Keith is currently rated 17th in the UK in Archery . Needing to be continuously on top form ensuring he is able to achieve accurate aim which requires to be physically on top form .
Here is a statement from Keith
I came to see Steve following talking to another friend at the Norwich Archer Club . Telling Steve about all the demands on my body ,pressure, potential injuries the need for concentration ,Steve went to work . A full assessment ,noting any concerns he found .Introducing his Bioneuro machine .
Steve ,explained how it works on your Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems . A strange feeling ,but it is doing me the power of good . The Bioneuro combined with massage fantastic ! . The increase in blood and nerve supply to my body aids that feel good factor .
I have been able to run 10k’s with no ill effects ,train harder as well . Massage great ,getting rid of trigger points that have developed so necessary .
This is not a sales pitch ,but this works the combination of this machine and effective professional experienced massage will help You stay on target .
Keep up the great work Steve
Keith H
Archery these days is a high standard competition sport including the Olympics, but it owes it’s root’s in the necessity to form an army to protect a Kingdom.
In English culture the Long Bow and Archery were not just in legends of Robin Hood, or in Poems like The White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Indeed Henry III even made it compulsory with the Act of Assizes of Arms of 1252 that all men would be Armed with one of the weapons of the day , but for most they would have to also have a Long Bow they would have to train on this weapon constantly.
You may not believe this but it is true, this law is still in place as it was never repealed.
All English males over the age of 14 are to carry out two hours of longbow practice every week, supervised by the local clergy. This law dates from the middle ages when there was no army and is still in place today.
Yew trees were commonly planted in English churchyards to make sure that there would always have readily available longbow wood
This did actually become a bit of a double edged sword as it were, because although this made it easier for the King to raise an army, it also meant that the bow became the weapon that was commonly used by rebels during the Peasants Revolt.
The Yeoman class of England became extremely proficient with the longbow, As for the nobility in England, from then on they had to be careful not to push them into open rebellion .
Anyone who has tried to shoot an Arrow from a Bow, will know it is not an easy thing to do. Good eyesight is necessary
As for the Aim, It is all about Technique , Assuming the Correct Stance , Fluidity of Motion, Stability and Tension Strength after all they are pulling on that Bow String to Draw Tension, the equivalent in tension of 20-30 Kilos.
Most choose what is called a “Neutral Stance “ this term indicates that the leg furthest from the shooting line is a half to a whole foot-length from the other foot, on the ground. As Archers become more proficient they find their own position some use a Closed Stance others like ( Keith use an open Stance.)
With the body nearly perpendicular to the target and the shooting line, with the feet placed shoulder-width apart, the archer then raises the bow and draws the string, they will vary the alignments for vertical versus slightly canted bow positions. We may not see all that is going on when we watch them, as this is often one fluid motion
Competition bows such as (The Recurve Bow that Keith uses) are released almost immediately upon reaching full draw at maximum weight, whereas compound bows reach their maximum weight around the last inch and a half, dropping holding weight significantly at full draw. Compound bows are often held at full draw for a long time to achieve maximum accuracy.
To release the arrow, the Archer will relax the fingers of the drawing hand,as does Keith ( some that use a competition bow, have a triggering mechanical release aid) at the same time still keeping the drawing arm ridged, and the Bow Hand relaxed, the arrow is moved back into position by using the Back Muscles as opposed to using arm motions (This will become very evident when you watch the video of Keith).
They also, as with any shooting activity be aware of Recoil action, follow through of the body if this is not checked it may indicate problems with their form technique and could possibly affect their accuracy and efficiency .
To aid his performance it is vital to ensure all the skeletal muscles in his thoracic area of his back are primed for action , the importance of these muscles firing in the correct order to achieve the positive execution of the outcome of his shot.
This means his Rhomboids (Major and Minor ) also his Serratus Anterior, being the Antagonist to the Rhomboids is critical, also his Triceps muscles in order to sustain stability.
With the archer’s lower Trapezius muscles being used to pull the arrow to the anchor point. This is when the archer draws the string hand towards the face, where it should rest lightly at a fixed anchor point. This point should be consistent from shot to shot, and is usually at the corner of the mouth, on the chin, to the cheek, or to the ear, depending on the archers preferred shooting style.
Because the archer has to hold the bow arm outwards, toward the target. the elbow of this arm should be rotated so that the inner elbow is perpendicular to the ground, though some archers with hyper extendable elbows will tend to angle the inner elbow toward the ground.
These muscles need to work in unison being strong achieving full tautness that can be retained for a period of time when in action of Adversion , but at the same time remaining supple .whilst the execution of his shot is in motion.
The definition of the muscles in this video and the recruitment and firing of the muscle, can clearly be seen. You will notice the fluidity of the muscle progression while Keith is taking the shot
“And for those of you who would like to know where all those arrows landed while doing this video, this picture says it all that is why he is on his way to the Olympics and we are proud to be looking after him and keeping him in Top Form”
