June 26, 2025 • 56 mins
What happens when you mix circus skills, extreme flexibility, and a bow and arrow? In this episode of Trivia Tangents, we dive feet first into the fascinating world of foot archery; yes, that is archery performed upside down using your feet.
I’m joined by my friend and real-life foot archer, Elizabeth, who shares how she discovered this wild niche hobby, what it takes to master it, and what it actually feels like to hit a bullseye with your toes. We also reflect on our shared background in gymnastics and how those early experiences shaped our approach to movement, performance, and discipline.
Along the way, we explore how archery evolved from ancient warfare to recreational sport, and put Elizabeth’s trivia knowledge to the test with some archery facts from around the world.
Where to find Elizabeth:
https://www.instagram.com/elizwilley/?hl=en
https://www.tiktok.com/@elizwilley?lang=en
https://www.youtube.com/@ElizabethWilley
***
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Trivia Tangents and Foot Archery
04:19 Origins of Recreational Archery
09:59 The Art of Foot Archery
19:38 Training and Flexibility in Archery
19:53 The Journey Begins: From Gym to Foot Archery
22:18 Innovative Training: DIY Equipment and Techniques
25:11 The Evolution of Skills: From Practice to Performance
27:20 The Importance of Flexibility and Strength Training
30:28 Balancing Passion and Life: The Future of Foot Archery
36:28 Exploring Modern Archery Competitions
39:47 Exploring Guinness World Records
41:14 Mental Focus in Sports
46:06 Conclusion
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:12):
Welcome to Trivia Tangents, the podcast to return everyday
passions into surprising trivia deep dives.
I'm your host, Lena, and each week I quiz a friend on
something that they know way toomuch about, turning everyday
passions into trivia gold. We all know that on trivia
night, the bigger the team, the better you'll play, so that's
(00:32):
why I bring the team together here on Trivia tangents.
Today's guest is Elizabeth, who's here to talk all about
foot archery, so get ready for some fun facts you'll definitely
want for your next trivia night.OK.
Hi, Hello. Welcome to the pod.
(00:57):
How are you? I'm great.
I'm so excited to be here with you, Lena.
This is awesome. Thank you so much for being
here. It has been so incredibly
overdue for us to do a catch up and like what a fun topic to
discuss as we do a little catch up together as well.
Yeah, it's perfect. Yeah, so we're recording on a
(01:20):
Friday. We have some fun weekend plans.
I'm drinking a little matcha in my Sunrise Shack mug.
Elizabeth got a little Starbucks.
Actually, Nautical Bean shout out, it's local to San Luis
Obispo. Have I?
Did I take you there when you came here like a long time ago?
(01:40):
OK, that's like my favorite coffee shop down the street.
Oh my gosh, sorry apology. It looks like a Starbucks cup.
Like a. Little yes, I love it.
And what was your order again? We got a iced vanilla latte half
sweetened with oat. Milk.
I love that it sounds so good, very basic.
(02:01):
So just to give the listeners a little bit of background on my
fabulous guest, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is my super talented
friend. She was a college cheerleader.
She graduated college a entire year early.
She is a professional personal trainer, a bread Baker
enthusiast, and a fellow Swifty and my very, very good friend.
(02:25):
We did meet the first year of college at UC Davis, where we
became, quote, UN quote, twins with the same big sister in our
sorority. That feels so long ago, doesn't
it? It's almost 10 years ago, is it?
Crazy. That makes me feel so, yeah,
'cause. We're 27 and what we were 18.
(02:48):
Oh. I know we have our 10 year high
school reunions next year so. That's exciting.
Are you gonna go? I don't know.
We'll see. I don't know.
It depends, like it depends on who's going.
I've always said that because people have asked me, I'm like,
okay, who's going to be there? Like I'm going to friends there,
then I'd probably go. But yeah, I don't know.
(03:09):
We'll see. Well yeah, we've been friends
for a while. So glad we're catching up.
And today we are discussing the crazy, amazing, talenting,
talented sport is a. Sport.
But I I don't know, it's Archer,I don't know if it's a sport.
Yeah, I can't wait to hear your perspective.
Pick your brain about this one. It was really hard to pick just
(03:34):
one topic here because like I said earlier in the intro,
Elizabeth is so incredibly talented.
You guys should check out her TikTok.
She has so many cool hobbies. So this one we're talking about
foot archery and we'll see maybedown the line we can do other
episodes. Definitely.
Yeah. Alrighty.
So today we have 3 sections we're discussing.
(03:56):
One, the origins of recreationalarchery, 2, The art of foot
archery, three modern day archery competitions.
Are you ready for question one? Let's get into it.
I'm so excited. Trivia question one.
(04:21):
Which historical figure is credited with helping transform
archery from a military skill into a popular recreational
pastime in England? I just see your face already.
OK, I'll give you options here. A William the Conqueror, B King
Henry the Eighth C Robin Hood orD Queen Elizabeth the 1st.
(04:47):
Oh my gosh, I feel like I want to say Queen Elizabeth because
you know the name. What was the first one?
Go back to the first one. First one a William the
Conqueror. AI have no clue who is it.
Oh. For one, oh for one, the answer
(05:09):
was King Henry the Eighth. That was going to be my second
choice. Always a second choice.
Well, anyways, here's a little deep dive just so you can try
and remember this for trivia nights in the future when this
comes up. King Henry the Eighth was a
major proponent of archery for the common people, passing laws
(05:30):
in the 16th century that required Englishmen to practice
archery. Though it was initially for
military preparedness. Of course, it laid the
groundwork for archery as a sport and social activity.
And then later in the 19th century, archery became an
organized sport with competitions and social clubs,
(05:52):
making it a leisure activity that still persists today.
In fact, I do live near next to Golden Gate Park and there is an
archery range literally probablya 3 minute walk from me.
Oh. My gosh, have you checked it
out? I have these people look very
passionate and also it also seems like they're living out
(06:17):
their LARP dreams. Oh, I can see that.
Elizabeth, I am so curious to know your beginnings with
archery. So how familiar were you with
regular hand upper body archery initially?
I absolutely love this question because I had never shot a bow
(06:39):
with my hands. Like ever.
Ever. Ever.
Ever. I So in middle school they had
an archery class and they took it out of the program the year
before me and I was like so excited about it, whatever.
But I guess it's not too safe for middle schoolers to be
shooting around bows and stuff so they cut the program.
(07:00):
At least that's what I heard. And so yeah, I straight up went
into this with 0 experience, no clue what I was doing.
Wow, wow. OK, that that brings me to
another question, which I know Ididn't prep you with, but like
how did you pick this up? Like OK, inspired you?
(07:21):
What crazy. Pick up a bow, OK?
So back story how I do foot archery is like I I don't know
if you have a video of it to show with this, but I do it.
I will dense to. Show a video.
Yeah, so it's like acrobatic or foot archery, and I do it with a
handstand bent over so you're arched over and shooting with
your feet. So I call it acrobatic archery
(07:43):
or foot archery. It's kind of both.
But basically it was 2021. I went to the circus in town.
Like, thing is, Circus Vargas iswhat it's called.
They come to town like once a year.
And I love new challenges. Like I'm just, I, I hyper focus
(08:03):
on something and it's it's fun. It's what I do.
I was a gymnast growing up. So I saw this girl and she was
doing it on, you know, at the circus and I was like there,
that's amazing. Like I want to be able to do
that. And so I took it on and for like
that entire summer, I just everyday was practicing and teaching
(08:24):
myself. So it's just kind of like a
little a little challenge. Like I saw it and I was like, I
bet I could figure it out. I have the gymnastics background
and then went from there. Yeah, that's amazing.
Thanks for sharing. And we'll get into into like
your props and everything in in later sections.
But could you remind me what year was that when you started
(08:45):
that? 2021.
OK. So it's like not peak COVID,
kind of like peak. Still COVID times, yeah.
Still COVID times but like, people were out and about with
masks and stuff, yeah. COVID hobby?
Probably. Yeah, COVID hobby for sure.
OK, cool. And so that kind of covers my
(09:06):
next question of what drew you to foot archery specifically.
Yeah. But I guess in that time, like,
did you also practice with your hands or was it just feet?
A little bit, but like I was so hyper focused on figuring out
how to do it that like I would pick it up and like kind of
(09:28):
practice with my hands here and there just to understand how the
bow works. And then I like went to the like
local archery places called Central Coast Archery and I like
shot with my hands a little bit there and like some people gave
me a couple pointers, but basically everything that I was
learning with my hands was so that I could figure out how to
(09:48):
better do it with my feet. Oh my gosh, I love that.
Yeah. She's a monkey, you guys.
She's so talented. Let's jump into Section 2.
This is my favorite section and I think you'll get the question
right. So Section 2, the art of foot
(10:16):
archery. Are you ready for question 2?
Let's dive in. Which British performer and foot
Archer was featured on Britain'sGot Talent and holds the title
of the world's first foot Archerto shoot fire arrows upside
down? A Shannon Jones, B Rosa Valo, C
(10:40):
Emily Chong or D Orissa Kelly. B Yeah, I knew you get that
right. I knew you get that right I.
Follow her on Instagram only theonly reason I know.
Yeah, of course you do. So I wonder in that circus that
you saw, like, what are the oddsthat it was her?
(11:03):
It wasn't because I have a videoof it, OK, but pretty high,
honestly. Because like, if I didn't have
that video, I'd say like, probably pretty high 'cause I
know she does a lot of performances all over.
Like she performs at NBA halftimes, which is so cool, and
(11:23):
all sorts of other stuff. So yeah, but.
Yeah, I I was looking at her website in preparation for this
episode. Like you can book her for a
private event. Yes, yeah, I know.
That's like the one thing I was like, maybe I should consider
that, but I don't know. We'll see.
Yeah, cuz like if you mess up, then it's like staring my money
(11:44):
back. Yeah.
Yeah, and also like, it's a bow and it there's an arrow and
that's like super dangerous if you like.
Yup. You know, like it's still a
weapon. Yup, so.
There's that. Yeah, the the element of danger
is, You know what makes it so interesting though?
Yes. But for sure.
I know you already know all about ERISA Kelly and you follow
(12:06):
her on Instagram, but just to give the listeners a little bit
of background and a little shoutout to ERISA Kelly, I have a
little section that I want to read about her.
So ERISA Kelly is a professionalfoot Archer from Watford,
England. ERISA began gymnastics just like
us at the age of 3 and went on to compete for Great Britain at
(12:30):
the age of 17. She cancelled her university
application just months before starting and followed her heart
by joining the circus. In April 2015, Arissa bought her
first bow and arrow. She went to a cricket field and
began teaching herself a skill that was absolutely unheard of.
(12:51):
After training every day, six hours a day for six months, she
created her foot archery act that would go on to take her
around the world. Just like Elizabeth, she had no
previous archery knowledge before 2015 and actually learnt
with her feet before her hands. And her signature move is
(13:12):
shooting flaming arrows with herfeet upside down.
Oh. My gosh.
Yeah. The the fire, it's just crazy.
Yeah. So where did you first learn
about her? Oh my gosh, I think so.
