[TimS]

As RichardH says, Pip is fiercely against the 'step through' method - and having seen one example of a good bow destroyed by it in my club (I used to use it until Pip issued me a bollocking) I vote with him.

The real danger is if you stand with your feet close together and the leg about which you are bending the bow is halfway down the lower limb. In fact if you stand with your feet wide apart and bend at the knees you (apart from looking a complete prat) can get the 'bending leg' to the handle of a normal length longbow (assuming you are near to six foot).

I now use the push/pull method but it does take a little practice - its more technique than strength.

You can of course use the stringer, and probably need to for bows over the 80lb mark anyway, but its not as 'manly', you get called a whuss (at best) if caught with a stringer by our lot!