How Archery Has Changed Me as a Person
After watching a competition shoot in April 2014 I decided to pursue archery as a personal hobby. I chose to learn how to shoot on a compound bow because it is the easiest bow to draw back and more forgiving on your body. Since I have committed myself to archery I now shoot in monthly competitions and have also taken my bow hunting with me. While shooting my bow I have become more efficient at decision making and also staying focused and calm while processing different motions and information at once. Most importantly archery has helped boost myself esteem while creating a stronger bond and shared interest with my husband.
While shooting my bow I was forced to make multiple decision in a short amount
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of time while remaining calm and focused. When aiming at a target or animal it is important to determine the distance in order to be accuracy. During a competition my time was limited and while hunting I had to make a judgment on distance and shoot before the animal noticed me. Along with distance the wind and angle you shoot at will also have an impact on the direction of an arrow. When it was my time to shoot I was faced with these different variables I had to adjust my aim for. If I forgot to consider any of these variables in the time I was allowed it would throw off my shot. Shooting my bow helped teach me to be calm and remain focused during my decision making process. In my daily life I struggle with being overly anxious and at times become overwhelmed easily. When I shoot my bow, it is important for me to remain calm in order to not move while shooting. To achieve this I learned to stay focused on what I was doing while remaining calm. I had to remind myself to breathe throughout my motions. During a competition I was only given one shot per target. It became imperative that I consider all of my surroundings while remaining calm to be as accurate as possible. Another positive effect archery has impacted on my life is myself confidence.
One of the reasons I decided to pursing archery was I wanted to learn something new that would challenge me while getting me out of my comfort zone. Archery encompasses many different variables that forced me to solely rely on my own personal knowledge and skills. I am a person who prefers my surroundings and experiences to remain familiar. I prefer to perform tasks or hobbies that I am widely familiar with and rarely try new things. Knowledge is comfort when it comes to my personality. The environment of archery is always changing and every shot presences a new challenge. Archery was also something I was not widely familiar with until shortly before watching my first competition. The first time after shooting a bow I was still very uncomfortable and not well educated on the hobby. After purchasing a bow I had to learn many new skills for safety reason and also to be accurate. Although I had some instruction on how to shoot my bow, it was a task that only I could perform without any outside physical help. This made me rely on the knowledge I learned while processing a shot. When I participate in a competition I have to shoot my bow in front of other people whom I may not know. As a child it would make me nervous to play a sport in front of crowds. I would choose to play positions where I felt the attention was not directed toward me. Archery has helped me to overcome some of my esteem issue because I have to trust that I am able to make calculated decisions and movements on my own, sometimes in front of other
people. In addition, archery has helped me to create a stronger bond with my husband. Archery has been a hobby my husband has enjoyed since he was a young child. In the past, we have not shared any similar interests in hobbies. We have sometimes also lacked the ability to recognize one another’s hobbies. As parents we would take turns making time for our different hobbies while the other would watch the kids. Since archery has become one of my hobbies also we now spend time learning about it and conditioning ourselves together. In addition we both are currently committed to monthly competition shoots. In the past we have struggled with making time for one another. Being in these shoots schedules us to monthly commitments where we are able to spend time together. Archery has become a hobby we can have a two way conversation about and both be equally engaged. In the past many of our conversations were one way and lacked reciprocation from the other person. Archery has provided an opportunity for us to reengage in one another’s lives by sharing a similar interest we both enjoy. When we are shooting our bows we are engaged mentally with one another and focused on what the other person is doing. Archery has become a very personal hobby that I have benefited from immensely. When I am shooting my bow I become more in tune with my thoughts and the task I am performing. It is important that I focus as well as remain calm while calculating my shot and following through. Relying on my own personal skills and abilities has helped boost my confidence. I now can shoot in front of a crowd while being confident in my skills and remaining calm. Most importantly archery has affected my personal life by providing an outlet for both my husband and I to enjoy together. I feel as if we are able to bond doing something we share an interest in other than spending all of our free doing separate activities. Archery has helped to make me a better rounded individual cognitively and emotionally while also improving my personal relationships with my husband.
For many people, hunting is just a sport, but for some it is a way of life. In Rick Bass’s “Why I Hunt” he explains how he got to where he lives now and what he thinks of the sport of hunting. There are many things in the essay that I could not agree more with, and others that I strongly disagree. Overall this essay provides a clear depiction of what goes through the mind of a hunter in the battle of wits between them and the animal.
Zen in the Art of Archery, by Eugen Herrigel describes the ritualistic arts of discipline and focus that the Zen religion focuses around. In this book, Herrigel describes many aspects of how archery is, in fact, not a sport, but an art form, and is very spiritual to those in the east. The process he describes shows how he overcame his initial inhibitions and began to look toward new ways of seeing and understanding. In the beginning of the book Herrigel tells us that he is writing about a ritual and religious practice, “whose aim consists in hitting a spiritual goal, so that fundamentally the marksman aims at himself and may even succeed in hitting himself.” (Herrigel p. 4) Through his studies, the author discovers that within the Zen ritual actions, archery in this case, there lies a deeper meaning. Herrigel explains throughout this book that it is not through the actual physical aspect of shooting arrows at targets that archery is Zen, but through the art and spirituality through which it is performed. It is not merely shooting an arrow to hit a target, but becoming the target yourself and then, in turn, hitting yourself spiritually. By meeting this spiritual goal, you will then meet the physical goal. The struggle then is, therefore not with the arrow or the target but within oneself.
