Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Lessons from Howard

Bar-E suggested that I watch a video on u tube entitled "Hit em like Howard" part 2 which is about the shooting of Howard Hill, the greatest archer of all time.  I was struck by the similarity of technique and the training to the lock elbow draw and our method of training.

Howard emphasized form over all else in learning to shoot.  He would go out and shoot 50-100 shots just practicing form.  The instructor emphasized to shoot without a target so one could learn proper form.  Howard emphasized alignment of the shoulder with the target.  We emphasize the alignment of the shooting foot, hips, and shoulder with the target.  Howard urged his students to repeat their form over and over again.  We urge our students to repeat their draw over and over again.  Howard finalized his draw as we do.

Watching the Howard Hill archer draw is like watching the locked elbow draw.  Both have the same elements.  There is the smooth movement to the shooting position.  Hill moves the release hand to the anchor point in one smooth motion.  We draw the gun from the holster and move the gun and trigger hand to the anchor point.  Hill's anchor point is the side of the mouth, our anchor point is the side of the hip. Both release the projectile when the hand reaches the anchor point.

In Hill's shooting method there is no flailing. In the locked elbow draw there should be no flailing toward the target.

In both there is no aiming.  Hill has no sights. He does not aim.  The arrow goes where his form and alignment sends it.  How does he shoot the apple off of a man's head? (Another video)  Well, his form is "finalized," his alignment is correct, and he has chunked a lot of data.  Therefore, he hits where he looks.

Thanks, Bar-E.

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