The Lure Guide Center

A friend of mine loaned me a video that included a segment on the shooting ability
of a well-known figure in traditional archery. As I was watching the video, I quickly
became impressed with this person’s consistent shooting. His accuracy was
excellent from short range and his release was lightning fast. I imagined him to be a
very good bowhunter. His shooting style, however, was quite unusual.

Before drawing his bow, he would pause in a “pre aim” position as he focused on his
target. When he was ready, he would draw very quickly and release with virtually no
pause about 2-3 inches before reaching full draw. He shot the exact same way time
after time with similar results. He had taught himself an unorthodox, yet consistent
method of shooting a bow.

Watching him shoot begs the question: How and why did he come up with such a
strange way of shooting his bow? To me it looked like he was compensating for a
bad case of target panic. Three of the several common symptoms of target panic
include an inability to hold, snap shooting, and a short draw. Clearly, he had all
three, but how was he able to shoot with accuracy? The difference between him and
most peopleincluding myself when I struggled with target panicis that he is able
to shoot the same way each time, which is rare in someone with target panic.

Most people with target panic have a continuing deterioration of their shooting
form. You may get a handle on it for a while, but it’s very difficult to be consistent if
you are suffering from target panic. When I had target panic, I was constantly
fighting my form. My symptoms of target panic were varied and my shooting was
inconsistent from shot to shot. When you’re inconsistent in your shooting form, the
computer in your brain can’t make the necessary adjustments between shots to
become very accurate.

So what causes target panic? Archery is a repetitive sport. You do the same thing
over and over again. It is also an immediate results sport. You know right away
whether you made a good shot or poor one. The repetitive nature of archery
bringing your bow hand on target and releasing the arrowteaches you on a
subconscious level to release sooner and sooner. Your expectation of the results of
each shot adds pressure. This pressure intensifies when shooting in front of others
or in hunting situations. The combination of repetition and a concern with results
causes target panic.

Repetition seems to be an unlikely cause. It’s logical to think that if you did the
same thing over and over again in a given sport you would get better. In most cases
this is probably true, but with traditional archery this is not the case. In Part III of
this series on target panic, I will go into greater detail how repetition causes target
panic and offer a hint at a possible solution. For more information about target
panic visit PushRelease.com.

Michael Linsin is a contributing writer for US & International Archer Magazine and
the author of Archery Strong: The 30-minute strength training program designed
specifically for archers. He is also the creator of the Push Release (target panic cure)
DVD for traditional archers.

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Imagine, if you will…

A woman walking across a dark parking lot late at night. The lot, apparently occupied only by the vehicles parked there and the occasional cat hunting for an evening snack.

Then, as if from out of nowhere, she feels the hard, meaty arm slam into her throat from the front. While her mind races to determine exactly what’s happening, she becomes more and more aware that she is not in control - her world has just changed forever.

The woman feels her muscles contract and, though she tries to move, is aware that much of her own body won’t respond to her brain’s commands. As the adrenaline and other chemicals flood her blood stream in natural response to danger, she is overcome by a multitude of feelings and sensations that she has, quite literally, never experienced before.

As the initial shock response and wave of panic begins to ebb, she finds herself becoming aware of the sensation of her assailant’s body behind her and the fact that his arm is coming from over her right shoulder. She can now hear his hot, rasping breath in her ear and perhaps the fact that he is saying something to her; though she’s not quite sure what it is.

Since she’s taken a few self-defense classes, she remembers learning how to get out of this type of attack and reaches up to grab and pull his arm away from her neck. What she finds though, is that she cannot even begin to budge it in the least.

“Wait a minute,” she thinks in a moment of clarity, “this isn’t right.”

“It always worked in class.” “This guy’s holding me too tight!” “No one ever holds THIS TIGHT!”

She feels the next wave of panic start to grip her. Not because she is being attacked but…

…because she realizes that her defense doesn’t work.

“Why?” “What’s going on?!”

“It’s supposed to work!” “He said it would wo….”

As the darkness of unconsciousness overtakes her, she is left with the feeling of a warm blanket that is being pulled over someone who will sleep for a long while.

************************************************

The preceding story, believe it or not, happens several times every single day in our country and around the world. To be certain, the details are different. Perhaps the victim…

…is a man - not a woman…

…never actually trained with anyone and just had their own assumptions…

…was attacked differently, but…

…the results are always the same.

Or, are they?

Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them create the life they’ve always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. To learn more about his latest book The Karate-Myth and other related subjects, visit his website at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com To subscribe to his online newsletter, go to http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/newsletter-subscribe-self-defense.html.

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Do not believe that practicing “by rote” 1-2-3,etc. type “responses” to street attacks is a viable or particularly useful training exercise. Example: He does this, I do that. For attack A I use Defense A.

Realize that in a street fight there are far too many variables, too many contingencies. Uncle Murphy rules the roost. Terrain, weather, injuries, any number of unforeseen deficits is one major concern.

The variety of assailants (size, number, weight, height, mental state, tolerance to pain, clothing) is another major stumbling block.

Train your “tools”, study your “targets” and master your “opening gambit”, anything “rehearsed” past that point, that initial sudden and explosive action is unrealistic.

ANYONE with real experience knows this. Whatever can go wrong…….WILL! So your training must emphasize instinctive and spontaneous “reactions” as opposed to attempted by rote “responses”. You “take” whatever the attacker gives you, or make whatever opening you need, but there is NO way to know this before hand!

Many so-called “combative” systems miss the most fundamental principle of training……..K.I.S.S.!

A padded syllabus may “look” impressive and “complete” but in light of the stark realities of survival, they are counter-productive.

Get your “tools” in the Old School Series. Those of you who practice with Video OS1, Fundamentals of Unarmed Combat know what I am talking about. Remember to Practice REACTIONS not RESPONSES! Practice to react a certain way. That’s a few combinations of two or three techniques practiced over and over again.

HOMEWORK: Take the combination of a Short Axe Hand, Long Axe hand, Chin jab and a Knee (from Video OS1). on a SparPro or heavybag- what ever you can hit Practice this 300 times a day. After 5 days let me know what you find.

Copyright 2003 www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com ©

Carl Cestari began his study of the martial arts with judo at the age of 7 under the direction of Yoshisada Yonezuka. During the past forty plus years Carl has dedicated his life to studying the martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, history and religion. He is continually improving himself through his studies. What makes Carl unique is his combination of martial arts, law enforcement, military and real world experience. Carl has been exposed to a multitude of people with a wide variety experience. The following is a list of some of Carl’s ranks and honors.

Shinan (Founder) Tekkenryu jujutsu

Ryokudan (6th degree) Koshinkai Karate under John Burrelle

Godan (5th degree) Jujutsu under Clarke of the World Jujutsu Fedaration (now defunct)

Sandan (3rd degree) Nippon Kempo under Narabu Sada

Nidan (2nd degree) Judo under Masafumi Suzuki

Shodan (1st degree) Judo under Yoshisada Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Shukokai Karate under Kimura, Kadachi and Yonezuka

Shodan (1st degree) Daitoryu Aikijujutsu

Instructors Certificate- Charles Nelson System of Self Defense under Charlie Nelson

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