In conclusion hunting is not for everyone, but those who do take pride in it. It takes a lot more than just to walk in the woods and pick a spot. Deer use thousands of runs throughout the woods. Spending weeks searching for the right spot in order to make a kill. It takes hours of sitting in a stand not saying a word or moving a muscle. You could spend days, months, or even years without getting a kill if you do not put in the time. When the time comes if you’ve done what I’ve said in the above paragraphs, you will be
The star of the exceptionally popular book series, The Hunger Games (2008), survives the climax of the storyline with a simple bow and arrow. Although, Katniss uses a more primitive type of a bow called a longbow, there are many men and women today who use a more modern type known as the compound bow. A compound bow is a little more complicated looking than a longbow, but easier to utilize. Shooting a compound bow is one of the most exhilarating and gratifying hobbies, anyone can participate in. It is easy to effectively shoot as long as you know your bow, execute your own routine position, and have the right conditions to shoot. Anyone can shoot a bow, as long as you have the correct equipment to fit your unique shooting abilities.
I rushed out to the truck as the horn blared. I threw my things into the truck and we went off towards the woods. I had to talk to Kevin about where the deer come from when i am sitting in the stand. He told me everything I needed to know about the place less than 10 minutes in the hot and humid truck. Well let's go back to see what led to this.
Many people in Mississippi enjoy deer hunting. Out of all the people in Mississippi that hunt, only a select few of them prefer to bow hunt. Bow hunting is more challenging than gun hunting because there are many things that have to happen before a deer will come into range for a bowshot. Bow hunters find it more enjoyable when they harvest a deer with a bow. This being said, there is only a certain time of deer season when it is legal to hunt with a bow. From October 15th until November 21st and then once more from January 1st to January 22nd, 1 out of a 5 month, there is a short amount of time to harvest a deer with a bow. Bow hunting is only allowed for a small portion of the hunting season; bow hunting should be permitted for the entire season because it offers more options, it is more enjoyable, and it is cheaper.
When school was ending my sophomore year I realized that I was going to be bow hunting that fall, and that I had better start to practice shooting. I practiced shooting everyday. I thought it wouldn't be too hard to get an elk, all I had to do was be able to hit it.
The bow and arrow dates back to thousands of years ago, it is estimated that they were found anywhere from 18,000BC to 25,000BC. They were used all over the world but the first arrowhead was discovered in Africa. There are many kinds of bows, the most common are the longbow and the recurve, there were many different styles created by several cultures during different times in history. In the Stone Ages, drawings discovered in caves illustrated many simple segment bows with many different shapes; flat, paddle-shaped bows were shot by Andaman Islanders. Some bows were made with wood like elm and yew, while others were made with many different materials like animal bones, horns and tendons; this was called the composite bow. The composite bow could either be made of wood and other materials or be made completely from different materials. In China, composite bows were comprised of newly harvested and dried bamboo. Scientists suggest that the bow originated from spear throwers and in between 18,000BC and 25,000BC fire was used to make stone arrowheads harder and feathers were added to make them more accurate.
I love volleyball even though it has not always been easy. I have had a lot of problems during my volleyball journey that have helped me grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. I started playing volleyball in fifth grade on the middle school team and am now playing on JV. I did not get a lot of playing time when I first started, but I practiced and learned the basics of the game. I developed a love for the game with a great group of girls that I looked up to, during my first season. I have not always had the best team and coach, though.
Now days, bows have cams, wheels, risers, limbs, strings, cables, string stops, cable guards and tons of technology put into each one bow. Today you get the bow that suits you. There are a lot of different options to ensure that each his own. In today’s bow hunting world you use sights, arrow rests, stabilizers, quivers, and releases. Every advantage is used to harvest game. Bows have come a long way from the start of hunting and they will continue to become technologically advance as time goes on.
Archery is for anybody. Tall, short, you name it. It is a sport that is included in the after-school program at GCMS. The sport contains 2 simple things: Bow and Arrow. Getting involved in this program is very simple. All there is to do is show up and pay $5 dollars each meet. Rules, there are a lot of them. Some include being behind the shooting range when other flights are up, a certain amount of whistle blows means copious things, hands up to face up, etc... There are competitions to win prizes near the end of the year that all can look forward to and there are events like the archery tournament that a select few can go and get into it As Michael D. states "You have to focus to make the archery team".
Basketball is one of the many sports I play. It clears my mind from everything. It helps me focus. I don't know what else I would do to burn energy. It really helps me connect with my friends. It's one of the only things I really like to do. I play basketball almost every day. I like basketball because most my friends do it. It has always been basketball.
Archery Park (Bennelong Parkway) – The primary focus of this 6.5-hectare archery centre is to train athletes for competition and for fitness. However, recreational fitness is also available with several types of training programs, including archery. The goal of Archery Park is to contribute and advocate a healthy and social lifestyle in NSW. You can also enjoy using their barbecue facilities.
Archery is one of the oldest sports, and art forms, known to man. Dating back to before 25,000 BC, archery has evolved and grown from simply a means of killing food and warfare, to more of an art form. Today, archery is a very common sport present in many areas of the world and throughout many different cultures.
Bow hunting is the truest and most challenging form of hunting because it requires skill to be proficient with, is essential to be more knowledgeable of the outdoors, and is the fairest type of hunting for both the hunter and animal. Archery is a highly difficult type of hunting, although it is highly fulfilling. Hunting in general is challenging and puts your body and mind to the test, however, bow hunting requires the use of all your senses. There are a multitude of skills and traits that you acquire as you proceed on your journey with this style of archery. Bow hunting requires a great quantity of time and patience to be proficient and accurate. Archery requires you to be knowledgeable about the gear you have, particularly having a maintained bow.