Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Amount of training


How much should I train ?

Question no 1 : What is your aim ?
Question no 2 : How much time do you have ?
Question no 3 : Is that realistic ?

Generally it is not.



You probably aim a full gold at a full training set ( 30-36 shots )  hit by year end. No way. Spare 2-3 years to reach 70% hitting gold with as much training that I do. THat is what I saw at my comrades as well - for those who had not let it go.

So how much  training ?
The more the better....

No

The more correct the better.

What is correct ?

It is not when you hit gold. It is when you feel "good"
Good need not be "correct". But when you give enough emphasis on how you  feel, any fluctuation on how your activities differ at every shot cycle, you get a sense on.  Then you will be able to re master a portion of it, to get it correct. To be able to master it, you must first feel comfortable enough to feel consistent on what you do.

At each training session, plan for shooting at least 120 arrows. That takes 2 hours at least with 15 min break at the end of an hour.

Your first 3-4 months will be pulling elastic bands, and then try on a starter bow, mostly a wooden bow with 14 pounds ( 7kg ) full length draw with no rods.
14 KG is not a hard pull. But the muscles you use are ones that you don't utilise in your daily life so they are very weak. Whats more, since those muscles ( trapezoid ) are not pushed hard enough on daily  desk top job, they erode *very* quickly. A week of break will take 3 weeks to recover at an age of 45 -tried and tested.

Don't take this period lightly. Do not rush into shooting while rest of the crew is banging their arrows on target. Some basic posture is hard to settle down and it takes at least 1000 trials to feel comfortable and another 1000, totalling up to 2000 trials to have some "consistency" in what you do.  At an average 3 trainings per week and 120 trials per session that leaves 7 weeks at least.

During this elementary training, notify the following elements
Learn and assure that you do not move your head. Keep it "free" and do learn not to contract any neck muscle. Your coach  or a friend should be able to push their finger to your neck at ease. Easier said than done. That takes  a very considerable effort.

Learn to keep your bow arms's forearm as much relaxed as possible, just your neck is. Someone should be able to push their finger in your  forearm at ease.

Why : 

Your neck stands the ultimate "pivotal point" or reference plane . Any seizure  will result in slight movements which by even 1 mm of move will have 10-15 cm distraction of the arrow at 70m
The best way to  keep you neck at the same posture each and every time is to keep it "relaxed" and steady. So you must not convulse your neck muscles except than to  keep it straight. Learn these muscles and have them relaxed

Your bow arm is the ultimate point that holds the arrow before it leaves the rest. Any seizures - trembling on the bow arm will result in a miniature move, resulting the same as above.

By the end of your "blind shot" or call muscle building activity, be sure that you get these muscles relaxed. Or at least get to understand - how you feel when they get relaxed. If not, you probably would loose an  entire year before shooting consistently. No joking. I did it. And I lost the year.

More to drill into this in "style"

Break

Do take the break. after 45 min of training, your muscles will fatigue. It will be minor and you wont consider much. Alas, it is the minor muscles and feelings we are after. Lactic acid not onliy inhibits the control but also dazzles/blocks your sensation of your feel. Do give the break. Maybe you wont be tired enough at min. 45. But what about an hour. Than you may not able to cope up with the rest of the schedule  to practice "correctly"
Do take the break

How many shots per set ?

The de-facto is "be en par with the rest of the shooters. That is if everybody shoots 6 in a set, then lock yourself into so no one waits for you and vice versa. But if you are alone, do not shoot more than 7 arrows in 240 secs. Excessive shooting has the same side effect.




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