I feel like all my friends will send me, including you probably
have sent me like videos of random gymnastics people or like
(13:34):
foot Archers. And so I think someone probably
just sent me like a video of herdoing foot archery.
And I don't remember when, but years ago, like when I had
started out and I actually DM Edher when I was trying to learn,
she didn't answer, but I I get it.
I like she has so many followersand I'm like don't have any
(13:55):
comparatively. And I think she's actually
commented on something of mine since so like, oh, cool.
Yeah. Anyways, I don't know, but I
love that. Basically she I was asking her
like, hey, like I'm new to this.What kind of bow should I use?
I was like, there's no one to question.
Yeah. But anyways, I figured it out
(14:15):
myself and I did my own, you know, research.
But I was like, let's see if sheanswers.
I get it though. It's like people with so many
followers like influencers, influencers and stuff like it's
so hard to keep up with everything so.
Yeah, so you guys might have seen ERISA Kelly on Britain's
Got Talent in 2016. I will link the clip and put it
(14:37):
on the Instagram. It's pretty cool.
She like, pretends to shoot the host.
Like when they're doing their little background interview,
she's like, watch out, watch out.
And they're like playing around.She also did some stunts for
Wonder Woman. Did you know that?
Yes, yes. Oh my gosh, that's cool.
My favorite I'm like, that is goals.
(15:00):
Honestly that would be so cool. So freaking cool.
She probably met Gal Gadot. Yeah, I love that movie too.
So. Same.
Love that movie. Yeah.
So for Wonder Woman, a fun fact,sad fact, not a fun fact.
They actually did not use the footage that she filmed.
(15:22):
OK, I thought that might be the case cause I've seen it and I
was like, I haven't seen foot archery on it I don't think.
Right, exactly. But I knew that she was in it.
Yes, so I watched an interview and she was saying that, the
stunt coordinator said, quote. It was too ridiculous, even for
(15:44):
Wonder Woman. No way.
Oh my gosh. Tea.
What? Yeah, so they were just like,
Nope, the these Amazon ladies orwhatever they were, this is too
advanced for them. They're not like.
Kind of little flex over here. Yeah, that's what that's what
(16:04):
she was saying. She's like, yeah, I guess that's
a compliment. Oh my gosh.
Wow, that's crazy. She's so talented.
In addition to filming on WonderWoman, she performed for Her
Majesty the Queen herself. And I don't know what year this
was, but it's posted on her website, the quote.
(16:25):
She's obviously very, very proudof this moment to perform for
the Queen. Yeah.
So, the Queen said Quote. I was most impressed by her
performance. Her Majesty the Queen.
Oh my gosh, I love it. I mean, I've been bragging about
that. That's so cool.
(16:45):
Yeah, especially for someone who's, you know, British like
that's. Yes, yeah.
Ultimate goals. Amazing.
And then last place you guys might have seen her is her
winning a Guinness World Record.She is the Guinness World Record
holder for furthest arrow shot with feet whilst being set on
fire which is called a body burn.
(17:09):
I've seen a video and it's crazybecause they have to spray her
down with a fire extinguisher afterwards because there's fire
on her legs. It's crazy.
I don't know if I could do. I don't think I could do it.
Yeah, I'd please think that's where I I think that's where I
draw the line. Yeah, please don't do that.
Oh my gosh, she's so crazy. That's amazing.
(17:30):
She's always like trying to pushthe boundaries, right?
So for this world record, she basically shot it 7 meters.
And for my Americans listening, that's 22.96 feet, which is
really far. That's far.
And then last piece of, you know, little fun fact here
before we get into our tangents,I did mention Shannon Jones as
(17:53):
one of the answers, the multiplechoice answers.
And I I don't know, does that name ring a bell at all to you?
I'm. Pretty sure I know who you're
talking about. Is she like Shannon Michaela I
think on Instagram? Oh I don't know her Instagram
but. Can I can I see it if I?
Yeah, go ahead. Let me see it.
Let me pull it up. I'm pretty sure I know you're
(18:16):
talking about she Shannon. Oh, there she is.
OK, wait. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
S. Hanne.
S yeah, yeah, I like to see it too bright.
Well, why don't we tag her? Tag her.
(18:37):
But yeah, I, I wanted to includeher on that list because she is
also extremely talented and I kind of wanted to trip you up.
I was like, oh, both of these people are foot archery
acrobats. So shout out to Shannon Jones.
She also has the Guinness World Record, so very impressive.
(18:57):
Hers is a little different. She has farthest arrow shot
using feet at 18.27 meters. And remember Erisa's was 7
meters but ERISA was set on fireso.
That that statement is just insane.
I I will not get over that. Like, yeah, yeah, I think she
(19:19):
Shannon's done some stuff like on a skateboard even too, like
moving really skateboard and hitting target.
Yeah, she does some really cool stuff.
That's so cool. OK, so yeah, I wanted to make
sure Shannon got a little shout out, not leave her out because
she's so talented too. So OK, let's let's do our
discussion tangent. So I want to learn more about
you and your journey with this. So yeah, we kind of touched on
(19:43):
like how you got into it, but I want to know more about the
training process. So what was your process for
combining flexibility and archery?
Oh my goodness. So I happen to be working full
time at a gym when I started foot archery and so I had a lot
(20:03):
of like. Extra time between training and
classes and stuff and so and resources too.
So like I used when I first started, you know, those like
long bands, like pull up bands, like really long, like elastic
bands and gyms. Oh yeah.
Physical therapy I call bands. Kind of, but I, I call them pull
up bands. I can send you exactly what it
(20:24):
is if you OK are curious, but they're just like the long
thinner ones like you can do like people will put them on the
bars to like help them with pullups, kind of like that.
Oh yes, and they're kind of likea cube.
They're kind of like a cube shape down.
Yep. I also use those in physical
therapy. Those are more What's the word?
(20:45):
Tension. Tension and more structured
than. Like, yes, yeah.
Yeah. So you can like really put your
weight on it. Yeah, so.
I like, came back from the circus and I was like, I think I
wanna, I'm gonna figure out how to do this.
I didn't have a bow yet. And there were these those bands
(21:07):
sitting around and I had one of the lighter ones.
And I figured out kind of like, how to position myself and like,
how to shoot using a band. So it was like, like, I put the
band like a rubber band. Yeah.
Like shooting a rubber band. Exactly.
And so I did it sitting down to,like, figure out how to grip it.
(21:28):
And then I did it with a handstand.
It was kind of an easy thing to fail with because it wasn't like
a bow that would just fall if I,like, let go of it or whatever.
So I started out with that. My dad actually helped me make
handstand canes. That's what they're called, the
(21:49):
little props you go on. You don't have to use those, but
a lot of like the circus artistsand like anyone you see will
usually do the archery on handstand canes.
And so my dad helped me like build them and everything.
And at the same timing we did that, I ordered a $30 kids bow
(22:10):
off of Amazon, just like technically a recurve style.
It was just like a super cheap bow, super light, like, you
know, the whole thing. And I remember that when that
came in the mail and I kind of like, I remember shooting it in
my parents backyard just to kindof like play around with it.
And I made like, so there's thisthing called a biscuit on a bow,
(22:34):
which is holds the arrow in place.
And I was like trying to figure out because the bow I had didn't
have a biscuit or anything to hold the arrow in place.
And you need that if you're kicking over into a handstand
because the arrow will just fallout.
So I was like, that was a big point of like, OK, what do I do?
So I made a duct tape makeshift biscuit.
(22:57):
Like I just looped around duct tape and like adhered it to.
The bow. And so I just rigged it up and
like practice with that. And it was super janky practice
with it for a few months just toget the right positioning.
And it was a lot of like trial and error and figuring out how
(23:21):
to get my feet all the way upside down, like over my head
into the right position and lots.
Of. Lower back training for
flexibility and also making suremy lower back stayed strong so
that it was like not also hurting me.
So I was like I was even noticing like I do a lot of
strength training and so as I was doing so much more
(23:43):
flexibility stuff with my lower back, I was noticing like I do
back squats and I was like my low back just felt weaker and so
I had to like shift around even my strength training to make
sure that I was not hurting myself there and strength.
So strengthening my core strengthening my low back
because I was doing so much moreflexibility anyway.
So then are we? After that I went and purchased
(24:05):
a a real bow once I felt like I was close enough to doing it and
ready to make an investment and spent 300 bucks on a bow and
that's the one I still shoot with.
Damn, 300 bucks. OK, so the props here.
That was a lot. I just kind of went over the
props too, but. I love it so giant rubber band
(24:29):
or pull up band. Giant Rubber Band's kind of fun
to say. Yeah, OK.
I like that other band. Handstand pedestals.
Pedestals for your canes. Canes, Handstand canes,
handstand canes. Is what they're called, but
they're kind of like pedestals, I guess.
OK, they look like pedestals. They're called canes.
(24:51):
So giant rubber band handstand canes, kid, arrow, bow and arrow
to start, duct tape to make the biscuit.
And then eventually you graduated to like a heavy duty.
Not heavy duty, but like legit bow and arrow.
And then did you also have like a target set up?
Yeah. So I'll tell you about the bow
(25:13):
and then I'll tell you about thetarget.
But I had to get my bow specifically made like for me.
Well, kind of. I went in to Central Coast
archery. They're awesome there.
I'd like never been in before. And I walk in and I show them my
toy bow and arrow from Amazon. And I was like, this is what I
do. I do foot archery and I have
(25:33):
this. Can you help me get a real bow?
I don't know what I'm doing. And they were.
Like Oh my God, I watched that. Yeah, so I found a Genesis bow.
It's a compound bow, but it was a kid style 'cause it was a
little bit smaller. So it's like a real bow and
arrow compound one 'cause there's compound and recurve.
(25:56):
I don't know if you touched on that much, but anyways, kid
styles, a little smaller, a little bit lighter, and then
they like put on this. I don't even know what it's
called. There's like a grip part for
where you pull back on the actual like string.
And then they added that for me and then they added the biscuit
so that I could hold it in place.
(26:17):
And then I got specific arrows that would be just like like
lighter ones, not really for hunting, you know, more for
performance. And that's so that was that.
And then I initially this is bad, but I had a, my, that tree
in my parents backyard. I was like, great target.
(26:41):
I just like to show a tree, put a balloon.
I know I only shot at the tree once and it's fine.
The tree is OK. But I had these balloons and I
just like kind of put the balloon, like taped it onto the
tree 'cause I, you know, and that first day that I got that
bow, I, that was the first day Ilike hit the balloon target for
(27:02):
the first time. So like same day I got the new
bow and so that that was December and I started in July
of 2020. OK, OK, amazing.
So basically half a year and then probably hitting that
target was like a huge, yes, a huge achievement and also, yeah,
milestone and also like reiterated or helped you feel
(27:26):
more confident in that $300 decision.
Well, yeah, I wasn't going to, like, buy a real bow until I
knew, like, OK, like, I've spentso much time with this.
