ATARN Chinese Traditional Archery Training, Winter 2003
Beginners' Level
Day 1 : 16 November 2003 (Bring a notebook and pen)
Orientation
Qigong exercise
History
Nature and purpose
Stance, breathing, opening movements, closing movements
Introduction to the bow and arrow
Materials
Design
Naming of parts
Stringing the bow
Safety
Pointing and drawing the bow
At the target face
Handling of arrows
Military drill
Purpose of military drill in relation to learning traditional archery
Basic steps
Drill practice
Initial archery practice
Concepts: interrelationship of ritual archery, military archery, horseback archery
Stance
Nocking the arrow
Practice with the elastic band
Discussion
Day 2: 23 November 2003
Qigong exercise
Revision
Intervening movements
archery practice
stringing the bow
revision of nocking the arrow
draw-hand position, bow-hand position
draw-and-release at the floor
Military drill
Spacing and co-ordination
Initial target work
Discussion
Day 3 : 30 November 2003
Qigong exercise
Revision
Further intervening movements
Archery practice
stringing the bow
revision of nocking the arrow, draw-hand position, bow-hand position, draw-and-release at the floor
preparing for full draw with an elastic band
full draw with the bow
Military drill
Spacing and co-ordination
Target work with elastic bands
Discussion