Smile ! This is fun!
Smile! You're shooting a longbow in the tradition of the old masters, carrying the tradition along with the flight of the arrow perennially fresh in your mind's eye!
"Smile"....a little nugget of wisdom from John Schulz.
I was working on my shooting in front of John during one of his classes, under his critical eye and was really concentrating. "Nate...Nate...Nate...hold on a minute" John made me stop my routine..."Smile...this is supposed to be fun, it's not a job".
Those words really hit home with me and changed how I look at shooting. Too often, as we concentrate on shooting, we get caught up in the focus of it all, and we get pretty intense. The intensity can lead to stress. As we know, stress can be very detrimental to good shooting.
My recomendation? Smile. Just as I was told, Smile before you shoot each arrow, smile before you draw. Relax your mind and muscles, and remember that this arrow shooting business is supposed to be fun. The Hill and Schulz teaching of being fluid and dynamic can only really be followed if we are relaxed.
So go out and have fun shooting arrows in the coming year. Smile as you enjoy the rhythm of the shot and smile when those arrows find their way to the center of the target in the New Year.
Smile, and Shoot Straight.
Yep! and its OK to laugh and chuckle at yourself
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone
At times I’ve found all you can do is laugh.
ReplyDeleteYour “smile” made me smile, Nate. After a hectic but enjoyable Christmas Day with family from the very old (me) to the very young, what you said grounded me back to my youth. Those were the days of teenagers—often young couples—shooting bows after work at the mountain outdoor range or those memorable picnics when the wicker basket held a Sunday lunch, wrapped up in a red and white checkered table cloth in the back of the CJ5 Jeep, headed for some remote mountain meadow.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, and those three or four close couples of our youth shooting arrows “for the fun of it,” well we married those teenaged sweethearts of ours. Those unions nearly all held to this day. And I like to think they were based around those bows and arrows and the out-of-doors. Along with that simple smile Nate reminded me of, and the reason why it was so important then, and even more so today.
Its dividends are huge. It defines what we do and who we are. And as well noted, it even is the foundation bedrock for the sport and lifestyle we call archery. Thanks Nate for reminding me the reason we still shoot those longbows with wooden arrows, and with the people we still love. It simply is… just fun.
So very true. We have a habit of putting way too much pressure on ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI gave this a try tonight,and it really does help keep me having fun,even when i miss. Been doing a bunch of alot of close bale shooting working thru some short drawing issues id developed with a sore shoulder last month. Lots of smiling now that ive worked myself thru that!
ReplyDeleteYouve shared SO much excellent info its been the best gift weve recieved throughout the year,thanks for everything Nate!!!!
Buon anno a tutti, ho da poco realizzato un'impugnatura in cuoio per l'arco di Donato.
ReplyDeletePer la personalizzazione, ho cercato una frase che diceva Jean-Marie Coche e che rispecchia a pieno lo spirito di Donato.
"L’arciere è radioso come un fanciullo."
Una cosa che mi ha insegnato Donato, è proprio quella di affrontare il tiro con l'arco con serenità con quella voglia di giocare, carica di stupore e curiosità che hanno i bambini.
Buon 2026 ricco di frecce sorridenti!
https://laviadimezzo.org/un-regalo-per-alce-nero-2/
Happy New Year, everyone! I recently finished crafting a leather grip for Donato’s bow. For the customization, I looked for a quote by Jean-Marie Coche that perfectly captures Donato’s spirit:
'The archer is as radiant as a child.'
One thing Donato taught me is to approach archery with serenity and a sense of playfulness—filled with the same wonder and curiosity that children have. Wishing you all a great 2026 full of 'smiling arrows'!