And it was kind of crazy becauseI realized like the day I got
the bow, I made it and I was like, oh, so my rigged up $30
(27:46):
bow like was kind of the reason I wasn't hitting super straight
because it was kind of janky. But anyways, last thing after
that day, my dad set up a like awooden board in their backyard
for me to shoot at just like a pretty big wooden board.
And so that's in my parents backyard now.
(28:07):
And there's I can like tape balloons to it and stuff if I
want to. So that's great.
Perfect. I love that.
So my other follow up question about your training is in terms
of holding a handstand. I, I know you know, we both did
gymnastics. You were definitely got to
higher level than me, but in my training, one of those like
(28:27):
drills we did was like a handstand game.
Who can hold a handstand the longest?
So for you, I'm sure you alreadyhad that sort of like skill
ingrained in you. So how long can you hold a
handstand? Oh, great question.
So yeah, that's not something I super touched on with my
training before, but it's like Ialready had like the gymnast,
(28:49):
the handstand holding, not the flexibility.
Like I was kind of set up reallywell for this compared to like
someone randomly coming off the streets and doing it.
But the last time I timed my handstand holds without like
just straight handstand, no walking, nothing.
I did a minute that was like probably a year ago that I
timed. It Oh my God.
But yeah, I'm shocked that at this age, like I quit gym like
(29:15):
14 years ago, yeah. So it's just been something that
I love doing. And I love doing it between my
workouts. So I'll just like go up in my
handstand between reps of something.
And I think it's just like, 'cause I love it so much that
I'm able to do it still, but. Yeah, yeah, I love that.
I love that. And I wish I like capped it up
(29:35):
as much as you did because but you could still do.
It. I mean yeah I'm sure I could
still do it, but like I have such bad lower back issues that
like I can't even touch my toes without like a warm up.
No. Do.
You think I'm sitting a lot likewith work?
Yeah, probably just being more stationary.
(29:56):
And also I did take a bar class at this one studio in San
Francisco. It's called Hot Ate Yoga.
I go back and forth about leaving a a Yelp review but they
basically injured me really bad.No.
So yeah, I'm like. I'm.
Sorry, I'm so mad at. That I hope we can rehab it back
(30:19):
and get your hand stands going again.
That would make me happy. Thanks.
Yeah, I've been in PT all year. So we're working our way back.
So kind of reeling it back to your foot artery here.
I know we went on a little tangent.
That's OK. This is Trivia Tangents.
You mentioned, you know, you were working in a gym at the
time and you were just like doing hand stands like here and
(30:40):
there. Were there any other like circus
or acrobatic work that supplemented the foot archery?
I know you do like the videos oflike the lung alarms at Planet
Fitness and you do all these like crazy things to try and set
up the alarm. So is there anything else like
acrobatic to help you? Yes, I don't know, I can't like
(31:05):
specifically, but I feel like mywhole life and a lot of my
training style I incorporate like anything gymnastics balance
challenges, like I love setting up Hosu balls and like doing
crazy stuff on them. Like I've done hand stands on
medicine balls. Like I'll just like dumbbells,
(31:28):
like stacked dumbbells did hand stands on them.
Like just kind of like a little sketchy things get the
adrenaline rush going kind of fun.
I don't know if it's technicallycircus stuff, you know, I'll
like I'll try to be like backflip burpees in between.
Like if it's a type of gym like that has turf and stuff,
sometimes I'll like, integrate that into my workout just
(31:51):
because, like I've mentioned before, the gymnastics stuff is
it's my whole life. Like, that's the thing I've
always been passionate about. So I try to keep it up.
Yeah, the lunk alarm has been fun.
I just just doing pistol squats to a heel stretch and somehow
it's almost at like 3 million views of the Internet.
Yeah, so crazy. What the hell?
(32:13):
That's amazing. That's amazing.
I, I love that so much. And again, I love how you just,
like, continue the art and scaleof gymnastics.
Like, I feel like I took my flexibility for granted.
And I was like, yeah, I'm alwaysgonna be able to do the splits
and hand stands and everything like that.
And now I'm like, whoa, my body is so different from 10 years
(32:35):
ago. Yeah.
And I, the older I've gotten, the more that I notice, like if
I take a break from doing it, I feel it more.
And so it's almost like the older I get, the more often I
have to keep it up, which is definitely been like the last
couple years. I feel my body kind of going 0,
like, OK, I'm feeling a little bit more this time.
(32:57):
But yeah, it's it's so much to keep up gymnastic skills.
And yeah, I remember my mom ingraining in me when I was a
kid. She goes, you don't keep your
splits up. You're not going to have your
splits anymore. And I feel like that was
something that just like stuck in my head where I was like, I
don't, I'm so scared to like lose.
Your skills, yeah, well, I feel like you're gonna keep them
(33:19):
around for much longer. And then in terms of foot
archery specifically, like, whatare you thinking?
Like, is it just a hobby right now?
Is it like a cool party trick? Like are you still practicing as
much as you used to when you were training initially?
Yeah, good question. So I have the last year kind of
(33:43):
trained a bit less. So I still like practice and
stuff and I could still go do it.
But it's been really hard to, tokeep up with normal life, to be
honest. And I think there was a point
where I wanted to try and perform and I probably still
could like work my way back to being at that consistency to
(34:04):
performing. But it was like, OK, am I going
to go all in and do this or I have up so many other things I
also like to do in life that it was kind of like picking which
which road to go down. And I always kind of kick myself
because I'm like, I should go practice more.
Like no one, barely anyone knowshow to do this.
(34:27):
I get such a unique skill. But then at the same time, like
even the pressure on my lower back, like I, the flexibility
thing is pretty natural for me, but I'm also not like as hyper
flexible as some of the girls that do it.
Like some of them are true contortionists and I'm very
(34:47):
flexible, but I'm not a true contortionist.
And so I think it's a bit different of a strain on my body
than it is on like like Shannon Jones.
Like she can just like flip overand bend.
And yeah, I've been, I've been practicing and keeping it up.
But as far as performing, there was kind of a point where I
wanted to and then I decided, I don't know, like I have so many
(35:10):
other hobbies that it's kind of rough to.
Yeah, yeah, I totally get that. But don't lose the skill because
it's super cool, Elizabeth. And yeah, I'm just, I'm.
It's so cool to learn more aboutit.
Like you, like you said, there'sso few people in the world that
do this. It's just so cool to talk to you
(35:32):
about it. Yeah, yeah, it's a, it's fun.
It's definitely like, it is a fun party trick, like you said.
Like it's so fun to just be like, Oh yeah, like I do this
and, you know, just like it's such a good.
What's the word like a? Oh, it's like a fun.
Fact or hitting talent or like 2truths and a lie or something
(35:54):
like that. And it's like, I always win.
Like if it's if it's two truths and a lie, right?
It's always like, well, you know, you can't really.
And so that's fun. But it's like.
Yeah, I don't know. And then of course, we'll we'll
share some videos on the Instagram.
But yeah, I love the content. Keep it up.
Thank you. Alrighty.
(36:15):
OK, so shall we move on to Section 3, modern day archery
competitions? Let's do it.
Section 3 Modern day archery competitions Trivia Question
three What's the maximum score you can get with a single arrow
(36:38):
in Olympic target archery? A Five points, B eight points,
C10 points or D12 points. 10 points.
Yeah, perfect. Oh heck yeah, two nice even
number. Go nice even number.
(37:00):
Yeah, The answer is like, I try to mix it up, but it's like
usually B or CI, don't know, Yeah.
Oh my gosh, I love it. Amazing.
And was that just like a guess or you kind of had an idea?
Totally. OK, good total guess.
I love that luck of the draw. Love it.
So a little dive, deep dive here.
In Olympic archery, competitors shoot at a target 70 meters
(37:24):
away. The target's gold center is
worth 10 points, and Archer's aim for the perfect precision.
Modern competitions include bothindividual and team events with
recurve bows as the standard, which I don't know what that is,
but you were mentioning recurve and.
(37:44):
Oh my God why did I literally just flank hold on compound
Compound bow. Literally the type of bow I
have. I'm like not fungal that's so
bad. Compound bow it's OK, it's.
It's Friday, Yes. So they do it in the in the
Olympics with recurve bows, not compound bows or I guess recurve
(38:08):
bows are the standard. Anyways, there is also a vibrant
world of compound bow competitions with the kind of
arrow that Elizabeth has. So 3D archery, which is shooting
at foam animal targets and even quote bow hunting and quote
(38:29):
competitions in the USI don't know what that like.
I I I guess that's shooting realanimals and that's really sad.
Sounds like it, yeah. And then lastly here, just to
give you guys the sort of like modern current event, tying into
this, the most recent gold medalist for Olympic archery was
(38:51):
Kim Wujin from South Korea, who won the gold medal at Paris 2024
Olympic Games. So a few discussion questions
for you, Elizabeth. Have you ever considered trying
competition archery, even just for fun?
I know it's like competition isn't always fun, but has that
(39:11):
ever crossed your mind? Well, for foot archery,
acrobatic archery, I don't thinkthere's like a competitive.
Yeah, I don't think so either. I'm not aware of one, but
there's not that many of us in the world.
So yeah, I don't know. I remember when I went to
(39:33):
Central Coast Archery, I went toshoot with one of my friends.
Just like with our hands. Yeah, not with me, but I brought
my bow in and I was like practicing with the target and I
was kind of like, this would be cool to like learn more about
like with my hands and stuff andget good at.
And like, I remember seeing likesome or some people talking
about competing there and there was like part of me that was
(39:56):
kind of like, and then I just never, never pursued it.
Yeah, yeah. I mean, anything like even like
a Guinness World Record, like, is that something that would be
interesting to you? I mean, that would be super cool
of course, but I feel like I like, I don't know what it would
be like. I'm I'm like, OK, so we did
(40:16):
fire. They did distance.
Like maybe something with a skateboard like I do hand stands
on skateboards, like I'm moving.Oh my God thing.
Like I've done them on Bosu balls.
I started training with my bow on a Bosu ball.
So I, I don't know, maybe something like that.
The Bosu ball's not as scary as the skateboard.
(40:37):
Yeah, I don't know. Both are very impressive for
sure. Thank you.
And also, like, I don't, I don'teven know how to.
How do you even get someone fromGuinness World Records to come
record you? I don't know how that works.
I I guess you, you probably submit an application and I, I
have no, I have no clue. I don't know.
(40:58):
Yeah, to look into it. Yeah.
I mean, even though, yeah, we should look into it, but it's
totally like this seems like more of like a hobby, like for
fun, fun party trick. And that in my opinion, is like
kind of what keeps it light and like more fun that way anyways,
for sure, 'cause I know like as you and I were both previously
(41:20):
competitive gymnasts, you definitely understand mental
focus and competitions. So how does that compare to the
mental state that you need for foot archery?
Yeah, that's a great question. I feel like the gymnastics focus
really comes into play with footarchery, especially like not
(41:41):
even just when you're learning, but every single time that you
put the bow between your feet and you go up into that
handstand because it's like, again, it, it's a weapon and you
have to like really remember that because you could hurt
someone, you know something you it could hurt yourself.
