Archery FAQ: Instinct - Intuition - Muscle Memory?

[@eliasjohansen948]

Ever since I "found" your channel you've been a massive blessing to me, i've learnt so much by looking at you and listening to you! You're such a calm and wise man! This was very enlightening, thank you!

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@jammyface3041]

I love you Armin. You can take something so simple as taking a bent stick with a string on it, putting another stick on the string, pulling back and letting it fly, and turn it into a conversation about the deepest things in life. You inspire me so often. Thank you for what you do. May The Lord bless you.

[@ArminHirmer]

thank you

[@pistolpeds]

@ jimmy ; The many disciplines and understanding of archery can help us better understand many other things in life.

[@jammyface3041]

pistolpeds yes they can.

[@skytte71]

@@pistolpeds Yes, the same goes with knitting too ;)

[@UKAngryAthiest]

Shooting a shotgun at a moving target is a similar experience. Once you start looking at the bead on the end of the barrel, measuring distance and thinking about what you are doing all is lost. In order to hit a clay you need to lock your sight on the target and allow your instinct to take over. Strangely even when target shooting with a pistol or rifle and using sights to aim you instinctively know if your shot is good as you release it. This is the attraction of target sports for me, in that moment you have complete focus on what you are doing yet somehow you feel almost detached from it.

[@luisuribe104]

As a Buddhist I completely understand. When I practice archery I seek myself not necessarily the target.

[@witchkingofangmar3721]

leaving a comment for the algorithm because Armin is by far one of the best teacher I've ever heard and seen.

[@bobjackson3307]

Armin, I review this Video & Share this video every month. I do think this video is the most important Archery ever created. Full Stop!!! This video should be viewed by everyone who views an Archery video around the World. My Father is getting stronger and better hand eye precision with & more important, every day life. He had to stop Rifle Shooting in precision long range shooting when holding the rifle standing because of the Shaking due to Parkinson's. Because of that disease he was very depressed and his health was in decline. But since I had made 2 bows. He started shooting every other day until his body adapted to the bow. Now he shoots 2 times a day every day. Wow what a change. Thanks for this huge gift of making these video's that put the Spark back in His eye's. Soon to join the classes. Still working on the Boss to slap a crowbar into her money purse. Ok, She's the one In charge of the Budget, (because it's best if one person tracks the bills & she is good at it), But I always get the last Words. Yes Dear!!

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@gastonn8]

Since we were hunters and gatherers bow and arrow has been with us, in our subconscious minds. Men should harmonize with their inner souls and remember that we are part of nature, wild and free (of labels). Thank you Armin!

[@blockay9096]

Gustavo G. Zamora deep.

[@baz3184]

Not all peoples invented the bow, the Australian aboriginal would use a spear but without a point because they never discovered metal or the wheel or string I guess.

[@deanemery7336]

Thank you for your explanation. I have taken your shared philosophy and weaved it into my own. Your timely reminder of simplicity and energy is appreciated. Following.

[@dbbstbn]

Thank you / Vielen Dank, Armin! As you pointed out, the transition from gap shooting to instinctive/intuitive archery required me to stop trying to aim the arrow at the target consciously, but to simply shoot and give my subconcious the opportunity to learn. It required a leap of faith in the empty mind that has been justified. Ich muss eine Reise nach Malta arrangieren!

[@stefansteiner2670]

Until I saw this video I was always struggling with "is it instinctive or intuitive... how to call it when talking to people who want to learn?". This is by far the clearest described opinion I've heard so far. And I like it. :)

[@murman50]

Great video as all your bow review videos are... I motto is "don't overthink it, just do" call it what you will

[@chrisgaskell3706]

I like how you explain this conundrum that seems to get too many people worked up. As a child I would throw stones, my elder bigger brother used to bully me but one day I tought him a lesson, that was never fight me from a distance, I could hit him at will from 15 metres with a stone, I didn't aim, I just looked at where I wanted to hit him, anticipate his movement and threw. I think I will like this style of archery, I have just finished a course with FITA but hey I want to try all styles.

