Chinese Traditional Archery (4)

6. Archer's Strength Training

There are two archery stances: one is standing with legs straight and feet apart, known as the "large stance"; the other is squatting and sitting slightly like a horse stance, known as the "small stance." Regardless of the large or small stance, both legs and feet must be firmly planted on the ground. With practice, this practice will increase the strength of the lower body, allowing for a steady and reliable footing, whether walking or sitting. The feet are the root of the human body's strength. A strong foot provides a stable foundation, strengthening the legs and upper limbs. Such a person is undoubtedly healthy. Otherwise, they would be like a frail scholar, wobbling with every step, appearing weak and vulnerable. If their legs and feet are strong, they can walk robustly.

Waist, Chest, and Back. When shooting, squatting slightly like a horse stance is the most stable stance. Squatting keeps the body still, and the hips are not prominent when the hips are raised. Squatting strengthens the waist, preventing hunchbacks. A straight waist with tucked-in hips keeps the spine straight and prevents back hunches. A straight back frees the chest cavity from compression, allowing the internal organs to function freely. This greatly benefits blood circulation, smooth breathing, and easy digestion. Conversely, a hunched back compresses the chest, preventing it from moving freely. This impedes the lungs, resulting in insufficient oxygen supply and reduced excretion of waste gases.

This also affects the heart, making blood circulation difficult. A hunched back sluggishly stretches the back muscles, shortening the muscles in the front of the neck and chest, and losing their ability to stretch. The chest also flattens and deforms, pressing against the waist, weakening the contractile power of the abdominal and lumbar muscles. The abdominal organs are compressed, and the digestive system is hampered, preventing smooth function. Therefore, if the waist is weak and misaligned, a hunched back, chest compression, abdominal groaning, and lumbar protrusion can manifest, leading to various pathological conditions.

This immediately disrupts the overall posture, hindering overall function, which has a profound impact on human health. Shoulders, Arms, and Hands. When shooting, the shoulders, arms, and hands should all be straight. Extend the shoulder joints, elbows facing each other, and arms and shoulders and elbows raised horizontally. Hold the bow in your left hand. With your right hand, draw the string. The middle, fourth, and fifth fingers of each hand should be tightly curled. Coordinating the shoulders, arms, and fingers is the most crucial task in archery. Therefore, basic training focuses on achieving dexterity and precision in the movements of these four parts, enabling mastery. The goal of physical education is to train the movements of each organ in the body to be agile and precise, like a sturdy machine, enabling one to operate with ease in any future task. Archery can thus strengthen the shoulders, arms, and fingers, enhancing their endurance, agility, and ease of use. Eyes and Ears. Sighting and aiming are the most effective ways to improve vision. Shooting from a young age ensures strong eyesight. With extended practice, one can even discern small objects in a fixed position. Archery also trains hearing. The crispness of the string can tell whether the release is correct. The sound of the arrow rubbing against the air and the sound of it hitting or piercing the target can also tell the strength of the shot and the quality of the shot. Lungs and Heart.

Archery is particularly beneficial to the lungs. Gentle force during shooting prevents excessive breathing. Archery fields are often located in gardens and squares, shaded by trees and lush greenery. The air is fresh and oxygen-rich, making archers feel relaxed and happy. When the lungs function well, blood circulation naturally improves. Fresh, oxygen-rich red blood is constantly pumped into the heart, from which it is transported to various organs via the aorta. This ensures smooth and continuous nourishment throughout the body, contributing to healthy health.

VII. The Core Principles of Archery

Effective archery relies on the coordinated movements of the arms, torso, waist, legs, and feet with the mind and will. In other words, if the body and mind aren't unified, if the will can't direct the arm, then such archery will ultimately fail to achieve perfection. The essence of archery lies in "the mind is focused on the target, and the arrow is directed by the heart," as Mr. Li Shugu put it. While the arrow's direction is in the heart, it's actually released by the hand. If one can achieve this, then the target will be hit. However, the subtlety lies in the fact that before even shooting, the mind must be focused on the target, requiring fortitude, patience, courage, observation, attention, planning, reflection, and practice. Virtue.

The ancients said that archery can reveal virtue. Archery is a physical exercise, so why can it reveal virtue? Because various social relationships force most people to be hypocritical, acting pretentiously and making it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Once risks are at stake, and gains and losses are at the forefront of their minds, their true feelings become difficult to conceal, and they are revealed unconsciously. When shooting, whether or not to hit the target is a matter of concern. A hit brings joy, while a miss brings sorrow. With the joys of gain and loss before them, and the public eye upon them, there's no time to pretend after drawing the bow and drawing the arrow, revealing one's true nature. This may be unnoticed by the archer himself, but is clearly visible to the onlookers.

Thus, in ancient times, archery was used to select candidates, making it easier to assess temperament and virtue. Today, examinations rely on written language, making it impossible to determine one's moral character. Long-term archery practice can transform temperament and cultivate virtue. Gentle force during shooting can reduce impatience, align the mind, and nourish qi. With correct posture and a calm demeanor, practice over time can cultivate good habits and a just character. Therefore, the ancients said that archery can reveal one's virtue.