And so I don't know if you, you probably know what I'm talking
(42:02):
about. Not all the listeners totally
will, but maybe they will with their own sport.
But there is a certain type of like extreme focus, especially
when you go on balance beam. Oh my God, that's where my mind
immediately went. Beam is a very different like
all the other events are, you know, nerve wracking, but beam
(42:23):
is very, very different, especially when you are
competing in front of a judge and it's just like you could get
hurt, like the the fear of falling off the beam, even
though if you might not get hurt, it's just like also pretty
shameful and you fall out of meat.
Yeah, I know. So it's kind of like that, like
kick into gear beam focus that that comes on when I go up into
(42:45):
the handstand and and shoot. And you also just have to be so
aware of like if something does go wrong when you're upside
down, like how to get out of it properly.
I think that's a really big thing that I had to learn.
And like also another reason whythe focus is so important
because you need to know like ifsomething happens right away,
how do you navigate that fall orlike.
(43:06):
You know, yeah, seems like gymnastics has really prepared
you really well for this. And it makes sense cause like
looking at the other talented performers, Orissa Kelly and
Shannon Jones, both are previousgymnasts.
So it makes so much sense that not only the flexibility, the
strength, the creativity, and then finally that like laser
(43:28):
focus beam mentality, just everything is as one together.
It's sort of like a meditative. I was gonna say it's meditative.
It totally is. Yeah, it's, it's a weird sort of
undescribable feeling where, yeah, you just, you tap in, you
(43:49):
have one focus and that focus isdoing everything on the beam and
not falling off. And funny tangent, every time
before beam at a meet I always had to pee.
Nervous pee like. I mean, it was either a nervous
pee or it was like, I don't know.
(44:09):
I just need this out of me so that I can fully be you.
Know what I get that I get that I understand that I would.
Always feel like coach so sorry.Can I go to the bathroom?
Like I I know I'm like on deck, but I need to go.
Oh my gosh, there is literally like gymnasts can relate.
That feeling is unreal. Like the beam, just the entire
(44:33):
routine and and that's yeah, that's a lot of foot archery.
But actually I would rather do abillion shots with foot archery
and then get up and perform a beam routine out of meat like.
Honestly, that's so fair. The thought of doing that, I'm
like, oh gosh, I that was that is part of my life is done.
(44:54):
It was fun. Beam was my best event but like
oh hell no not again. Beam queen.
Beam Queen. Oh yes.
What about this Elizabeth? What about doing the foot
archery on a beam? You know what?
I feel like that wouldn't be that crazy.
Yeah, because like the the canesare sort of like that.
And it's not elevated. So what are you talking like?
(45:15):
OK, like English handstand hold or side handstand, either way,
like English. I think that's English, right?
Is that what they call it? I think this.
Is called the English dance, Yeah.
Where your hands are together and you're like.
Yes, you're like straight on versus sideways like the level 5
dismount. Yep, that would be easier.
(45:35):
Yeah, I that'd be a lot easier. Exactly it.
That's what I was thinking. Like I was like OK, sideways she
could totally do it. It's like the same thing as what
she currently. Is that's not too crazy?
Yeah. I mean, I say that you could
like, shoot. Shoot the judge in the face.
Oh my God this is getting graphic.
I do not condone this behavior. OK, not allowed.
(46:00):
Oh my God, that's so funny. Oh my gosh, that was a great
tangent. I loved that.
So we're we're, we went, we madeit through all of our three
sections here and you got two out of three trivia questions.
Right. Round of applause for Miss
Elizabeth, Miss E Willie, I loveit.
Is there anything that you thought like I missed during
this that you want to share about foot archery?
(46:22):
I feel like I covered a lot of ground here, but like, this is
your space. Let me know if I missed
something that you want to shareabout this.
OK, there's one thing that comesto mind.
This is just a random. Fact.
So like, you're gripping with your toes, right?
Yeah. And everyone always asks, do
(46:43):
your feet cramp? Do your feet hurt?
You have grippy feet, like all the things.
And I'm like, that is the easiest part to me was figuring
that part out. Yeah, like I, I don't know how
did this it it, it's not that great.
Like your feet cut like I remember them cramping a little
bit like the first time I did it, but like it's way more like
(47:06):
the laser focus that drains you and your my low back, my feet,
it's like whatever. Like I don't know, like if my
feet are fine. It's more so just like how
intense the focus is and like even your wrists.
Cause like you can only practiceso much until your wrist hurt or
your low back hurts. And like everyone is always like
your feet must be cramping and killing you or like you have
(47:29):
strong feet. And I'm like, maybe from doing
so much toe point, like just pointing my toes in gymnastics.
I was about to say. Probably helps, but anyways,
that's my little fun fact that everyone always asks SO.
That's so funny you bring that up because that didn't cross my
mind when writing this outline. And I think that's because I
(47:51):
also, you know, I pick things upwith my feet, like using my feet
in my daily life is very normal for me and I.
Think again. This comes this stems from
gymnastics. You have to point your toes all
the time. When you're on the beam, you're
using your toes to sort of grip it and make sure you don't fall
off. Yeah, literally they would sit
(48:12):
on my toes to point. Yeah, I.
Was going to say, did your coachlike, yeah, we had to walk on
the floor with our toes curled under.
Did you do that, like, literallywalk across the floor with our
toes curled under? Like OK, like problematic.
That's a little crazy. I'm fine so far.
OK, I'm glad you're fine. Clearly I did use some.
(48:34):
Clearly it did use some, some good some.
I. Guess so assistance preparation
for the bow and arrow, but that.Totally makes sense.
For me, like you, your feet, like I feel like our feet
muscles are just so strong. And also it's so important to
stabilize the ankle with those feet muscles.
(48:54):
And a lot of gymnastics is punching, punching the ground.
So like, that makes a lot of sense to me, and that's probably
why that's not an issue for you.Yeah, I'd be curious someone
that didn't do gymnastics, if they would have the same, you
know what I mean? Probably their feet.
That would be really hard. You know, yeah.
Yeah, doing this episode, I feellike you already knew a lot.
(49:18):
Obviously you're a foot Archer Acrobat, but is there anything
that you learned during this that really stood out to you?
What was your favorite thing that you learned?
The fact about King Henry the Eighth, the first King Henry,
was it not the first one? That first fact you told, the
fact you told me, which I'm going to butcher saying it, so
I'm not going to say it, but that was like, I would have
(49:40):
never thought to research that. And it's pretty cool.
And just learning, you know, I knew a lot about ERISA Kelly and
all that. I didn't know the fact about
Wonder Woman too. Yeah, that was pretty cool to
hear. I liked hearing that as well.
So yeah, thank you. Very cool.
I'm educated. I'm ready to do a trivia.
(50:00):
Thank you fun edutainment education plus entertainment.
Yes. I always like to do a sort of
like first section is sort of history, second section is like
about what we're talking about, and third section is sort of
like modern times, like future. So that's kind of like the
pattern I like to follow. I like it.
(50:21):
Thanks. So sounds like you had fun.
Did you have fun? Yes, yes, let's do it again.
Oh my God, amazing. So if you were to come again,
what would you want to be quizzed on?
Probably Taylor Swift. I was thinking that too and.
Then today. Oh my.
God, yeah. What does that mean?
(50:42):
OK. Did you read the posts that she
did? I mean, yeah, I saw Taylor's
Taylor Swift. 'S I don't know if she's it was
messing with us with their reputation thing.
Yeah, like basically she announced she owns all of her
records, all of her music now, which is great.
We love that. But are we still getting
Reputation Taylor's version? Because I want those bonus.
(51:05):
Tracks OK from my understanding my sister and I were like
decoding this together. We're pretty sure that she's not
re releasing reputation cuz it sounded like she said that she
doesn't want to go through that phase again.
Maybe OK my sister read her postout loud to me and she thinks
(51:28):
that she can't re record it better.
Maybe I I I don't know. This is what Lauren was and I
were talking about. I could be making things up but
I respect that. But then I also think she still
might be doing. She might release the vault
tracks still. OK, good.
(51:49):
I. I, I, yeah, I feel like you and
Lauren have a good interpretation of it.
I personally, I haven't had timetoday to read the the letter,
but that sounds pretty spot on. Like reputation was a really
difficult, emotionally charged era for her.
It was for all of us. For all of us, yeah.
(52:11):
And like, you could argue like it's quote UN quote darkest of
all of her albums, I guess. Maybe not TPD, but.
As I say, TPD is like it's all over the place, though TPD is
also positive. True.
Yeah, So reputation, I get it. Not trying to live through it
again. I do hope we get those vault
tracks because I am sure they'reabsolutely savage.
(52:35):
Wrapping up here, anything coming up for you Elizabeth,
that you want to promote on the pod?
Like we can tag your TikTok? Anything else you want to share?
Nothing crazy. I'd say like I'm, I'm still
doing a lot of my like lunk alarm challenges on TikTok.
So if you want to look at that and if you like any of your
(52:56):
listeners have any ideas of likechallenges you want me to do
with that, then like totally open to it.
It's been a lot of fun, but I'm like getting through.
I've done so many different things where I'm like, OK, what
next? And so, yeah, yeah, I guess just
just my tech talk. I I post mostly on there.
It's at Eliz Willy, so ELIZWILLEY.
(53:19):
And then it's the same on Instagram if you're curious, but
I don't really post a lot on. Instagram.
So yeah, amazing. And then last question, just for
people like me who were unaware quickly, what is a lunk alarm?
OK, so the lunk alarm is this alarm they have at Planet
Fitness and it's supposed to go off like when you're being a
(53:41):
quote lunk. So they have different criteria
for that, but mostly it's when you're doing something that's
gym timidating. So you're like trying to
intimidate people or also the big thing is dropping weights.
So I don't know if they use it as much as they used to because
there's been a lot of complaints.
But essentially the workers can set it off with this like kind
(54:04):
of blaring alarm that goes off if someone does it.
So a lot of the stuff that I do isn't necessarily like going to
set off the lunk one 'cause I'm not dropping weight.
It's more kind of like testing the limits.
Like it's gym timidating 'cause I'm doing like kind of crazy
things that you wouldn't necessarily see at Planet
Fitness, although I've seen someinteresting things there too.
(54:27):
Side note. But yeah, you know what I mean?
Anyway, so yeah, that's the lunkalarm.
That's like the gist of it. But yeah, it's a button behind
the desk that they push, but there's a lunk alarm on the
actual wall by the weights, yeah.
OK. Very good to know.
Thank you so much for explainingthat.
I had to message Elizabeth aboutthis a few months ago to be
like, hey, So what are you doing?
(54:48):
It's, it was like literally the most random.
It was one of those times where you post not really knowing what
you're doing and then you get like, I was like 1,000,000
views, 2 million views, three. I'm like, Oh my gosh, like I
wasn't even thinking and I just pressed post.
And then now all my videos that are about the lunk alarm seem to
kind of get picked up by the algorithm, which has been fun.
(55:09):
So that's so fun, and if I can find the sound, the audio of a
lunk alarm, I'll put it in. I love it.
