Archery

The archery book helped the authors of the axtwerfen website to see some of their pages in a new light. Examples:

Body and subconsciousnes

The archery book reminded us, that the expression "body", may easily be missleading.

The archery book says in chapter "The Way to Mental Aiming" on page 131: The axe throwing pages say in chapter "Introduction - Recreation":

... Our method could be described like that we feed our "subconcious archer" with so many shots, that in the end it is able to compare all percepted influences, such as size and distance of the target, direction and power of the wind, with earlier percepted experiences ... that the arrow just must hit the target ... ... the refreshment comes from the fact, that here the body has the say. The body runs the calculations, and the mind tries to follow. Not vice versa, as usual.

Isn't it funny - two seemingly contradicting words for the same thing! The word "body" in the axtwerfen pages may easily be missleading, and needs extra explanation.

The axt throwing pages tell you with a very materialistic view, that every aspect of throwing is to be calculated rationally (mainly chapter "Technique - Calculi"). But be careful! Thoses mathematics contains nonlinear equations, fractals and such beasts. Plainly told: the equations are not solvable.

Perhaps you can perfectly calculate one single level of considerations. But like with ever better microscopes, the levels will go deeper and deeper without any end. That is a mass of information, no one and as well no computer can handle. But perhaps the subconsciousnes can, or more simply called: the body.

By the way: the formulation Clemens Richter uses in his archery book, is exactly the formulation, computer programmers can use to describe a modern calculation technique called "neuronal net".

Darkness

Surprise! Finally I found a book, which telles something about acting blindly.

The archery book contains two chapters about that: "With closed eyes" (page 124) and "Shooting at night" (page 135). In the axe throwing pages, the topic is mentioned in chapter "Technique - From Grip to Throw - Step 3":

... But who masters the subconscious aiming already a little bit, will soon discover, that in the darkness shooting is even better. Because we are not distracted anymore by the temptation of searching aiming support anyway. ... ... Wanted is to do this throw blindly. The crucial thing is, that you then have an even better source for gravitational and rotational information, then the eyes and the balance sense can give you. ...

Well, this must be better explained, what we mean with an "even better source for gravitational and rotational information".

The eyes are extremely precise and "objective". This fact distracts from the other senses. If the eyes are shut, then the other senses come to the foreground. And with intuitive aiming, we need those other senses more than a precise view.

The information that comes from the eyes is classified to be external. The information coming from the touch sense is classified as internal. Closing the eyes helps, to shift the calculations from the external representation (which is treated conscious) to the internal representation (which is handled subconscious).

Last not least, throwing in the dark is mentioned in "Appendix (C) Rattletrap - Sound".

Follow Through

The archers have an equivalent to the throwers "Follow Through".

The archery book says at several places (freely translated): The axe throwing pages say in chapter "Technique - Follow Through":

... shooter, arrow and target are one unit and not discernible anymore ... If the real flight is exactly the pre-thought flight, there comes no surprise. The difference between plan in brain and happening in future vanishes. The sensation of time is altered. It is a time span, which does have nor beginning nor end, but which is "standing in space".

This is a very distinctive feeling, not to "try to hit", but hitting is clear from the beginning. No surprise, but well known Music. Delicious!

Much more were to be said about the archery book. But better, you read it.

The archery book says in chapter "The Way to Mental Aiming" on page 131:	The axe throwing pages say in chapter "Introduction - Recreation":
`... Our method could be described like that we feed our "subconcious archer" with so many shots, that in the end it is able to compare all percepted influences, such as size and distance of the target, direction and power of the wind, with earlier percepted experiences ... that the arrow just must hit the target ...`	`... the refreshment comes from the fact, that here the body has the say. The body runs the calculations, and the mind tries to follow. Not vice versa, as usual.`

The archery book contains two chapters about that: "With closed eyes" (page 124) and "Shooting at night" (page 135).	In the axe throwing pages, the topic is mentioned in chapter "Technique - From Grip to Throw - Step 3":
`... But who masters the subconscious aiming already a little bit, will soon discover, that in the darkness shooting is even better. Because we are not distracted anymore by the temptation of searching aiming support anyway. ...`	`... Wanted is to do this throw blindly. The crucial thing is, that you then have an even better source for gravitational and rotational information, then the eyes and the balance sense can give you. ...`

The archery book says at several places (freely translated):	The axe throwing pages say in chapter "Technique - Follow Through":
`... shooter, arrow and target are one unit and not discernible anymore ...`	`If the real flight is exactly the pre-thought flight, there comes no surprise. The difference between plan in brain and happening in future vanishes. The sensation of time is altered. It is a time span, which does have nor beginning nor end, but which is "standing in space".`