[@簡君麟]

In slingshot we call the instinct/intuitive method as “估打”, then call the aiming method as ”瞄打”. Just as same as your opinion!! Thank you for your sharing!

[@rudolfjung1766]

Hallo Armin, vielen Dank für Deine klaren Worte zum Thema "Egoshooting" und "Chi"shooting. "Ich" wünsche Dir einen wunderschönen Tag.

[@jareth7456]

I love this man ,one of the wisest people I've ever known not because he can spew wisdom but that he lives it .

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@scottwilson6712]

It seems to me that what you are describing is integration. That through our practice and experience all of our various faculties and abilities will over time combine helping us to release our arrow with the fullest expression of our intent.

[@zaachj6502]

I really like the way you explain things, I’m on my 5th day of archery now using thumb release only and I’m already hitting fairly good groups at 5 yards. Watched many of your videos now and you have helped me tremendously to not only enjoy the process but also make progress. From what I’m learning (from your teachings and my own trial and error) aiming in traditional archery is both muscle memory and instinctive. Balance the 2 and you will do well I believe.

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@johncuthbertson2565]

This man talks sense. A great ambassador for archery.

[@Zonic0000]

I just believe in my bow. Let him do his thing, and let the arrows fly

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

I have not done archery long enough to have muscle memory built up. Your techniques still work great, right from the start. I now have to remind myself to do the khatra but with muscle memory, that is something that I will not have to think about in the future after more practice. As long as I have the khatra ready, the arrows go where I want them to, no muscle memory built up yet. Your techniques and those of Mihai Cozmei just made sense to my body and as soon as I tried shooting arrows, it works...

[@sigmanarchery54]

I’m just glad I can shoot. But I sure have fun so what ever it is I sure injoy it thank you again mr Armln.

[@miguelveratraditionalarche9374]

Thank you very much for the information. to continue feeding the knowledge.🙏

[@mortenjacobsen5673]

vera what knowledge ?

[@gcmoore5987]

Thanks!

[@ArminHirmer]

thank you

[@reinori8322]

In baseball, when pitchers struggle they often say he is aiming instead of throwing. This is how I like to think of this style of archery: You are shooting or are you aiming....... The difference is palpable. I'll keep shooting, thank you. It reminds me of what my meditation teacher used to tell me, "You have all the time in the the world, and not a moment to loose." Thank you Armin....

[@luissantos5080]

Great advise , you are my sencesay in archery , I have learnt so much watching all your videos. Keep up the great work

[@KathrynWilliams-ln5im]

I entered to learn more about archery and I exited with knowledge about life; I hope to let this comment rest as testament to Armin's perspective, and its ability to travel across the continuum of space and time.

[@Larrypint]

Die deutsche Sprache bringt hier Erkenntnis. Dieses freie Bogenschießen ergibt sich aus einer Symbiose (dem zusammenleben) von Intuition (hineinschauen) , Instinkt (Erbkoordination/Antrieb) , Reflex (Verarbeitung von Reizen) und dem Muskelgedächtnis, all das kommt hier zusammen und wenn es aufeinander abgestimmt ist, dann trifft man das Ziel.

[@pwnewsom]

Nice way of stating it. I'm a musician as well as an archer, and for me (the only thing I know for sure, and still I'm doubtful), is that muscle memory frees the mind of such boring mechanical details and allows it to soar! It's difficult to focus one's intention while thinking about back tension, breathing and release. This why I don't get upset about the results on the target. Hone the muscle memory, the art will follow!

[@justinhoffman2236]

Fairy Tale Archery - that's great, lol! Well done, Armin! That was a fun watch with some laughs along the way.

[@stefanovecchi6476]

I really like your thinking and evidences. I must think to come and visit Malta and if I may, Your place.

[@ArminHirmer]

You can but I myself moved to Austria :)

[@stefanovecchi6476]

@@ArminHirmer Ciao, i am sorry to bother but are you still selling and teaching but in Austria, now? Thank You and have a nice day. Ste

[@ArminHirmer]

@@stefanovecchi6476 yes :)

[@benaventesonsofarchery2288]

I´m in love with this truthful explanation, the only one "instictive arrow" is the first ....it is the apocalypse for many people who "say that they practice instinctive archery". Thaks Mr. Armin, now I see and I ear that someone thinks like me ... and many people more... then we aren't on the wrong side....