Wrapping up here, just wanted tosay thank you to the listeners
(55:30):
for listening to the show. This is Trivia Tangents where we
cover various trivia topics. We have new episodes released
every Thursday, which I like to call Trivia Thursday.
I'm your host Lena, and special thanks to our guest Elizabeth
for sharing her awesome insightsand trivia tangents about foot
archery with us. Make sure to keep an eye out for
(55:52):
next week's episode all about rock climbing.
Thanks for listening. And learning.
If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five star
rating or thumbs up. Follow or subscribe and share
with a friend for bonus content.You can find trivia tangents on
Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, and of course, all podcast platforms
under Trivia Tangents Podcast. Check out our website at
(56:13):
triviatangentspodcast.com to purchase trivia starter packs
based on these episodes, perfectfor hosting your very own trivia
night.
Welcome to Trivia Tangents, the podcast to return everyday
passions into surprising trivia deep dives.
I'm your host, Lena, and each week I quiz a friend on
something that they know way toomuch about, turning everyday
passions into trivia gold. We all know that on trivia
night, the bigger the team, the better you'll play, so that's
(00:32):
why I bring the team together here on Trivia tangents.
Today's guest is Elizabeth, who's here to talk all about
foot archery, so get ready for some fun facts you'll definitely
want for your next trivia night.OK.
Hi, Hello. Welcome to the pod.
(00:57):
How are you? I'm great.
I'm so excited to be here with you, Lena.
This is awesome. Thank you so much for being
here. It has been so incredibly
overdue for us to do a catch up and like what a fun topic to
discuss as we do a little catch up together as well.
Yeah, it's perfect. Yeah, so we're recording on a
(01:20):
Friday. We have some fun weekend plans.
I'm drinking a little matcha in my Sunrise Shack mug.
Elizabeth got a little Starbucks.
Actually, Nautical Bean shout out, it's local to San Luis
Obispo. Have I?
Did I take you there when you came here like a long time ago?
(01:40):
OK, that's like my favorite coffee shop down the street.
Oh my gosh, sorry apology. It looks like a Starbucks cup.
Like a. Little yes, I love it.
And what was your order again? We got a iced vanilla latte half
sweetened with oat. Milk.
I love that it sounds so good, very basic.
(02:01):
So just to give the listeners a little bit of background on my
fabulous guest, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is my super talented
friend. She was a college cheerleader.
She graduated college a entire year early.
She is a professional personal trainer, a bread Baker
enthusiast, and a fellow Swifty and my very, very good friend.
(02:25):
We did meet the first year of college at UC Davis, where we
became, quote, UN quote, twins with the same big sister in our
sorority. That feels so long ago, doesn't
it? It's almost 10 years ago, is it?
Crazy. That makes me feel so, yeah,
'cause. We're 27 and what we were 18.
(02:48):
Oh. I know we have our 10 year high
school reunions next year so. That's exciting.
Are you gonna go? I don't know.
We'll see. I don't know.
It depends, like it depends on who's going.
I've always said that because people have asked me, I'm like,
okay, who's going to be there? Like I'm going to friends there,
then I'd probably go. But yeah, I don't know.
(03:09):
We'll see. Well yeah, we've been friends
for a while. So glad we're catching up.
And today we are discussing the crazy, amazing, talenting,
talented sport is a. Sport.
But I I don't know, it's Archer,I don't know if it's a sport.
Yeah, I can't wait to hear your perspective.
Pick your brain about this one. It was really hard to pick just
(03:34):
one topic here because like I said earlier in the intro,
Elizabeth is so incredibly talented.
You guys should check out her TikTok.
She has so many cool hobbies. So this one we're talking about
foot archery and we'll see maybedown the line we can do other
episodes. Definitely.
Yeah. Alrighty.
So today we have 3 sections we're discussing.
(03:56):
One, the origins of recreationalarchery, 2, The art of foot
archery, three modern day archery competitions.
Are you ready for question one? Let's get into it.
I'm so excited. Trivia question one.
(04:21):
Which historical figure is credited with helping transform
archery from a military skill into a popular recreational
pastime in England? I just see your face already.
OK, I'll give you options here. A William the Conqueror, B King
Henry the Eighth C Robin Hood orD Queen Elizabeth the 1st.
(04:47):
Oh my gosh, I feel like I want to say Queen Elizabeth because
you know the name. What was the first one?
Go back to the first one. First one a William the
Conqueror. AI have no clue who is it.
Oh. For one, oh for one, the answer
(05:09):
was King Henry the Eighth. That was going to be my second
choice. Always a second choice.
Well, anyways, here's a little deep dive just so you can try
and remember this for trivia nights in the future when this
comes up. King Henry the Eighth was a
major proponent of archery for the common people, passing laws
(05:30):
in the 16th century that required Englishmen to practice
archery. Though it was initially for
military preparedness. Of course, it laid the
groundwork for archery as a sport and social activity.
And then later in the 19th century, archery became an
organized sport with competitions and social clubs,
(05:52):
making it a leisure activity that still persists today.
In fact, I do live near next to Golden Gate Park and there is an
archery range literally probablya 3 minute walk from me.
Oh. My gosh, have you checked it
out? I have these people look very
passionate and also it also seems like they're living out
(06:17):
their LARP dreams. Oh, I can see that.
Elizabeth, I am so curious to know your beginnings with
archery. So how familiar were you with
regular hand upper body archery initially?
I absolutely love this question because I had never shot a bow
(06:39):
with my hands. Like ever.
Ever. Ever.
Ever. I So in middle school they had
an archery class and they took it out of the program the year
before me and I was like so excited about it, whatever.
But I guess it's not too safe for middle schoolers to be
shooting around bows and stuff so they cut the program.
(07:00):
At least that's what I heard. And so yeah, I straight up went
into this with 0 experience, no clue what I was doing.
Wow, wow. OK, that that brings me to
another question, which I know Ididn't prep you with, but like
how did you pick this up? Like OK, inspired you?
(07:21):
What crazy. Pick up a bow, OK?
So back story how I do foot archery is like I I don't know
if you have a video of it to show with this, but I do it.
I will dense to. Show a video.
Yeah, so it's like acrobatic or foot archery, and I do it with a
handstand bent over so you're arched over and shooting with
your feet. So I call it acrobatic archery
(07:43):
or foot archery. It's kind of both.
But basically it was 2021. I went to the circus in town.
Like, thing is, Circus Vargas iswhat it's called.
They come to town like once a year.
And I love new challenges. Like I'm just, I, I hyper focus
(08:03):
on something and it's it's fun. It's what I do.
I was a gymnast growing up. So I saw this girl and she was
doing it on, you know, at the circus and I was like there,
that's amazing. Like I want to be able to do
that. And so I took it on and for like
that entire summer, I just everyday was practicing and teaching
(08:24):
myself. So it's just kind of like a
little a little challenge. Like I saw it and I was like, I
bet I could figure it out. I have the gymnastics background
and then went from there. Yeah, that's amazing.
Thanks for sharing. And we'll get into into like
your props and everything in in later sections.
But could you remind me what year was that when you started
(08:45):
that? 2021.
OK. So it's like not peak COVID,
kind of like peak. Still COVID times, yeah.
Still COVID times but like, people were out and about with
masks and stuff, yeah. COVID hobby?
Probably. Yeah, COVID hobby for sure.
OK, cool. And so that kind of covers my
(09:06):
next question of what drew you to foot archery specifically.
Yeah. But I guess in that time, like,
did you also practice with your hands or was it just feet?
A little bit, but like I was so hyper focused on figuring out
how to do it that like I would pick it up and like kind of
(09:28):
practice with my hands here and there just to understand how the
bow works. And then I like went to the like
local archery places called Central Coast Archery and I like
shot with my hands a little bit there and like some people gave
me a couple pointers, but basically everything that I was
learning with my hands was so that I could figure out how to
(09:48):
better do it with my feet. Oh my gosh, I love that.
Yeah. She's a monkey, you guys.
She's so talented. Let's jump into Section 2.
This is my favorite section and I think you'll get the question
right. So Section 2, the art of foot
(10:16):
archery. Are you ready for question 2?
Let's dive in. Which British performer and foot
Archer was featured on Britain'sGot Talent and holds the title
of the world's first foot Archerto shoot fire arrows upside
down? A Shannon Jones, B Rosa Valo, C
(10:40):
Emily Chong or D Orissa Kelly. B Yeah, I knew you get that
right. I knew you get that right I.
Follow her on Instagram only theonly reason I know.
Yeah, of course you do. So I wonder in that circus that
you saw, like, what are the oddsthat it was her?
(11:03):
It wasn't because I have a videoof it, OK, but pretty high,
honestly. Because like, if I didn't have
that video, I'd say like, probably pretty high 'cause I
know she does a lot of performances all over.
Like she performs at NBA halftimes, which is so cool, and
(11:23):
all sorts of other stuff. So yeah, but.
Yeah, I I was looking at her website in preparation for this
episode. Like you can book her for a
private event. Yes, yeah, I know.
That's like the one thing I was like, maybe I should consider
that, but I don't know. We'll see.
Yeah, cuz like if you mess up, then it's like staring my money
(11:44):
back. Yeah.
Yeah, and also like, it's a bow and it there's an arrow and
that's like super dangerous if you like.
Yup. You know, like it's still a
weapon. Yup, so.
There's that. Yeah, the the element of danger
is, You know what makes it so interesting though?
Yes. But for sure.
I know you already know all about ERISA Kelly and you follow
(12:06):
her on Instagram, but just to give the listeners a little bit
of background and a little shoutout to ERISA Kelly, I have a
little section that I want to read about her.
So ERISA Kelly is a professionalfoot Archer from Watford,
England. ERISA began gymnastics just like
us at the age of 3 and went on to compete for Great Britain at
(12:30):
the age of 17. She cancelled her university
application just months before starting and followed her heart
by joining the circus. In April 2015, Arissa bought her
first bow and arrow. She went to a cricket field and
began teaching herself a skill that was absolutely unheard of.
(12:51):
After training every day, six hours a day for six months, she
created her foot archery act that would go on to take her
around the world. Just like Elizabeth, she had no
previous archery knowledge before 2015 and actually learnt
with her feet before her hands. And her signature move is
(13:12):
shooting flaming arrows with herfeet upside down.
Oh. My gosh.
Yeah. The the fire, it's just crazy.
Yeah. So where did you first learn
about her? Oh my gosh, I think so.
I feel like all my friends will send me, including you probably
have sent me like videos of random gymnastics people or like
(13:34):
foot Archers. And so I think someone probably
just sent me like a video of herdoing foot archery.
And I don't remember when, but years ago, like when I had
started out and I actually DM Edher when I was trying to learn,
she didn't answer, but I I get it.
I like she has so many followersand I'm like don't have any
(13:55):
comparatively. And I think she's actually
commented on something of mine since so like, oh, cool.
Yeah. Anyways, I don't know, but I
love that. Basically she I was asking her
like, hey, like I'm new to this.What kind of bow should I use?
I was like, there's no one to question.
Yeah. But anyways, I figured it out
(14:15):
myself and I did my own, you know, research.
