Archery Instinct: Legit Or Not?

Instinctive archery is a traditional and ancient form of archery that has been practiced for centuries. It relies on the archer's natural ability and intuition to aim and shoot, rather than mechanical or technological aids. It is a challenging and rewarding sport that requires discipline, concentration, and physical skill.

The true instinctive archer learns to trust their subconscious, mental strength, muscle memory, and instincts to guide their arrows. They focus on the target, not the arrow, and their body and brain work together to make the shot. This style of archery takes dedication, practice, and hard work to master, and there is no easy way to improve other than repetition.

There is some debate about the term instinctive archery, with some arguing that all archers aim to some extent, whether consciously or unconsciously. However, the consensus is that instinctive archery is about developing a ''feel'' for the shot and trusting your body to make it, rather than consciously aiming.

Is instinctive archery the same as intuitive archery?

Instinctive archery is the name given to the art of shooting arrows perfectly without consciously aiming and without any aiming systems or mechanisms. It is considered the origin of archery. The archer learns to trust their subconscious, mental strength, muscle memory, body feeling, and instincts to guide their arrows to their target.

Instinctive archery is also referred to as intuitive archery. Both terms are identical and are used interchangeably as synonyms in archery. However, as a rule, instinctive archery is quickly associated with nature and wilderness, while intuitive archery makes archers think more about the meditative side of the sport.

The term "instinctive archery" has been in use since the beginning of the last century and was mentioned by L. E. Stemmler in his 1937 book on the basics of archery.

To excel at instinctive archery, one must dedicate themselves to practice and hard work. Training methods such as paper cup training can help improve accuracy.

Is instinctive archery a legitimate ancient practice?

Instinctive archery is a traditional and ancient form of archery that has been practised for centuries by people all over the world. It is a method of shooting a bow, potentially with great accuracy, without aiming. This means not using any equipment to assist with aiming, such as scopes, sights, or even the tip of the arrow. Instead, the archer relies on their natural ability and intuition to aim and shoot their bow.

The history of instinctive archery can be traced back to the earliest civilisations, where it was used for hunting, warfare, and ceremonial purposes. Archery was considered a highly respected and noble art in many cultures, and archers were often regarded as some of the most skilled and respected members of society. Over time, instinctive archery has evolved and adapted to meet the changing needs of archers while remaining true to its traditional and intuitive roots.

Today, instinctive archery is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels as a challenging and rewarding sport that requires discipline, concentration, and physical skill. It is said to bring joy and fulfilment to the lives of those who practise it.

But is it a legitimate ancient practice? The answer is yes. Instinctive archery has been practised for thousands of years and was used by medieval archers in Europe, Native Americans in the Americas, and the Ninja of feudal Japan. It is a natural and intuitive way of shooting that relies solely on the archer's subconscious muscle memory and their ability to focus on the target.

There are two main styles of instinctive archery: gap shooting and purely instinctive archery or "see it and shoot it". Gap shooting involves lining up the point of the arrow with the target and judging the distance. The "see it and shoot it" method is simply looking at the target and shooting without any conscious aiming. While there is some debate among archers as to whether gap shooting qualifies as instinctive archery, both methods rely on the archer's intuition and subconscious muscle memory to varying degrees.

In conclusion, instinctive archery is indeed a legitimate ancient practice with a rich history and tradition. It requires dedication, practice, and a deep understanding of the subconscious and intuitive aspects of archery.

How does one master instinctive archery?

Mastering instinctive archery is no easy feat and requires dedication, practice, and hard work. Here are some tips to help you master this challenging yet rewarding skill:

Understand the Fundamentals

Instinctive archery is a method of shooting a bow without relying on mechanical aids or sights. It's all about developing a strong connection with your bow and honing your spatial awareness and muscle memory. You'll need to understand your equipment intimately, including its weight, balance, and how it responds to your movements.

Start Close and Work on Consistency

Begin your practice by shooting at targets that are relatively close, allowing you to build confidence and develop a feel for the bow. Focus on consistency in your anchor point, grip, and stance. This consistent form will help your body develop reliable muscle memory.

