5 fun ways to get fit in 2015: Archery

By Asha Macam

Jan 5, 2015 | 11:08am Manila time

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Practiced in old Europe for hunting and combat, archery resurfaced in recent years as a modern sport for both competition and recreation worldwide.

Shows like The Walking Dead and movies like The Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games have inspired growing aspirations among young students and working professionals in becoming adept archers.

The sport has unmistakably spawned a new breed of cool — an aspect, which drove the owners of Kodanda (Sanskrit for “he who has a bow”) Archery Range to set up space in Makati.

“Ours is the only indoor archery range that is fully air-conditioned and open to the public (versus club membership required) so you can hone those arrow-shooting skills rain or shine,” says the range’s marketing director and part owner, Joanda Morales. “We’ve a team of elite coaches like Syd Fraginal, a former Philippine National Team (a record-holder in the Southeast Asian Games) member, Ronalyn Alvarez (former NCR Team member, Palarong pambansa winner) and her sister, Ronna May Alvarez (former member of developmental team of the Philippines) to coach first-time and experienced archers,” she adds.

The move: Bowmen are virtuosos at maintaining an elegant stance and immense concentration while propelling arrows. It may not be as cardiovascularly-challenged as running, but the sport still employs the kind of cardiorespiratory efficiency that say, yoga builds. “Archery also has physical demands — drawing the bowstring creates tension on one’s arms, chest, shoulders, and back, developing upper body and arm strength with repetition. Constant practice also helps improve posture, balance, and hand-eye coordination,” explains Morales. Stretching the spine and upper body before and after activity helps improve performance as well,” advises coach Ronalyn Alvarez.

Investment: There’s an hourly walk-in rate of PHP550.00 per person, inclusive of the following: Use of the archery range, equipment rental and coaching on archery basics from expert instructors. Shell out an extra fee of PHP30.00 for target paper, which also serves as a souvenir. Already own your gear? Shell out PHP200.00 an hour for range rental. Serious learners can go for this package: PHP6000 for 10 1-hour sessions, which also includes the use of the archery range, rental of international-standard equipment, protective gear and target paper. The student will be issued a Certificate of Completion after finishing all ten sessions.

The takeaway: Aside from strengthening one’s upper body, the exercise of targeting helps one develop focus and patience, allowing the individual to “center in” and calm him or herself, which can have a positive impact on one’s mental health and overall well-being in the long run.

Tips on how to become an amazing archer:

1. “Listen to instructions and wait for specific signals (like he coach’s whistle) given by your coaches. They’re for everyone’s safety,” says Alvarez.

2. Respect equipment and handle them with utmost care. For one, they’re not cheap. A simple Recurve bow starts at PHP30,000. Also, respect your fellow archers by maintaining silence and not causing any distraction.

3. Do not offer any advice. Expert coaches are there to provide them.

4. Dress accordingly with proper footwear: rubber shoes please, not flip-flops.

5. Avoid touching someone else’s equipment.

Location: Unit FB-D3a, Upper Basement, Makati Square, Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City. Daily, 10:30am- 7:30pm. For inquiries, call Coach Ronna May at +63932 8436614 or +63 2 7745410.

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