But I was like, let's see if sheanswers.
I get it though. It's like people with so many
followers like influencers, influencers and stuff like it's
so hard to keep up with everything so.
Yeah, so you guys might have seen ERISA Kelly on Britain's
Got Talent in 2016. I will link the clip and put it
(14:37):
on the Instagram. It's pretty cool.
She like, pretends to shoot the host.
Like when they're doing their little background interview,
she's like, watch out, watch out.
And they're like playing around.She also did some stunts for
Wonder Woman. Did you know that?
Yes, yes. Oh my gosh, that's cool.
My favorite I'm like, that is goals.
(15:00):
Honestly that would be so cool. So freaking cool.
She probably met Gal Gadot. Yeah, I love that movie too.
So. Same.
Love that movie. Yeah.
So for Wonder Woman, a fun fact,sad fact, not a fun fact.
They actually did not use the footage that she filmed.
(15:22):
OK, I thought that might be the case cause I've seen it and I
was like, I haven't seen foot archery on it I don't think.
Right, exactly. But I knew that she was in it.
Yes, so I watched an interview and she was saying that, the
stunt coordinator said, quote. It was too ridiculous, even for
(15:44):
Wonder Woman. No way.
Oh my gosh. Tea.
What? Yeah, so they were just like,
Nope, the these Amazon ladies orwhatever they were, this is too
advanced for them. They're not like.
Kind of little flex over here. Yeah, that's what that's what
(16:04):
she was saying. She's like, yeah, I guess that's
a compliment. Oh my gosh.
Wow, that's crazy. She's so talented.
In addition to filming on WonderWoman, she performed for Her
Majesty the Queen herself. And I don't know what year this
was, but it's posted on her website, the quote.
(16:25):
She's obviously very, very proudof this moment to perform for
the Queen. Yeah.
So, the Queen said Quote. I was most impressed by her
performance. Her Majesty the Queen.
Oh my gosh, I love it. I mean, I've been bragging about
that. That's so cool.
(16:45):
Yeah, especially for someone who's, you know, British like
that's. Yes, yeah.
Ultimate goals. Amazing.
And then last place you guys might have seen her is her
winning a Guinness World Record.She is the Guinness World Record
holder for furthest arrow shot with feet whilst being set on
fire which is called a body burn.
(17:09):
I've seen a video and it's crazybecause they have to spray her
down with a fire extinguisher afterwards because there's fire
on her legs. It's crazy.
I don't know if I could do. I don't think I could do it.
Yeah, I'd please think that's where I I think that's where I
draw the line. Yeah, please don't do that.
Oh my gosh, she's so crazy. That's amazing.
(17:30):
She's always like trying to pushthe boundaries, right?
So for this world record, she basically shot it 7 meters.
And for my Americans listening, that's 22.96 feet, which is
really far. That's far.
And then last piece of, you know, little fun fact here
before we get into our tangents,I did mention Shannon Jones as
(17:53):
one of the answers, the multiplechoice answers.
And I I don't know, does that name ring a bell at all to you?
I'm. Pretty sure I know who you're
talking about. Is she like Shannon Michaela I
think on Instagram? Oh I don't know her Instagram
but. Can I can I see it if I?
Yeah, go ahead. Let me see it.
Let me pull it up. I'm pretty sure I know you're
(18:16):
talking about she Shannon. Oh, there she is.
OK, wait. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
S. Hanne.
S yeah, yeah, I like to see it too bright.
Well, why don't we tag her? Tag her.
(18:37):
But yeah, I, I wanted to includeher on that list because she is
also extremely talented and I kind of wanted to trip you up.
I was like, oh, both of these people are foot archery
acrobats. So shout out to Shannon Jones.
She also has the Guinness World Record, so very impressive.
(18:57):
Hers is a little different. She has farthest arrow shot
using feet at 18.27 meters. And remember Erisa's was 7
meters but ERISA was set on fireso.
That that statement is just insane.
I I will not get over that. Like, yeah, yeah, I think she
(19:19):
Shannon's done some stuff like on a skateboard even too, like
moving really skateboard and hitting target.
Yeah, she does some really cool stuff.
That's so cool. OK, so yeah, I wanted to make
sure Shannon got a little shout out, not leave her out because
she's so talented too. So OK, let's let's do our
discussion tangent. So I want to learn more about
you and your journey with this. So yeah, we kind of touched on
(19:43):
like how you got into it, but I want to know more about the
training process. So what was your process for
combining flexibility and archery?
Oh my goodness. So I happen to be working full
time at a gym when I started foot archery and so I had a lot
(20:03):
of like. Extra time between training and
classes and stuff and so and resources too.
So like I used when I first started, you know, those like
long bands, like pull up bands, like really long, like elastic
bands and gyms. Oh yeah.
Physical therapy I call bands. Kind of, but I, I call them pull
up bands. I can send you exactly what it
(20:24):
is if you OK are curious, but they're just like the long
thinner ones like you can do like people will put them on the
bars to like help them with pullups, kind of like that.
Oh yes, and they're kind of likea cube.
They're kind of like a cube shape down.
Yep. I also use those in physical
therapy. Those are more What's the word?
(20:45):
Tension. Tension and more structured
than. Like, yes, yeah.
Yeah. So you can like really put your
weight on it. Yeah, so.
I like, came back from the circus and I was like, I think I
wanna, I'm gonna figure out how to do this.
I didn't have a bow yet. And there were these those bands
(21:07):
sitting around and I had one of the lighter ones.
And I figured out kind of like, how to position myself and like,
how to shoot using a band. So it was like, like, I put the
band like a rubber band. Yeah.
Like shooting a rubber band. Exactly.
And so I did it sitting down to,like, figure out how to grip it.
(21:28):
And then I did it with a handstand.
It was kind of an easy thing to fail with because it wasn't like
a bow that would just fall if I,like, let go of it or whatever.
So I started out with that. My dad actually helped me make
handstand canes. That's what they're called, the
(21:49):
little props you go on. You don't have to use those, but
a lot of like the circus artistsand like anyone you see will
usually do the archery on handstand canes.
And so my dad helped me like build them and everything.
And at the same timing we did that, I ordered a $30 kids bow
(22:10):
off of Amazon, just like technically a recurve style.
It was just like a super cheap bow, super light, like, you
know, the whole thing. And I remember that when that
came in the mail and I kind of like, I remember shooting it in
my parents backyard just to kindof like play around with it.
And I made like, so there's thisthing called a biscuit on a bow,
(22:34):
which is holds the arrow in place.
And I was like trying to figure out because the bow I had didn't
have a biscuit or anything to hold the arrow in place.
And you need that if you're kicking over into a handstand
because the arrow will just fallout.
So I was like, that was a big point of like, OK, what do I do?
So I made a duct tape makeshift biscuit.
(22:57):
Like I just looped around duct tape and like adhered it to.
The bow. And so I just rigged it up and
like practice with that. And it was super janky practice
with it for a few months just toget the right positioning.
And it was a lot of like trial and error and figuring out how
(23:21):
to get my feet all the way upside down, like over my head
into the right position and lots.
Of. Lower back training for
flexibility and also making suremy lower back stayed strong so
that it was like not also hurting me.
So I was like I was even noticing like I do a lot of
strength training and so as I was doing so much more
(23:43):
flexibility stuff with my lower back, I was noticing like I do
back squats and I was like my low back just felt weaker and so
I had to like shift around even my strength training to make
sure that I was not hurting myself there and strength.
So strengthening my core strengthening my low back
because I was doing so much moreflexibility anyway.
So then are we? After that I went and purchased
(24:05):
a a real bow once I felt like I was close enough to doing it and
ready to make an investment and spent 300 bucks on a bow and
that's the one I still shoot with.
Damn, 300 bucks. OK, so the props here.
That was a lot. I just kind of went over the
props too, but. I love it so giant rubber band
(24:29):
or pull up band. Giant Rubber Band's kind of fun
to say. Yeah, OK.
I like that other band. Handstand pedestals.
Pedestals for your canes. Canes, Handstand canes,
handstand canes. Is what they're called, but
they're kind of like pedestals, I guess.
OK, they look like pedestals. They're called canes.
(24:51):
So giant rubber band handstand canes, kid, arrow, bow and arrow
to start, duct tape to make the biscuit.
And then eventually you graduated to like a heavy duty.
Not heavy duty, but like legit bow and arrow.
And then did you also have like a target set up?
Yeah. So I'll tell you about the bow
(25:13):
and then I'll tell you about thetarget.
But I had to get my bow specifically made like for me.
Well, kind of. I went in to Central Coast
archery. They're awesome there.
I'd like never been in before. And I walk in and I show them my
toy bow and arrow from Amazon. And I was like, this is what I
do. I do foot archery and I have
(25:33):
this. Can you help me get a real bow?
I don't know what I'm doing. And they were.
Like Oh my God, I watched that. Yeah, so I found a Genesis bow.
It's a compound bow, but it was a kid style 'cause it was a
little bit smaller. So it's like a real bow and
arrow compound one 'cause there's compound and recurve.
(25:56):
I don't know if you touched on that much, but anyways, kid
styles, a little smaller, a little bit lighter, and then
they like put on this. I don't even know what it's
called. There's like a grip part for
where you pull back on the actual like string.
And then they added that for me and then they added the biscuit
so that I could hold it in place.
(26:17):
And then I got specific arrows that would be just like like
lighter ones, not really for hunting, you know, more for
performance. And that's so that was that.
And then I initially this is bad, but I had a, my, that tree
in my parents backyard. I was like, great target.
(26:41):
I just like to show a tree, put a balloon.
I know I only shot at the tree once and it's fine.
The tree is OK. But I had these balloons and I
just like kind of put the balloon, like taped it onto the
tree 'cause I, you know, and that first day that I got that
bow, I, that was the first day Ilike hit the balloon target for
(27:02):
the first time. So like same day I got the new
bow and so that that was December and I started in July
of 2020. OK, OK, amazing.
So basically half a year and then probably hitting that
target was like a huge, yes, a huge achievement and also, yeah,
milestone and also like reiterated or helped you feel
(27:26):
more confident in that $300 decision.
Well, yeah, I wasn't going to, like, buy a real bow until I
knew, like, OK, like, I've spentso much time with this.
And it was kind of crazy becauseI realized like the day I got
the bow, I made it and I was like, oh, so my rigged up $30
(27:46):
bow like was kind of the reason I wasn't hitting super straight
because it was kind of janky. But anyways, last thing after
that day, my dad set up a like awooden board in their backyard
for me to shoot at just like a pretty big wooden board.
And so that's in my parents backyard now.
(28:07):
And there's I can like tape balloons to it and stuff if I
want to. So that's great.
Perfect. I love that.
So my other follow up question about your training is in terms
of holding a handstand. I, I know you know, we both did
gymnastics. You were definitely got to
higher level than me, but in my training, one of those like
(28:27):
drills we did was like a handstand game.
Who can hold a handstand the longest?
So for you, I'm sure you alreadyhad that sort of like skill
ingrained in you. So how long can you hold a
handstand? Oh, great question.
