Breathing Technique

[Thunk]

There's some reference to breathing in the 'Writing down Form' thread. But what techniques do we use? I have only ever applied the basic technique I learned whilst shooting in the Army; two normal breaths and then after the third, stop breathing and release. Is this what you do, or is there more to it?

[Tarkwin]

I have always inhaled as I come up to full draw and then hold my breath until I release or let down. I read somewhere (here?) a few weeks ago that this wasn't the best thing to do but it's ingrained now.

T.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by tarkwin

I have always inhaled as I come up to full draw and then hold my breath until I release or let down. I read somewhere (here?) a few weeks ago that this wasn't the best thing to do but it's ingrained now.

T.

I changed a few years back to "exhale on draw". It's surprisingly easy to swap over. You just have to get the setup right - don't exhale as you're getting ready to draw (going blue in the face as you try to generate a vacuum would probably disturb the other archers).

[PaulT]

My technique is pretty similar to Rik's in terms of exhaling as I draw. It needs to be remembered that archery is a marginally more aerobic sport then gun shooting - which I assume is the 'in the army' shooting you refer to Thunk.
To go into a bit more detail:

1. Deep breath when coming to pre-draw
2. Partially exhale as coming into full draw and references
3. Finish exhaling as I expand through the shot

[Max]

Funny - I have completely changed my breathing pattern since changing to compound, and I did not realise I was doing it. For recurve I was exhaling on pre-draw, drawing a deep breath and only exhaling slightly on the anchor - almost using a lungful of air to expand my chest and brace the weight of the recurve against. For compound I have caught myself exhaling at full draw to relax and steady the pulse (as I used to do when I shot pistol) - it seems more relaxed and comfortable.

[Adam]

As a compound archer:

In when I raise the bow.
Out during the draw cycle.
In and hold (approx 1/2 lung-full) when settling into an anchor and aiming/shooting.

Assuming you've got a reasonable degree of cardio-vascular fitness, you'll be able to feel that your pulse slows dramatically after an inhalation. Hence, a breath in when you're trying to settle your aim helps stop a thudding heart from making the aim wobble.

Adam

[Small Monkey]

There was a thread on Saggi on this a while back, which I was following with interest. Have a read here:
http://sagittarius.student.utwente.n...pic.php?t=2006

[Big Boy Blue]

What works best for me is a breath in during draw, hold until release and then exhale.

I thinks its important during anchor that no movement of any kind is introduced.

Whats important is to use whats feels most comfortable for you.

[Little Miss Purple]

I tend to take a deep breath when preparing, then inhale as I turn to the gold and exhale as I draw & aim. Thus letting my shoulders drop etc as I relax into the shot.

Well sometimes anyway!!!

[SLOWHAND]

Before starting the shot process I take a little time (10 secs or so) to mentally focus, and visually focus my (50 year old) eyes on the gold. Whilst I am doing this I am regulating my breathing and heartbeat and relaxing as much as possible. As I draw up I inhale to about half my lung capacity, hold it, and then complete the shot process.
Just my way of doing it.