[@incorporeal3793]

I think muscle memory is just the fine tuning (polishing) of something that is intuitive/instinctual. It takes all 3 to shoot.

[@mortenjacobsen5673]

its actually not . its learned behavior , gross or fine motorskill ,even wrong or bad patterns. turned into habits the mind can dump into the lazy subconscious to deal with

[@kmarchery]

So ,you average 4 thumbs down ? Thats not bad at all . I like to shoot regardless of hitting Or missing . Its the smile on my face that matters . Cheers

[@claytonmaurer1807]

Thank you for this video! I have recently found your channel and have found it very instructive and enlightening.

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@Marc76tub]

Dear Armin, I follow your channel for years now and I am glad to see him grow. Could you please describe the content of this video regarding "target panic" as background in another video? And how can deal a traditional archer with "target panic" in general? Kind regarding Marc

[@timwolford4802]

Very right you are an intelligent human

[@lebondave4377]

very informative! you remind me of my Ju-jitsu teacher (a great man and a good person) very good explanations on the direction of the movements, the sense of technique and with humility. he always said: "that's what I think, it's my vision and my truth, not the truth". I would have definitely enjoyed learning taichi (and archery) with you. :)

[@stefansteiner2670]

I second that

[@pdavis7537]

That double bottle shot was incredible! Thanks for this excellent video!

[@ArminHirmer]

thank you for watching

[@clear_image_photos5477]

As long as your having fun then do it doesnt matter if its wrong way or right way, just dont hurt yourself and practice safety

[@shubbagin49]

I have found in my beloved field archery that your position is ever-changing, I have learned to adapt from strictly target archery to some bloody awkward positional shots and in doing so have learned how to search for arrows in woods, every day is a school day, always learning.

[@davidsalman8362]

It's the Force Armin, May the force be with you :|

[@breakingthroughinside]

That's true wisdom what you are sharing, I couldn't agree more with you, deeply grateful.

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@pyroguy7]

Well said Armin. Love your videos!

[@regaeontop]

I feel very comfortable concluding it's all three! There is also hand/eye cordination.

[@pistolpeds]

Sensei. Ego's have been quietly disturbed and questioned by the wisdom and logic in your explanation.

[@dge4560]

Muscle memory is when you grab your bow and arrow, intuition is the aim and instinct is the release? Im all new to archery and the terminology is all new for me to.

[@istra70]

This is all true what you mentioned - wisdom of life and at the end it is about practice and how many million of arrows did you shoot.... and who cares what is it called as long as it is bringing better results. I don't want to be better than anyone else - but better than I was yesterday..... Namaste....

[@slowdancer5563]

Well done Armin. Personally, I feel the shot. Perhaps similar to a sports player or warrior going on automatic.

[@ninjagenjin9510]

intuitive like shooting a jump shot while spinning three-pointer in basketball😃hitting a whole in one in golf😊your mind imagines where it will go and your soul feels where it will go sometimes blind folder😉 like when a mother feels her child is in danger 😃 muscle memory is to repeat the same out come😎without thinking of the physical actions in the process 😁some people are better without much practice ☺️don't forget about the archers paradox 🙂ich liebe dish☺️ Mr Hirmer 🤗

[@robertocatrone715]

I can see why you have such a strong following. Your Outstanding teaching. I don't believe we have to do the isoslese triangle formula in order to perform archery. To many people over think everything. Just go with the flow of nature. Or... Maybe I over simplify.

[@ArminHirmer]

First you need the form in your muscle memory, then follow your flow :)

[@daleyoung7215]

Sounds like a great explanation to me!

[@valentinjeanmonod5137]

Great video ! You made a friend out of me by your vision of archery

[@nigelhutt9921]

Another great video, very well put. Ultimately the terminology has no effect on the outcome. However you shoot the only thing that matters is enjoyment.