So yeah, that's not something I super touched on with my
training before, but it's like Ialready had like the gymnast,
(28:49):
the handstand holding, not the flexibility.
Like I was kind of set up reallywell for this compared to like
someone randomly coming off the streets and doing it.
But the last time I timed my handstand holds without like
just straight handstand, no walking, nothing.
I did a minute that was like probably a year ago that I
timed. It Oh my God.
But yeah, I'm shocked that at this age, like I quit gym like
(29:15):
14 years ago, yeah. So it's just been something that
I love doing. And I love doing it between my
workouts. So I'll just like go up in my
handstand between reps of something.
And I think it's just like, 'cause I love it so much that
I'm able to do it still, but. Yeah, yeah, I love that.
I love that. And I wish I like capped it up
(29:35):
as much as you did because but you could still do.
It. I mean yeah I'm sure I could
still do it, but like I have such bad lower back issues that
like I can't even touch my toes without like a warm up.
No. Do.
You think I'm sitting a lot likewith work?
Yeah, probably just being more stationary.
(29:56):
And also I did take a bar class at this one studio in San
Francisco. It's called Hot Ate Yoga.
I go back and forth about leaving a a Yelp review but they
basically injured me really bad.No.
So yeah, I'm like. I'm.
Sorry, I'm so mad at. That I hope we can rehab it back
(30:19):
and get your hand stands going again.
That would make me happy. Thanks.
Yeah, I've been in PT all year. So we're working our way back.
So kind of reeling it back to your foot artery here.
I know we went on a little tangent.
That's OK. This is Trivia Tangents.
You mentioned, you know, you were working in a gym at the
time and you were just like doing hand stands like here and
(30:40):
there. Were there any other like circus
or acrobatic work that supplemented the foot archery?
I know you do like the videos oflike the lung alarms at Planet
Fitness and you do all these like crazy things to try and set
up the alarm. So is there anything else like
acrobatic to help you? Yes, I don't know, I can't like
(31:05):
specifically, but I feel like mywhole life and a lot of my
training style I incorporate like anything gymnastics balance
challenges, like I love setting up Hosu balls and like doing
crazy stuff on them. Like I've done hand stands on
medicine balls. Like I'll just like dumbbells,
(31:28):
like stacked dumbbells did hand stands on them.
Like just kind of like a little sketchy things get the
adrenaline rush going kind of fun.
I don't know if it's technicallycircus stuff, you know, I'll
like I'll try to be like backflip burpees in between.
Like if it's a type of gym like that has turf and stuff,
sometimes I'll like, integrate that into my workout just
(31:51):
because, like I've mentioned before, the gymnastics stuff is
it's my whole life. Like, that's the thing I've
always been passionate about. So I try to keep it up.
Yeah, the lunk alarm has been fun.
I just just doing pistol squats to a heel stretch and somehow
it's almost at like 3 million views of the Internet.
Yeah, so crazy. What the hell?
(32:13):
That's amazing. That's amazing.
I, I love that so much. And again, I love how you just,
like, continue the art and scaleof gymnastics.
Like, I feel like I took my flexibility for granted.
And I was like, yeah, I'm alwaysgonna be able to do the splits
and hand stands and everything like that.
And now I'm like, whoa, my body is so different from 10 years
(32:35):
ago. Yeah.
And I, the older I've gotten, the more that I notice, like if
I take a break from doing it, I feel it more.
And so it's almost like the older I get, the more often I
have to keep it up, which is definitely been like the last
couple years. I feel my body kind of going 0,
like, OK, I'm feeling a little bit more this time.
(32:57):
But yeah, it's it's so much to keep up gymnastic skills.
And yeah, I remember my mom ingraining in me when I was a
kid. She goes, you don't keep your
splits up. You're not going to have your
splits anymore. And I feel like that was
something that just like stuck in my head where I was like, I
don't, I'm so scared to like lose.
Your skills, yeah, well, I feel like you're gonna keep them
(33:19):
around for much longer. And then in terms of foot
archery specifically, like, whatare you thinking?
Like, is it just a hobby right now?
Is it like a cool party trick? Like are you still practicing as
much as you used to when you were training initially?
Yeah, good question. So I have the last year kind of
(33:43):
trained a bit less. So I still like practice and
stuff and I could still go do it.
But it's been really hard to, tokeep up with normal life, to be
honest. And I think there was a point
where I wanted to try and perform and I probably still
could like work my way back to being at that consistency to
(34:04):
performing. But it was like, OK, am I going
to go all in and do this or I have up so many other things I
also like to do in life that it was kind of like picking which
which road to go down. And I always kind of kick myself
because I'm like, I should go practice more.
Like no one, barely anyone knowshow to do this.
(34:27):
I get such a unique skill. But then at the same time, like
even the pressure on my lower back, like I, the flexibility
thing is pretty natural for me, but I'm also not like as hyper
flexible as some of the girls that do it.
Like some of them are true contortionists and I'm very
(34:47):
flexible, but I'm not a true contortionist.
And so I think it's a bit different of a strain on my body
than it is on like like Shannon Jones.
Like she can just like flip overand bend.
And yeah, I've been, I've been practicing and keeping it up.
But as far as performing, there was kind of a point where I
wanted to and then I decided, I don't know, like I have so many
(35:10):
other hobbies that it's kind of rough to.
Yeah, yeah, I totally get that. But don't lose the skill because
it's super cool, Elizabeth. And yeah, I'm just, I'm.
It's so cool to learn more aboutit.
Like you, like you said, there'sso few people in the world that
do this. It's just so cool to talk to you
(35:32):
about it. Yeah, yeah, it's a, it's fun.
It's definitely like, it is a fun party trick, like you said.
Like it's so fun to just be like, Oh yeah, like I do this
and, you know, just like it's such a good.
What's the word like a? Oh, it's like a fun.
Fact or hitting talent or like 2truths and a lie or something
(35:54):
like that. And it's like, I always win.
Like if it's if it's two truths and a lie, right?
It's always like, well, you know, you can't really.
And so that's fun. But it's like.
Yeah, I don't know. And then of course, we'll we'll
share some videos on the Instagram.
But yeah, I love the content. Keep it up.
Thank you. Alrighty.
(36:15):
OK, so shall we move on to Section 3, modern day archery
competitions? Let's do it.
Section 3 Modern day archery competitions Trivia Question
three What's the maximum score you can get with a single arrow
(36:38):
in Olympic target archery? A Five points, B eight points,
C10 points or D12 points. 10 points.
Yeah, perfect. Oh heck yeah, two nice even
number. Go nice even number.
(37:00):
Yeah, The answer is like, I try to mix it up, but it's like
usually B or CI, don't know, Yeah.
Oh my gosh, I love it. Amazing.
And was that just like a guess or you kind of had an idea?
Totally. OK, good total guess.
I love that luck of the draw. Love it.
So a little dive, deep dive here.
In Olympic archery, competitors shoot at a target 70 meters
(37:24):
away. The target's gold center is
worth 10 points, and Archer's aim for the perfect precision.
Modern competitions include bothindividual and team events with
recurve bows as the standard, which I don't know what that is,
but you were mentioning recurve and.
(37:44):
Oh my God why did I literally just flank hold on compound
Compound bow. Literally the type of bow I
have. I'm like not fungal that's so
bad. Compound bow it's OK, it's.
It's Friday, Yes. So they do it in the in the
Olympics with recurve bows, not compound bows or I guess recurve
(38:08):
bows are the standard. Anyways, there is also a vibrant
world of compound bow competitions with the kind of
arrow that Elizabeth has. So 3D archery, which is shooting
at foam animal targets and even quote bow hunting and quote
(38:29):
competitions in the USI don't know what that like.
I I I guess that's shooting realanimals and that's really sad.
Sounds like it, yeah. And then lastly here, just to
give you guys the sort of like modern current event, tying into
this, the most recent gold medalist for Olympic archery was
(38:51):
Kim Wujin from South Korea, who won the gold medal at Paris 2024
Olympic Games. So a few discussion questions
for you, Elizabeth. Have you ever considered trying
competition archery, even just for fun?
I know it's like competition isn't always fun, but has that
(39:11):
ever crossed your mind? Well, for foot archery,
acrobatic archery, I don't thinkthere's like a competitive.
Yeah, I don't think so either. I'm not aware of one, but
there's not that many of us in the world.
So yeah, I don't know. I remember when I went to
(39:33):
Central Coast Archery, I went toshoot with one of my friends.
Just like with our hands. Yeah, not with me, but I brought
my bow in and I was like practicing with the target and I
was kind of like, this would be cool to like learn more about
like with my hands and stuff andget good at.
And like, I remember seeing likesome or some people talking
about competing there and there was like part of me that was
(39:56):
kind of like, and then I just never, never pursued it.
Yeah, yeah. I mean, anything like even like
a Guinness World Record, like, is that something that would be
interesting to you? I mean, that would be super cool
of course, but I feel like I like, I don't know what it would
be like. I'm I'm like, OK, so we did
(40:16):
fire. They did distance.
Like maybe something with a skateboard like I do hand stands
on skateboards, like I'm moving.Oh my God thing.
Like I've done them on Bosu balls.
I started training with my bow on a Bosu ball.
So I, I don't know, maybe something like that.
The Bosu ball's not as scary as the skateboard.
(40:37):
Yeah, I don't know. Both are very impressive for
sure. Thank you.
And also, like, I don't, I don'teven know how to.
How do you even get someone fromGuinness World Records to come
record you? I don't know how that works.
I I guess you, you probably submit an application and I, I
have no, I have no clue. I don't know.
(40:58):
Yeah, to look into it. Yeah.
I mean, even though, yeah, we should look into it, but it's
totally like this seems like more of like a hobby, like for
fun, fun party trick. And that in my opinion, is like
kind of what keeps it light and like more fun that way anyways,
for sure, 'cause I know like as you and I were both previously
(41:20):
competitive gymnasts, you definitely understand mental
focus and competitions. So how does that compare to the
mental state that you need for foot archery?
Yeah, that's a great question. I feel like the gymnastics focus
really comes into play with footarchery, especially like not
(41:41):
even just when you're learning, but every single time that you
put the bow between your feet and you go up into that
handstand because it's like, again, it, it's a weapon and you
have to like really remember that because you could hurt
someone, you know something you it could hurt yourself.
And so I don't know if you, you probably know what I'm talking
(42:02):
about. Not all the listeners totally
will, but maybe they will with their own sport.
But there is a certain type of like extreme focus, especially
when you go on balance beam. Oh my God, that's where my mind
immediately went. Beam is a very different like
all the other events are, you know, nerve wracking, but beam
(42:23):
is very, very different, especially when you are
competing in front of a judge and it's just like you could get
hurt, like the the fear of falling off the beam, even
though if you might not get hurt, it's just like also pretty
shameful and you fall out of meat.
Yeah, I know. So it's kind of like that, like
kick into gear beam focus that that comes on when I go up into
(42:45):
the handstand and and shoot. And you also just have to be so
aware of like if something does go wrong when you're upside
down, like how to get out of it properly.
