Re: Niels Bohr - Master of Go no sen ?
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 2:25 pm
Many years ago I was involved in competitive rifle shooting. I recognised the same phenomena. Some of it I put down to over-calculation and a resulting build up of tension which sometimes lead to indecisiveness, hence things fell apart and shots went wide.go rin no sho wrote:This is propably not the same thing and I am not sure if should deal archery here.... However, I think that to some extent archery share similar mind settings than wado.....
I found a little bit similar reaction-phenomenon in archery. I usually train with conventional, unmovable arcehry targets. I shoot instinctively (no aiming aids or other technical devices)
When I train my aim is to group arrows tight and try to lessen the percentage of bad shots. When I train I am not trying to hit the bull´s eye every time because I train for hunting and hitting very small spots is irrelevant. More important is to be able to shoot sponaneously and consistently groups small enough. One day I was practising in my backyard I realized an interesting thing. I was able to shoot accurately only to a certain point. After a four or five rounds my groups started to "spread" all over the target. I thought that I just lost my concentration for that day. ( it happens often) =) How wrong I was .... While I became highly frustrated I placed a tennis ball hanging in a line from the branch of a tree. Then I pushed the ball to swing. I picked my bow and walked back to shoot "for fun".. To my wonder, first arrow flew through the air and hit straight to the ball. I was sure it was pure luck. It can´t happen again. I was wrong - again
I was able to hit the ball most of the time. Finally I practiced for two hours and missed only a few arrows. I was amazed!!! What just happened ??? Afterwards I concluded that it was because I had no time to "build the aiming process" with conscious muscle work. I think my body was only responding to an action. That left me thinking that there are two modes of control. The first is conscious - the other is subconsious. Obviously, conscious control mode (aqcuired/practiced) tries to suppress the subconscious (innate hand eye coordination) control that has been programmed deep inside us in the processes of evolution. In this sense - practice and muscle work in instinctive archery is important but only to to a certain point. I came to a conclusion that I shouldn´t try to control my shooting too much. My body works fine if I let it respond without me interfering all the time =)
A fellow archer from Finland has a remarkable ability to shoot instinctively:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9qFhOvzy0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwtqRFCOzyI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9lhm0jE ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0_4pCCg ... re=related
Over-calculation can be a killer.
Tim