The Most Challenging Sport - Archery (I)

"Standing upright in form and aiming upright" is the essence of archery. "The Meaning of Archery" states that to hit the target, one must first have a "calm mind and upright body," meaning "intrinsically upright in mind and upright in form." This requires the archer to adjust their mind and form while appreciating the essence of elegant music, achieving inner and outer harmony, concentrating their mind and calming their spirit, and aiming their arrows accurately.

Specific movements require achieving "five levels and three supports." The five levels refer to the feet, hands, elbows, shoulders, and forehead. "Front of forehead" refers to a level mind. The three supports refer to the ears listening to the string, the arrow resting on the mouth, and the string resting on the chest.

The five levels, in terms of movement, primarily focus on achieving level shoulders. This is a set of archery diagrams viewed from behind. Note the diamond-shaped diagram on the back, which illustrates how to achieve level shoulders. The upper half of this diamond, from the spinous process to the center of the two shoulder joints, should form an isosceles triangle. This movement ensures both shoulders are aligned and their forces are symmetrical, as the triangle is isosceles. Looking at the lower half of the rhombus, it's also an inverted isosceles triangle, indicating the direction of force applied by both shoulders. Only by applying force symmetrically in this way can both shoulders sink simultaneously, maintaining a horizontal line and ensuring an "open chest, tight back" movement. If an archer's movements and force application are like this, their technique will achieve clear movement layers and symmetrical force application, thus meeting the requirements of biomechanics.

The ancients held profound insights into archery. For example, the Biography of Women states: "Draw the bow with anger, release the arrow with a calm breath. Anger gives you a strong and full draw; a calm mind calms your mind and allows for thorough consideration."

The so-called "drawing the bow with anger" means that only by drawing the bow with anger can you achieve a strong and full draw. Bare bow archery lacks a signal plate, making accurate draw length difficult, a crucial requirement for accurate shooting. To address this, the bow must be drawn boldly and decisively to achieve the desired result. The ancients said, "If the arrowhead doesn't reach the thumb, it's like shooting blindly." This means that if the arrow doesn't reach the thumb after drawing the bow, you're shooting blindly.

The saying "releasing the arrow while breathing" means that only with the breath can one achieve a calm mind and thorough consideration. A barebow bow has no accessories, nothing to draw on or reference. It relies entirely on the archer's precise movements and muscular effort, so thorough consideration is essential. Any error in any part of the body will result in a misaligned shot.

Barebow archery requires intense concentration, requiring the archer to maintain a "tranquil and inaction" mindset. Otherwise, it's difficult to complete the launch perfectly. The moment the mind wanders, the arrow will stray. Without objective monitoring, every technical step depends entirely on the individual. A single slip of the wrist can lead to a flawless movement and the arrow will stray. The mindset during archery must be "tranquil and inaction," achieving utter emptiness and tranquility, and maintaining a single-minded focus. Only in this state of "tranquility" can the cerebral cortex be optimally activated. This allows the athlete's various senses to be at their peak, and proprioception is particularly sensitive.

The hallmark of barebow archery is the unity of "skill" and "mind." "Skill" refers to the technical approach, while "mind" refers to the method of application. Barebow archery is based on the seamless integration of technical and mental methods. Technique alone is essential, but neither is technique alone. It strives for a stable body, a stable mind, and a stable bow technique—the trinity of body, mind, and bow. The launch requires the expression of natural principles in movement, with physical preparation and movement coordinated and balanced. A master barebow archer said: "Don't aim; let the arrow flow. With the correct posture and technique, the arrow will naturally hit the bull's eye." To bend the bow and shoot, one must be calm and composed, summoning the inner spiritual power to launch the arrow into the air.

Over the years, many have studied Korean archery, and numerous Korean coaches have been invited to teach across the country. The results are clear to all. Why is Korean archery so highly practiced? Without going into modern aspects, let me introduce you to its traditional traditions. From May 12th to 15th, 2007, the "First World Traditional Archery Festival" was held in Cheonan, South Korea, funded by Koreans. Archery experts from over 20 countries and regions participated in this grand event, and they also invited me to attend. The event was a lively one, with each participating country and region showcasing their own traditional archery and bow-making techniques. The performances were spectacular, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of each nation. A full-day academic paper presentation session was also held. The presentations were well-organized, with high-quality papers, richly illustrated, and presented with accompanying illustrations. The presentations were carefully defended, with the presenters and questioners thoroughly prepared. The questions were pointed and insightful, and each presenter responded diligently.