What archery gives you

by: Syd Fraginal -Kodanda trainer

 

          Just like most relationships, there is a give and take of plenty of things. In archery, you have a unique relationship to the sport and what it means to you. Winning gold in the Southeast Asian Games with Marvin Cordero, Christian Cubilla and Bryan Figueroa gave me the best feeling. It was like all of the blood, sweat, and tears I shed was worth it. At that moment, it felt like all of the harships I went through was necessary in giving me this sense of fulfillment. It just motivates, not just me, but athletes in general to train harder, to strive to get that feeling again.

 

         Although you feel like you've given everything up for your sport and you don't get anything in return, it's not true. A sport will provide you with values you would never thought existed, things such as teamwork and patience and friendship are so natural to you just because the sport you're practicing has provided you with that. An archer is repaid for all of the years of hard work they have gone through with that contentment when they see themselves beating their own record or simply shooting an entire set with arrows ending smack in the middle of the target.

 

         Out Filipino ancestors, before the Spanish Colonization, survived in hunting for prey using archery. Archery gave them food to eat and a greater chance of surviving in that cruel, dangerous place. They worked hard in making their own bows out of bamboo shoots or tree branches and they still managed. Now, we have the proper high-end equipment and we still couldn't find the enthusiasm to practice such an amazing sport. 

 

         In the United States, archers focus more on their consistency, how frequently their arrows hit a certain part of the target. This is clearly different from how Korean archers are being trained. In Korea, they concentrate on improving their technique. SInce their personality is so hard working, the fact that they share the same coach does not affect them and how they shoot. Archery depends highly on the archer's personality. Though their methods are different, the end result is the same. They succeed because they don't just take from the sport. They give their all, even if it means shooting a certain amount of arrows from dawn until dusk.

 

          Never settle for average and never settle for the best. You have to see yourself as better than the greatest because having a good form is useless unless you have the confidence to know that you will succeed. Push yourself to train hard today and live the rest of your life as a champion.