South Bay Archery in Redondo Beach draws devotees to ancient sport
Paul Farbman demonstrates a high power compound bow. Photo by Philicia Endelman (Philicia Endelman.com)
Archery is a 60,000 year old sport common to almost every culture. In the South Bay, its center is South Bay Archery Lessons, founded in 2017 by former Carson High School teacher Paul Farbman. Farbman took up archery 20 years ago as a weekend activity to do with his children. He discovered his natural affinity for the sport after a neighbor advised him to take lessons.
Farbman is now ranked in the top 1 percent of U.S. archery coaches and is a certificated USA Archery Level 4 coach and Level 2 judge. His teaching partner and wife Loni, is a Level 3 coach, though Farbman insists she is the better instructor.
Prior to opening his archery range, Farbman served for seven years as the president of a local archery club. By introducing free lessons to people new to the sport, he increased the club’s membership from 100 to 400. As requests for lessons grew, he retired from teaching high school and began teaching archery full time at a former baseball batting cage in Torrance.
Then in 2015, he leased a North Redondo Beach warehouse and opened South Bay Archery Lessons. The facility has a regulation archery range and a viewing room with video screens, overlooking the range.
Contrary to popular perception, archery is the fourth least dangerous popular sport, Farbman pointed out. Basketball players are 45 times more likely to be injured than archers.
Paul Farbman with a more traditional recurve bow. Photo by Philicia Endelman (Philicia Endelman.com)
Farbman does not hunt and does not offer animal targets, but he welcomes bowhunters of all skill levels to practice at his range.
An important part of his business, he said, is team building. His clients have included Google, Pom Wonderful, Northrop Grumman, and Mercedes-Benz.
Because of the pandemic, South Bay Archery Lessons closed for the month of April. Since reopening, it has followed County Department of Health protocols in offering lessons and open shooting.
South Bay Archery Lessons rents bows and arrows for beginners. Photo by Philicia Endelman (Philicia Endelman.com)
South Bay Archery Lessons is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 7 p.m.
Lessons start $75 an hour, including equipment.
Open shooting is offered Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 to 8 p.m.
The range is located at 1300 Kingsdale Ave., Redondo Beach. To schedule lessons or open shooting sessions call (310) 404-3665, or visit SouthBayArcheryLessons.com. ER
Photo by Philicia Endelman (PhiliciaEndelman.com)