports and care team, I have been lucky enough to find ways to integrate my love for archery with my long-term treatment plan for RA and FND.
When I’m doing well physically I aim to shoot when I can (every other day), averaging somewhere between 300-400 arrows at different distances. On days where I’m unable to get too physical, I tackle other archery adjaescent tasks. Things like fletching arrows, making bowstrings, and researching for future articles. By integrating these activities into my treatment plan I’m able to use archery to help improve my quality-of-life. On days where I can shoot and get out in the field, I’m there, and it helps with the physical (being active) and neurological side of things. When I can’t shoot, I can still do something I’m passionate about, while also giving my brain a workout. By doing activities that require some level of brain power, finesse, and precision, I am able to help train my neural pathways & fight my FND symptoms.

Anywho, that’s my story, and that’s why I’m so passionate about archery. It’s become a part of my life that I cannot live without. Every aspect of my life has Archery embedded into it in some way, and I couldn’t be happier.
If you managed to read this far into my story, you can use the code “LIVE-FREE” for 5% off. I appreciate you taking the time to learn more about me, and I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about this small part of me.