| Nice one Rik,
It's a can of worms but well worth opening. As you say, explanations vary from jargon, that is learnt by Chinese whispers, to medical science.
I have no time for the former, it tells the student nothing.
The scientific explanation has its place but perhaps most students would rather hear it in a way that relates to their shooting.
( my expalnation sounds long and tedious here because it is in text form; it is much quicker when given live)
My explanation, starts with a demonstration of the position of the arms at full draw, in relation to the rest of the upper body and each other. I mention the fact that it is a strong position and if necessary say why.
Next I explain that the back muscles are the ones that get the arms to that position and that they are strong enough for the job. (Mime a draw and explain as it develops.)
Then I demonstrate a draw where the elbow stays out of line. To get the hand close to the face requires a bend of the elbow.(mime) Most people recognise biceps so I use the word and then explain that I will need to use them if the elbow stays out of line. "They are a weak link in the chain so you will fatigue more quickly or shoot a lighter bow. You can feel when they are working and if your arms ache in the biceps area it is for that reason."
The next stage is to put the two positions against each other and compare benefits and highlight the ways in which they can be recognised/ differentiated.( miming both alternately helps)
When the listeners are happy that they can see two different postures, I say ," This is shooting off the back, and the other is shooting off the arms."
Giving names to something you can see is one way we learn to talk and understand the world around us. I let them see what is there to look at first. Give the two names, afterwards.
If they are interested in knowing more, or need to be given more, I go on in more detail about about maintaining back tension until the arrow is well on its way.(In some situations they have had enough by then so I save that for another time. Depends on the audience and the situation.  |