[@divineserpent]

As a martial artists that practices and gives credit to what works regardless of the source I really appreciate how you address things of this nature. I noticed in the video about katchra you showed an example of bad technique and went to give it a name that most people would expect to be slightly insulting of the bad example, but you hesitated and simply said it is not katchra. Much respect. I recently noticed I shoot the best when I feel connected with my bow like with taichi swordplay.

[@ArminHirmer]

That’s the way

[@blairhayden8955]

I call it fun. Archery for me is just a fun relaxing hobby. Maybe I don't take seriously enough as far as " proper technique", but I do take it seriously and enjoy it immensely. I should also like to add, I have no training aside from KZbin videos (thank you Armin) and I am not part of a club, nor go to a range, so I guess I operate on instinct. But I wouldn't call it "instinctive archery". All just fun and enjoyment.

[@istra70]

You are right. As soon you join a club you are against rules and regulations against Egos even politics. This is happening in nearly every sport....and competitions specially on high end of any sport are actually ruining every sport.... All what we should ever compete with is ourselves ..... and just be better than we were yesterday......

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

Yay! The best comment in the video was about the village and the gvmt -:)

[@MrThePLandor]

Very good. I agree. Throw a ball in a basket or a dart and you will feel The Feel. One point though: there is no muscle memory. Its all learning. Its in your head.

[@eymoor]

Ha, a little late. I agree, but half of the things we do works this way.. Playing piano, driving and shooting a ball at the goal etc.

[@mikhailfong6234]

I understand that calling it instinctive or intuitive doesn't matter. "Instinctive" shooting as you said....no aiming or referencing required compared to Fita or gap or string-walking. I am wondering if instinctive shooting does use aiming but just subconsciously unaware of it. Or instinctive archery skills depends on individuals....meaning some just don't aim at all but hit the target. Can instinctive shooting being acquired or trained or learned?

[@ArminHirmer]

sure it can, same as you throw a stone. do you look at the stone or where you want to throw it.

[@craigphillips-1]

OSHO? Chi? What a delightful surprise you are. Thought you might add Eckhart Tolle to the mix when talking about shedding ego! You are bright eloquent and enlightened. Good to find you.

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you, yeah Eckhart ist a good one too if you wanna work with your ego and your painbody :)

[@TheDave570]

These things are NEVER equal! That would be an ideal world. All we can do as humans, is to strive to do better and that means practice. What ever you call it, improvement happens and that makes me happy!

[@Wolfcavexxx777]

I think the best is to be focust on ourselves live and let live for me it is not important how someone call his /her Shooting Style as long as he or she hit the target right we all can learn from each other and we all Archers and thats just nice! 😊👍Good luck to all of You have fun get it done let some Arrows fly 🍀🍀🍀🍀

[@gizmonomono]

A great definition. I easpecially love the swinging target, and automatic transmission comparison. Very nice. Although, fairytail archery sounds awesome 😂

[@kimolsson9386]

I like the way you think!

[@antonengstrom6346]

Great video. I don't really care what you call it since everybody knows what you mean when you talk about instinctive. Shooting "instinctive" I belive is the best term since it means you shoot like an instinct not precisely an instinct. Archery 101/ 3D archery made this point in one of his videos.

[@keithbaker3405]

Good content and it makes sense. I don't understand why people get so pedantic and hung up over aspects of this sport/pastime. As far as I see it, my muscle memory is used for my draw cycle only....I shoot using....wait for it....Split vision, yet another classification. I'm not standing there at full draw and then suddenly think "loose"...my mind does so without thinking about it, sometimes my mind is right and others not so much, but it is subconscious intuition.

[@mortenjacobsen5673]

caus calling someone a herbalist instead of witch would save lives during the dark ages, and thats where traditional archery is some are trying to read books before they're burnt and waiting for the Renaissance,

[@ivsovolod]

Well thank you for that video, quite contrasting the especially german/austrian ideas about exact and "right"...I would like to ask a further question: do you tend to synchronise your breathing , with drawing and releasing, like in tai chi quan or ba duan jin? Care to elaborate in a video?