I think that's a really big thing that I had to learn.
And like also another reason whythe focus is so important
because you need to know like ifsomething happens right away,
how do you navigate that fall orlike.
(43:06):
You know, yeah, seems like gymnastics has really prepared
you really well for this. And it makes sense cause like
looking at the other talented performers, Orissa Kelly and
Shannon Jones, both are previousgymnasts.
So it makes so much sense that not only the flexibility, the
strength, the creativity, and then finally that like laser
(43:28):
focus beam mentality, just everything is as one together.
It's sort of like a meditative. I was gonna say it's meditative.
It totally is. Yeah, it's, it's a weird sort of
undescribable feeling where, yeah, you just, you tap in, you
(43:49):
have one focus and that focus isdoing everything on the beam and
not falling off. And funny tangent, every time
before beam at a meet I always had to pee.
Nervous pee like. I mean, it was either a nervous
pee or it was like, I don't know.
(44:09):
I just need this out of me so that I can fully be you.
Know what I get that I get that I understand that I would.
Always feel like coach so sorry.Can I go to the bathroom?
Like I I know I'm like on deck, but I need to go.
Oh my gosh, there is literally like gymnasts can relate.
That feeling is unreal. Like the beam, just the entire
(44:33):
routine and and that's yeah, that's a lot of foot archery.
But actually I would rather do abillion shots with foot archery
and then get up and perform a beam routine out of meat like.
Honestly, that's so fair. The thought of doing that, I'm
like, oh gosh, I that was that is part of my life is done.
(44:54):
It was fun. Beam was my best event but like
oh hell no not again. Beam queen.
Beam Queen. Oh yes.
What about this Elizabeth? What about doing the foot
archery on a beam? You know what?
I feel like that wouldn't be that crazy.
Yeah, because like the the canesare sort of like that.
And it's not elevated. So what are you talking like?
(45:15):
OK, like English handstand hold or side handstand, either way,
like English. I think that's English, right?
Is that what they call it? I think this.
Is called the English dance, Yeah.
Where your hands are together and you're like.
Yes, you're like straight on versus sideways like the level 5
dismount. Yep, that would be easier.
(45:35):
Yeah, I that'd be a lot easier. Exactly it.
That's what I was thinking. Like I was like OK, sideways she
could totally do it. It's like the same thing as what
she currently. Is that's not too crazy?
Yeah. I mean, I say that you could
like, shoot. Shoot the judge in the face.
Oh my God this is getting graphic.
I do not condone this behavior. OK, not allowed.
(46:00):
Oh my God, that's so funny. Oh my gosh, that was a great
tangent. I loved that.
So we're we're, we went, we madeit through all of our three
sections here and you got two out of three trivia questions.
Right. Round of applause for Miss
Elizabeth, Miss E Willie, I loveit.
Is there anything that you thought like I missed during
this that you want to share about foot archery?
(46:22):
I feel like I covered a lot of ground here, but like, this is
your space. Let me know if I missed
something that you want to shareabout this.
OK, there's one thing that comesto mind.
This is just a random. Fact.
So like, you're gripping with your toes, right?
Yeah. And everyone always asks, do
(46:43):
your feet cramp? Do your feet hurt?
You have grippy feet, like all the things.
And I'm like, that is the easiest part to me was figuring
that part out. Yeah, like I, I don't know how
did this it it, it's not that great.
Like your feet cut like I remember them cramping a little
bit like the first time I did it, but like it's way more like
(47:06):
the laser focus that drains you and your my low back, my feet,
it's like whatever. Like I don't know, like if my
feet are fine. It's more so just like how
intense the focus is and like even your wrists.
Cause like you can only practiceso much until your wrist hurt or
your low back hurts. And like everyone is always like
your feet must be cramping and killing you or like you have
(47:29):
strong feet. And I'm like, maybe from doing
so much toe point, like just pointing my toes in gymnastics.
I was about to say. Probably helps, but anyways,
that's my little fun fact that everyone always asks SO.
That's so funny you bring that up because that didn't cross my
mind when writing this outline. And I think that's because I
(47:51):
also, you know, I pick things upwith my feet, like using my feet
in my daily life is very normal for me and I.
Think again. This comes this stems from
gymnastics. You have to point your toes all
the time. When you're on the beam, you're
using your toes to sort of grip it and make sure you don't fall
off. Yeah, literally they would sit
(48:12):
on my toes to point. Yeah, I.
Was going to say, did your coachlike, yeah, we had to walk on
the floor with our toes curled under.
Did you do that, like, literallywalk across the floor with our
toes curled under? Like OK, like problematic.
That's a little crazy. I'm fine so far.
OK, I'm glad you're fine. Clearly I did use some.
(48:34):
Clearly it did use some, some good some.
I. Guess so assistance preparation
for the bow and arrow, but that.Totally makes sense.
For me, like you, your feet, like I feel like our feet
muscles are just so strong. And also it's so important to
stabilize the ankle with those feet muscles.
(48:54):
And a lot of gymnastics is punching, punching the ground.
So like, that makes a lot of sense to me, and that's probably
why that's not an issue for you.Yeah, I'd be curious someone
that didn't do gymnastics, if they would have the same, you
know what I mean? Probably their feet.
That would be really hard. You know, yeah.
Yeah, doing this episode, I feellike you already knew a lot.
(49:18):
Obviously you're a foot Archer Acrobat, but is there anything
that you learned during this that really stood out to you?
What was your favorite thing that you learned?
The fact about King Henry the Eighth, the first King Henry,
was it not the first one? That first fact you told, the
fact you told me, which I'm going to butcher saying it, so
I'm not going to say it, but that was like, I would have
(49:40):
never thought to research that. And it's pretty cool.
And just learning, you know, I knew a lot about ERISA Kelly and
all that. I didn't know the fact about
Wonder Woman too. Yeah, that was pretty cool to
hear. I liked hearing that as well.
So yeah, thank you. Very cool.
I'm educated. I'm ready to do a trivia.
(50:00):
Thank you fun edutainment education plus entertainment.
Yes. I always like to do a sort of
like first section is sort of history, second section is like
about what we're talking about, and third section is sort of
like modern times, like future. So that's kind of like the
pattern I like to follow. I like it.
(50:21):
Thanks. So sounds like you had fun.
Did you have fun? Yes, yes, let's do it again.
Oh my God, amazing. So if you were to come again,
what would you want to be quizzed on?
Probably Taylor Swift. I was thinking that too and.
Then today. Oh my.
God, yeah. What does that mean?
(50:42):
OK. Did you read the posts that she
did? I mean, yeah, I saw Taylor's
Taylor Swift. 'S I don't know if she's it was
messing with us with their reputation thing.
Yeah, like basically she announced she owns all of her
records, all of her music now, which is great.
We love that. But are we still getting
Reputation Taylor's version? Because I want those bonus.
(51:05):
Tracks OK from my understanding my sister and I were like
decoding this together. We're pretty sure that she's not
re releasing reputation cuz it sounded like she said that she
doesn't want to go through that phase again.
Maybe OK my sister read her postout loud to me and she thinks
(51:28):
that she can't re record it better.
Maybe I I I don't know. This is what Lauren was and I
were talking about. I could be making things up but
I respect that. But then I also think she still
might be doing. She might release the vault
tracks still. OK, good.
(51:49):
I. I, I, yeah, I feel like you and
Lauren have a good interpretation of it.
I personally, I haven't had timetoday to read the the letter,
but that sounds pretty spot on. Like reputation was a really
difficult, emotionally charged era for her.
It was for all of us. For all of us, yeah.
(52:11):
And like, you could argue like it's quote UN quote darkest of
all of her albums, I guess. Maybe not TPD, but.
As I say, TPD is like it's all over the place, though TPD is
also positive. True.
Yeah, So reputation, I get it. Not trying to live through it
again. I do hope we get those vault
tracks because I am sure they'reabsolutely savage.
(52:35):
Wrapping up here, anything coming up for you Elizabeth,
that you want to promote on the pod?
Like we can tag your TikTok? Anything else you want to share?
Nothing crazy. I'd say like I'm, I'm still
doing a lot of my like lunk alarm challenges on TikTok.
So if you want to look at that and if you like any of your
(52:56):
listeners have any ideas of likechallenges you want me to do
with that, then like totally open to it.
It's been a lot of fun, but I'm like getting through.
I've done so many different things where I'm like, OK, what
next? And so, yeah, yeah, I guess just
just my tech talk. I I post mostly on there.
It's at Eliz Willy, so ELIZWILLEY.
(53:19):
And then it's the same on Instagram if you're curious, but
I don't really post a lot on. Instagram.
So yeah, amazing. And then last question, just for
people like me who were unaware quickly, what is a lunk alarm?
OK, so the lunk alarm is this alarm they have at Planet
Fitness and it's supposed to go off like when you're being a
(53:41):
quote lunk. So they have different criteria
for that, but mostly it's when you're doing something that's
gym timidating. So you're like trying to
intimidate people or also the big thing is dropping weights.
So I don't know if they use it as much as they used to because
there's been a lot of complaints.
But essentially the workers can set it off with this like kind
(54:04):
of blaring alarm that goes off if someone does it.
So a lot of the stuff that I do isn't necessarily like going to
set off the lunk one 'cause I'm not dropping weight.
It's more kind of like testing the limits.
Like it's gym timidating 'cause I'm doing like kind of crazy
things that you wouldn't necessarily see at Planet
Fitness, although I've seen someinteresting things there too.
(54:27):
Side note. But yeah, you know what I mean?
Anyway, so yeah, that's the lunkalarm.
That's like the gist of it. But yeah, it's a button behind
the desk that they push, but there's a lunk alarm on the
actual wall by the weights, yeah.
OK. Very good to know.
Thank you so much for explainingthat.
I had to message Elizabeth aboutthis a few months ago to be
like, hey, So what are you doing?
(54:48):
It's, it was like literally the most random.
It was one of those times where you post not really knowing what
you're doing and then you get like, I was like 1,000,000
views, 2 million views, three. I'm like, Oh my gosh, like I
wasn't even thinking and I just pressed post.
And then now all my videos that are about the lunk alarm seem to
kind of get picked up by the algorithm, which has been fun.
(55:09):
So that's so fun, and if I can find the sound, the audio of a
lunk alarm, I'll put it in. I love it.
Wrapping up here, just wanted tosay thank you to the listeners
(55:30):
for listening to the show. This is Trivia Tangents where we
cover various trivia topics. We have new episodes released
every Thursday, which I like to call Trivia Thursday.
I'm your host Lena, and special thanks to our guest Elizabeth
for sharing her awesome insightsand trivia tangents about foot
archery with us. Make sure to keep an eye out for
(55:52):
next week's episode all about rock climbing.
Thanks for listening. And learning.
If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five star
rating or thumbs up. Follow or subscribe and share
with a friend for bonus content.You can find trivia tangents on
Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, and of course, all podcast platforms
under Trivia Tangents Podcast. Check out our website at
(56:13):
triviatangentspodcast.com to purchase trivia starter packs
based on these episodes, perfectfor hosting your very own trivia
night.
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