One chapter in 'Saracen Archery' outlines which points of your body should be tense, and which ones should be relaxed, most of these points go without saying, but one struck me as odd. It advises that the 'belly' should be tense.
From what I have tried there are two possible meanings to this, one, that the abdominal muscles should be tensed (I found this very difficult to do whilst shooting), and,two that you should breath in entirely with from the diaphragm so that your muscles become tense. Whilst both of these control breathing, neither seem to have a positive effect. Any thoughts or explainations?
Regards
Mike
Points of tension whilst shooting
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M Hardman
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- Location: Bristol, England
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Bede
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- Location: Sydney, Australia
Mike,
there is very little about breathing in the Arabic literature on archery. However, there is a fair chance that the tensing of the abdomen refers to a side effect of breathing. The use of the words "tension" and "relaxation" may be a simplification of what is meant. Usually you would breathe in on the draw and hold your breath at full draw. Diaphragmatic breathing is the normal method. Stillness of the breath is what is needed at full draw and perhaps the tension referred to if the tension of holding a breath drawn in using the diaphragm.
there is very little about breathing in the Arabic literature on archery. However, there is a fair chance that the tensing of the abdomen refers to a side effect of breathing. The use of the words "tension" and "relaxation" may be a simplification of what is meant. Usually you would breathe in on the draw and hold your breath at full draw. Diaphragmatic breathing is the normal method. Stillness of the breath is what is needed at full draw and perhaps the tension referred to if the tension of holding a breath drawn in using the diaphragm.
Bede