[@randomguy-dy3uy]

Theres so many shooting styles. I gap shoot off the riser not the arrow tip, and for a long time I shot split vision, its a mix of so called instinctive and gap shooting, its a nice blend of both.

[@josephnebeker7976]

Excellent explanation. I love the way you think about this, and I love your thoughts on the ego man. Since I discovered the elitist divide in archery by those who think that "traditional" archery, whatever that is, is the only way to do it, I have found another word to say instinctive archery: Natural archery. As you pointed out, what we do is a combination of the terms instinctive, intuitional, muscle memory. All of these processes are very NATURAL. Therefore I call it natural archery. Just my term for it.

[@josephnebeker7976]

I miss wrote A little about traditional archery. What I meant to say is the elitists who believe there is only one way to shoot and release, only one way to place your arrow, specifically on the left side, and anyone doing it differently is doing it wrong and is an offense to their ego. I put the word traditional in quotation marks simply because I have an issue with people simply following tradition without questioning it. And, whose tradition? Traditional Archery is such an ambiguous term.

[@ArminHirmer]

Thank you

[@billsmith9648]

i really like the concept of intention

[@markgibbens437]

Wise words, just do and enjoy.

[@fauzimahdzir]

Love it when the “you visualise...” part kicked in. Bullseye.

[@simonsas1492]

Thanx Armin, I like fairytale archery, that's what I'm going to call my style from now on. *o*

[@archersnipe3855]

My subsconciuos is talking with the arrow and the target.I don´t like definitions...they are closely. Nice thinking Armin, thumb up.

[@elee9056]

so ive watched a few other “instinct” shooting videos. while i agree with you and i have found myself getting closer to getting more accurate without gap shooting/aiming, i watched a challenge to “prove” that subconsciously your eyes are used to the view of the bow and you still “aim”. the challenge was to shoot in complete darkness. you wont be able to see anything but a lit target and you try to point and shoot without being able to see your arm or your bow. how do you feel about this test?

[@ArminHirmer]

You look at your target, but of course in your peripheral view you still the the bow and the arrow, BUT you don't look at them

[@elee9056]

Armin Hirmer right. but do we not rely on this peripheral image of the bow and the target?

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

@@elee9056 I was thinking of a blindfold, look at the 🎯, take your stance, pull down the blindfold and shoot.

[@ericfiumano4694]

I think people who argue about the topic should reduce their stress level and simplify the whole thing accepting that there's no need to necessarily have a right way to describe it. We use often the idea of throwing a basket-ball...are you aiming? Not exactly. But you have an idea about the distance by using the brain and experience (which is used as database by the brain). Had the idea of distance and height, then is about where to shoot at, and we all know that we'd shoot higher if we get that the target is far...having the bullseye constantly, then, is about experience, meaning training, meaning muscle memory to the point you feel the bow as extension of you. Arguing about it has no sense, even more cause archery is a very individual experience and we should not force anybody to be needing to feel something or to think at it the way we want :D

[@paramidge8935]

A very erudite (and understandably - somewhat weary) little lecture on the great problem of epistemology and human experience. His 'two parties' 'divide and conquer' the village metonym is spot on. Many of us 'know' but defeat our knowing by adherence to obfuscating and self defeating 'systems'. We become a majority of neurotics ruled by sociopaths. Human truth lies in neither of these pathological conditions. We are eminently capable of - indeed evolved upon - the basic tenets of 'self management and mutual aid'. It is inscribed in our long infancy and reliance upon nurture tempered with discovery and adversity. It matters little whether we call it Chi, instinct, whatever. Archery (and fly fishing by the way) is peculiarly apposite evidence of our natural propensity to harness this evolution at a frequency that defies a notion of 'pure' logos (an Oxymoron if ever there was) and defines the idea of 'dancing and knowing' - the ludic 'intuition' forming precision - naturally.

[@Ragnafyr]

For me, its not about numbers. I just enjoy shooting with friends. No matter what bow they shoot with or how. Heck, i dont even care if i hit the target.

