ZEN ARCHERY: IS IT MUMBO JUMBO?

I am not really into Zen archery. I find it a little pretentious. Any attempt to add some lofty, self-important, spiritual purpose to a hobby, sport or activity which is about little more than survival, war or recreation, is likely to provoke a little silent laughter in me. Nonetheless, I do not think it is all nonsense through and through. From the moment I took up archery, I instinctively knew that there was a meditative quality to it. It was because of my interest in this that I discovered that there was such a thing as Kyudo (Japanese for 'the way of the bow'), also known as Zen archery. The good news is whatever form of archery one practices, this meditative quality is accessible. 

While I am unable to understand the hows and whys, I have learned a thing or two about the importance of attitude in archery. Seeing archers more experienced and capable than myself shoot, and hearing those who take the art seriously speak on the matter, has substantiated my own meager experience.

So, here are a few meditative qualities an archer needs to work on, which are also necessary to hone one's skills and develop consistency.

Clear the Mind

A mistake I keep making is rushing. Limited time no doubt plays a part, but I find that it is important to take one's time when setting up his equipment and also before shooting to acquire a measure of calmness. Archery is one of those martial arts/sports that creates calm all by itself, but also which requires one to be calm to do it properly. It is not unsual for me to have to shoot for an hour before acquiring the right frame of mind to start shooting accurately and consistently. While this is partially due to becoming physically accustomed to shooting, much of it involves the mind. A little time clearing the mind (and doing physical warm ups, which too many of us archers forget or can't be bothered to do) is helpful.

Enjoy the shot cycle

 

Sometimes I am too keen to get to the shot, and do not spend enough time on each element of my shot cycle. This cycle should be thought of as one action, from stance to follow through. The more calm and measured one is, the more meditative and relaxing archery becomes. Perhaps one reason speed shooting, which has been popularized and brought to the attention of the masses recently, is frowned upon by some archers is that it contradicts the calm and measured approach which characterizes target archery and even field archery. I think both forms of archery should be respected and enjoyed, but it is important to know the difference.

You are alone

Generally, archery is not a very social sport. I have noticed that even when a club is full of archers, the best ones are silent and behave as though there is no one but him/herself and the target. They do not compare their shooting with other archers, and you will never know when they have made a mistake or a bad shot because they react no differently to when they make a good shot. Too often, in our embarrassment or concern that others are seeing our errors, beginners make a song and dance about the terrible shot or what was wrong, thus trying to demonstrate that they are not normally this bad, or that  they know exactly how to rectify the problem. The best archers seem to be free of such vanity (at least while they are shooting).

You are the target

 

I know it can sound pretentious to hear "The target is yourself" or "You and the target are one", as you do in Kyudo. But it is true in a way. The arrow does not consistently hit its target just because the archer is aiming at it. The beauty (and difficulty) of archery - and this is particularly true of traditional archery (no sights, stabilisers, clickers or other gadgetry) - is that what the archer is trying to master is his own body: the stance, grip, draw, anchor point, release, and so on. Just a fraction of a difference in these translates into wildly different results on the target board. So, in a way, the more one masters his own body, the better an archer he becomes: the one who controls himself the best shoots the best.

Timing and repetition

Another bad habit of mine is reaching for another arrow as soon as my previous one has hit the target. I focus too much on the shooting, seeing all that precedes it as nothing more than preparation for the shot. But really good archery is about the whole shot cycle being one activity enjoyed for its own sake. Of course, there is no denying that archery would be no fun and completely pointless without shooting, and it can be a great deal of fun even when only shooting is the focus. Yet it does not change the fact that the best archers take every element of the art seriously, and see the preparation and shooting as one action and one activity.

End as you began

 

Instead of hastening to put away their equipment and rushing off to the next thing they have planned, many good archers end their sessions the way they begin: in a calm, collected and measured manner. It will make no difference to how you shot that day or how you will shoot next time, but it is indicative of a certain mindset required for archery. In this respect, all archery to an extent shares a characteristic of Kyudo, in which hitting the target is but an indication of the archer's self-mastery and inner peace.

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All of this suggests that what is true for Zen archery is true for all archery: hitting the target is not the goal, but the result, of archery. It is a form of developing a calm mind impervious to distraction and emotion, a way of practising self-mastery by "way of the bow".