Archery Technique – Starting From Scratch
Traditional archery can help you get back to basics, particularly if you’re a recurve archer stuck in a rut. The reason for this is that it strips away much of the complexity and lets you start from scratch.
Many archers I shoot with (recurve or otherwise) know exactly what it is they are doing wrong, but after years of accumulating bad habits they find it extremely difficult to make major changes to their technique. Often they will ask another club member to watch them shoot – usually to confirm what they usually already know they are doing wrong. I often think that the real solution in these situations is more active coaching, where a coach spends dedicated time helping you get back to basics. Often it is necessary to dismantle a person’s technique before making big changes.
It’s a funny psychological problem. Quite often we feel that we don’t need a coach because – quite correctly – we have already diagnosed what we are doing wrong. The problem lies in the execution: we don’t do what we know we should be doing, and bad habits creep back in. One of the biggest things about having a coach there – for me – is having someone simply point out when I don’t do what I should be doing.
There’s also the psychology of being watched – being coached makes us a lot more self-conscious about what we are doing (if you can’t get anybody to watch you, try videoing yourself). Every time your focus needs to be on executing what you think is the perfect shot – at least in terms of execution – for the video or person watching and judging you.
A big problem of course, is getting access to a qualified coach. Many archery clubs have coaching contacts through GNAS, but if you can’t get a qualified coach ask an experienced archer.
In summary…
If you’re stuck, try taking your sight and long rod off, move closer to the target, and get somebody to at least watch you. With constructive criticism you’ll find it will help your archery, and hopefully you will find it strangely liberating!
The Best Bodybuilding Workouts For Women
A world away from the casual Gym goer, Bodybuilding as a Sport generally is one of the most intensely demanding of all, requiring huge amounts of mental and physical discipline to succeed at.
Women’s Bodybuilding has always been unfairly seen as something of a secondary Cousin to the Male contests and competitions. Whereas the emphasis used to be on Women developing the largest muscles possible and consequently following Bodybuilding Workouts for Women that would make most men’s eyes water. Nowadays, things have thankfully moved on, and the Feminine look is back! People have finally realized that Bodybuilding Workouts for Women to make them look like Men is pointless and visually unappealing to the majority. Interestingly, Women’s Bodybuilding is becoming more popular than ever before as the Sports evolution towards the celebration of a considerably more feminine Bodyshape has increased its overall appeal considerably.
Back in the 80’s the domineering Body type that Women aspired to was that of the male physique. Yet in order to add bulk and muscle mass to anything like the extent of the men various Anabolic Steroids were a prerequisite to that type of muscular density.
Things began to change towards the end of the 80’s with people demanding a more Feminine body shape and Women’s Bodybuilding began to evolve into the Sport that it is today. Accentuating the Female form with perfect musculature whilst retaining the aesthetically pleasing curves that Women are loved for.
The Best Bodybuilding Workouts For Women
For anyone who is looking to dramatically improve their Body from beginner level upwards a four-day split is recommended.
Also, because Women tend to hold Fat more stubbornly than their male counterparts, the most effective Bodybuilding workouts for Women will include 4 sessions of Cardio exercise for maximum Fat Burning.
Bear in mind though that everybody responds differently and if you find yourself becoming tired, irritable and generally feeling blue then there is a good chance you are overtraining, so don’t be afraid to back off and take an extra rest day between sessions if required.
Each Exercise should be performed using weights that are manageable for between 10-15 reps as the focus on Bodybuilding workouts for Women is definition and toning rather than mass gain. A quick word on dispelling a Female Bodybuilding Myth: Lifting heavy weights will not turn Women into Men! Their genetic and Anatomical composition just doesn’t enable that kind of growth without the addition of Anabolic Steroids. So girls don’t panic – you wont end up with bigger Arms than your Boyfriend. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it!
Bodybuilding Workouts For Women: Example Split
You will split your Workout over four sessions per week. Take a rest day in between each weights workout and do Cardio on ‘off days’ or on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
Split your workouts as follows:
Lower Body:
Back and Bicep
Chest and Triceps
Shoulders