Learn to Read the Target

Reading the target involves understanding its size, shape, and alignment with the bow. Make adjustments based on your perception of the target's distance and movement. With practice, you'll develop an intuitive understanding of where to aim.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Building muscle memory requires repetitive practice. Through consistent shooting sessions, your body will learn to repeat the correct form and release without conscious thought. This allows you to react effortlessly to the target. One training method is paper cup training, where you fix a paper cup to a target and focus on shooting your arrows into the cup. Gradually increase the distance to challenge yourself.

Trust Your Instincts

Instinctive archery relies on your body's natural ability to estimate distances and make adjustments. Your brain will attune itself to the subtle cues that indicate the correct aiming point. Trust your instincts and allow your body to guide your aim, tapping into a level of precision that goes beyond conscious thought.

Remember, mastering instinctive archery is a personal journey, and it may take time and experimentation. Enjoy the process, be patient with yourself, and embrace the unique connection that instinctive archery offers.

What are the benefits of instinctive archery?

Instinctive archery is a method of shooting a bow with accuracy without consciously aiming. It relies on the subconscious, mental strength, muscle memory, and body feeling to guide the arrows to their target. While it may seem impossible to hit targets without a deliberate aiming system, it is achievable with dedication, practice, and hard work. Here are the benefits of instinctive archery:

Increased Rate of Fire

This benefit may not be as important in modern times, but it was vital in ancient and medieval warfare. With instinctive archery, the archer does not need to take the time to consciously aim, allowing them to shoot more arrows in a shorter amount of time.

Increased Coordination

Instinctive archery requires the archer to develop excellent hand-eye coordination. By focusing solely on the target, the archer learns to instinctively connect the arrow with the intended target, resulting in improved coordination that can benefit other areas of their life as well.

Improved Subconscious Ability to Gauge Distance and Trajectory

Instinctive archery relies on the subconscious to make calculations regarding distance and trajectory. With practice, the archer's brain becomes adept at making these calculations without conscious effort, improving their overall accuracy.

Ideal for Mounted Archery

Instinctive archery is well-suited for mounted archery or shooting from a moving platform. It is nearly impossible to use sights or other aiming assistance while riding a horse, so instinctive archery becomes a valuable skill in such situations.

Mental and Spiritual Benefits

Instinctive archery is a mental and spiritual exercise that can be extremely satisfying and fun. It teaches patience and determination, as it requires dedication and practice to master. It also helps develop focus and concentration, which can be beneficial in various aspects of life.

Physical Health Benefits

Archery, in general, provides physical health benefits as it requires the use of core muscles in the chest, hands, arms, and upper back. Additionally, the repetitive motions of drawing a bow strengthen tissues and improve muscle memory.

In conclusion, instinctive archery offers a range of benefits, including improved coordination, accuracy, and mental focus. It is a challenging but rewarding skill that can provide satisfaction and a sense of achievement to those who practice it.

How does instinctive archery compare to other archery styles?

Instinctive archery is a style of archery that relies on programming the cerebellum of your brain to coordinate your shots based on information it receives from your eyes. It is often compared to shooting a basketball or throwing a rock—you don't look at the basketball, you only look at what or where you want to hit.

In instinctive archery, there is no conscious aiming. The archer's sole concentration is on the spot they want to hit, and they trust their subconscious to get the arrow where it needs to go. This is in contrast to other archery styles such as gap shooting or string walking, which require the archer to focus on the distance between the arrow and the target or their finger placement and the point of the arrow, respectively.

One of the key differences between instinctive archery and other styles is the level of focus. In gap shooting, for example, the archer's focus is stretched physically over yards and yards between the arrow point and the target, while in string walking, the focus is dialed down to centimeters or even millimeters. In instinctive archery, the focus is on a single point.

Another difference is the level of difficulty. Instinctive archery is considered one of the most difficult archery styles to excel at. It requires a lot of dedication, practice, and hard work. There are no shortcuts to becoming good at it.

Some archers find that they shoot better when using the instinctive style, while others find it more challenging. Ultimately, the choice of which archery style to use depends on the individual's preferences, goals, and what works best for them.

Frequently asked questions