When hunting became a habitual and essential practice for survival, the bow and arrow became indispensable tools.
Over time, this tool was used as a defensive weapon in battle, and centuries later, archery has now become an Olympic sport. We present it to you as another adventure sport to enjoy in your free time.
Would you like to feel like Robin Hood? Have you ever dreamed of becoming a professional archer? Are you someone who enjoys playing darts with friends on your days off? If you identify with any of these, then archery is definitely the sport for you. All you need to do is choose the right place to practice.
There are many multi-adventure companies that include archery among their activities. You can learn how to practice it, and whether you’re a beginner or have prior experience, you’ll surely be eager to keep improving. Don’t worry about equipment—the school you attend will provide everything: the bow, arrows, and target are essential, while optional extras include an arm guard or chest protector to prevent the string from catching on clothing.
Archery schools have highly qualified instructors who will teach you the best tricks and techniques. The first thing to master is the correct posture for holding the bow, using the hand opposite your dominant eye. To shoot the arrow, you’ll need to adopt the stance instructed by your coach—standing sideways from the waist up, perpendicular to the target, with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Ready to nock the arrow? Tilt the bow toward the ground and attach the back of the arrow to the string. The arrow usually has three fletchings at the end, one of which should face outward. Prepare to shoot, aim, hold the string with three fingers, draw it toward your face, and... release!
There are different archery styles, so it’s important to choose the one you enjoy most or that suits your goals, as they can serve different purposes.
Some people simply focus on the target and shoot arrows to hit the bullseye, without any competitive drive. Others, however, use this discipline as a way to challenge themselves and join federations where archers from all over compete.
There are also those who enjoy bowhunting, combining hunting or fishing with archery. However, this discipline requires additional training and is governed by specific regulations, both nationally and internationally.
Various competitions exist, such as target archery, clout shooting, flight archery, field archery, ski archery, and 3D archery. Other variants include Paralympic archery, with its own rules and features.
Don’t overthink it—try this exciting way to develop your skills and break the routine on your days off!
