Health Benefits of Archery

Archery can be done by able-bodied and disabled people. People with the most severe disabilities using special tactile equipment are able to join in. Target archery does not require the lower extremity strength and motion required by many other sports.

Archery requires precision, control, focus, physical ability, and determination. Archery itself will make you have a great time. You will love the rhythm of nocking the arrow, drawing, anchoring and letting the arrow fly.

People from many walks of life enjoy archery. Almost every age group can participate, and children as young as 6 or 7 have taken well to the sport, while it is not unheard of for people in their 80s to be shooting competitively.

It also teaches the benefits of teamwork with some competitions involving groups of people. The sport can be extremely dangerous if people are reckless. Archery teaches everyone to be responsible for one another and also for the equipment they are using. Archery is clearly no place for reckless behavior.

At a tournament, archers walk around five miles each day and can burn between 100-150 calories every thirty minutes. The short burst of energy from core muscles drawing back a bow puts tension in the chest, arm, hands, large upper back muscles and rotator cuffs which support your shoulders.

Maintaining focus and distractions like wind, distance, and competitors give you better control. To create a good shot, create a strict routine and an archer’s muscle memory and sub-conscious will have it ingrained.

Holding your body still while aiming and making a shot helps gain better control and coordination.

Archery is easy to learn but difficult to perfect. Having the determination and patience to precisely repeat a method makes you a better archer. As a side effect, archery usually improves your poise of the body.

You have to keep a straight back when drawing a bow, which will make it natural for you to keep it straight, all the time.

Relax, staying calm and accurate under pressure something archers develop by managing their breathing, concentration, and nervousness.

This is perfect for an archer for internal meditation. These skills will help you deal with stress and clear your mind and help you remain focused on the tasks in your day to day life.

This essay was written by the 2018 Hunting-Bow Scholarship winner, Victoria Denton. Congratulations Victoria!