[@EnFyr]

Practice, practice and some more practice. :) if you love what you're doing someday you'll be great at it. Some more than others but that's life.

[@markturner1220]

It’s amazing how they don’t have this discussion about baseball pitchers or batters, the training brings skill, so they can react with that skill without overthinking the move. In baseball it doesn’t need a name. It just is.

[@SimplyTriedHere]

Great viedeo ❤ i love How the camera follows your face 😃

[@jessiegarcia8465]

I have had people label my shooting, and ask the same ,for me I tell them I'm an archer I look at my target us the tip to aim, then all that's left is practice so in order to shoot different distance

[@Paul-ct1wd]

Love this breakdown!

[@rickydlayaute5387]

Achhh Armin !!! So happy to hearing you speaking like that 🙏😊🙏 The archery community will increase her spiritual level with you 👍 Not just bows and arrows... Material.... Geist über alles !!! Every thing is to be done in consciousness!! Go on this way , thank's a lot!! Namasté 🕉 Richard Coeur de Lion😎🇫🇷

[@vaportrail226]

Great video but you're probably gonna ruffle some feathers. I like what you said at the end, it really comes down to whether or not you can hit the target!

[@natejansen892]

Conscious and unconscious application of energy

[@daigans]

i find my answer to this question in one thing you said "who cares ? it's simply shooting arrows ... by the way !" something like that ... and nothing else matter for me neither. it's just looking further within myself the serenity through the happiness of shooting arrows at the target, like a child could do it. this question is like two people looking clouds in the sky, one see an elephant and the other see a face in the same cloud ! wich one is right ?

[@moxenwolf1020]

Wonderful. Thank you. 🏹

[@peterfiser]

Faerie-tale archery, fantastic, going with that from hereon.

[@wilmofosho]

I'll tell you one thing for sure... In a time of need you def won't have time to be aiming and making sure everything is perfect before you shoot. Like when I played soccer I could hit shots at full sprint with 2 people on me but when I had a set shot I would mess it up.. all those things combined is what makes you great in the moment you need to be

[@jonniecallan86]

Loved this, thank you.

[@charlesdenman9052]

Where can I find a Comanche archery mentor?

[@ArminHirmer]

Dont know

[@charlesdenman9052]

My mentors would say don’t think too much. Just do it.

[@regaeontop]

I just noticed only 3 thumbs down! Great video!

[@dariusmolark6820]

excellent. i like it how you use wisdom from different countries to develop a way of seeing. india, china and nigeria ('chi').

[@MrRourk]

Bellow average so far! :) Only 2 Thumbs Down I allways give you a thumb up Armin. You do a lot of good for the Archery Community. Thanks for all you do for us!

The minimum distance I start using any sort of aim is 30 meters. For anything closer, I shoot as I feel. Call it, however, you want.

[@janedagger]

For me its archery. There's different techniques, and that's just fine with me. I know how I WANT to shoot.

[@kimolsson9386]

To me, more techniques, different ways, different bows, etc makes it even more interesting. Why cling to just one thing. I will try everything that sparks my interest (no matter if it´s archery or something completely different) And what sticks with me will stick with me.

[@qaidikramuddin]

I agree with you absolutely.

[@tjj4lab]

What I’ve learnt today: if instinct is the wisdom of the body and intuition is the wisdom of the soul.......I’m dumb in both body and soul. I need to gap shoot, I’ve shot thousands and thousands of arrows, but if I want to reliably hit golds on a 60cm target at 20 yards I have to gap shoot, maybe when I’ve shot a few hundred thousand arrows my body and soul can learn I bit better. My shot process is instinctive, drawing and release isn’t a conscious thought for me, but aiming is all me. I do catch myself looking at the target instead of the arrow tip sometimes and getting decent shots, but I can’t force it yet, once I realise I’m doing it, I can’t do it anymore. I’d love to get fully instinctive one day, but at the moment gap shooting is more reliable and repeatable for me.

[@ArminHirmer]

whatever works for you is fine