What is instinctive archery?
Instinctive archery is the name given to an art in which you can shoot your arrows perfectly without consciously aiming, without any aiming systems or mechanisms. Instinctive archery is the origin of archery. Instinctive archery means, in the truest sense of the word: instinctively-intuitive archery. The true instinctive-intuitive archer learns to fully trust the power of his subconscious, his mental strength, his shooting experiences, his muscle memory - his body feeling, and his instincts to guide his arrows to his target. Trusting and giving control to your own subconscious mind is the way to achieve your goal.
Since the beginning of the last century, instinctive archery is the phrase that has been used to describe this very natural way of shooting arrows. The success that instinctive archery can supply, and the natural ease in which it can be learned fascinates many people all over the world and inspires them to learn instinctive shooting for themselves. Children are true masters of instinctive archery. They are naturally detached from the thoughts that interfere with many adults, they simply look at what they want to hit, pull the arrow back, and let it fly - with amazing results!
Instinctive archery or intuitive archery - where's the difference?
Instinctive and intuitive means that your actions are guided by your inner being, your body and brain are trusting in your subconscious to guide them to perfectly execute the task at hand. Both terms are identical and are used interchangeably as synonyms in archery. We only differentiate these terms when dealing with subtle nuances of meaning in semantic situations. As a rule, instinctive archery is quickly associated with nature and wilderness, but many archers when hearing about intuitive archery think more of the meditative side of archery. It is important to note that instinctive archery has grown historically and has been in common use much longer than the term "intuitive archery". Back in 1937, the term instinctive archery was mentioned by L. E. Stemmler in his book on the basics of archery.
Instinktives Bogenschießen aus der Sicht von Henry Bodnik
For me, instinctive archery has a direct connection to nature, it evokes the feeling of adventure and the smoke of a campfire. I think of wandering through the woods with a bow and arrow, shooting at individual tufts of moss or rotted tree stumps, breathing fresh air, enjoying the peace, and experiencing life in the forest. That and much more is what instinctive archery means to me. Also, when I am participating in a 3D tournament or hunting with a bow and arrow, these are situations that make me feel a powerful connection to instinctive archery.
In addition to the sporting side of archery and the hunting opportunities available, intuitive archery can be used to provide many other great intrinsic benefits, lessons, and insights that can have synergistic effects in other aspects of your life such as; personal development, team building benefits and management training.
Instinctive - intuitive archery and its uses
- Working with hyperactive children
- In schools with interdisciplinary networks
- Concentration enhancement
- Rehabilitation strategy (back pain)
- Cancer Therapy
- Team Building
- Couples Therapy
I have been walking my archery path for nearly 50 years. During this time, I have experienced many facets of archery - this is because archery has many faces. Ultimately I answered the call of instinctive archery. I have always found instinctive archery fascinating and now, it has really captured me, it has become my life.
When I first started shooting instinctive archery, it seemed impossible to hit my targets without some sort of deliberate aiming system, using my conscious mind. It took many years for me to fully experience and grasp the methodology of instinctive - intuitive shooting. Eventually I educated myself on the history, the background, and the techniques behind how to properly shoot instinctively. Through the years, I learned more and more, and finally I was able to create my own system for teaching the secrets of instinctive shooting to other hopeful archers. There is very little in-depth literature on how instinctive intuitive archery truly works, and if you visit online discussion groups and even ask other archers, you will find that there are many controversial discussions about the fascinating opportunity of shooting a bow and arrow instinctively. You must be careful because many half-truths, untruths, but also correct fragments of this path are mixed in everywhere. Consider learning instinctive archery directly from me, Henry Bodnik. I assure you, that you will learn the right way of instinctive shooting.
