ZEN and the Free Pistol Discipline.

[Elmas]

I was initially attracted to ZEN philosophy...and to the remarkable abilities of the "Zen Masters" . I read a book called Zen in the art of ARCHERY by a German Diplomat posted many years ago in Japan who managed to become a master archerer under a Zen Master's tuition.
I was fascinated... There was a single free pistol shooter at our local gun club , and I used to watch his lonely hours of practice and wonder at his dedication....

Olympic Air Pistol was just starting at the club and a friend encouraged me to join the group.
He helped me buy a used FWB model 2 ( an excellent pistol of the older generation ) and I became hooked... for me air pistol shooting was the surrogate of both Zen Archery and Free Pistol . It required the same dedication and was really a contest with oneself.. The thing that came out foremost was one's progress in the fields of self control and concentration.

There is no feeling that matches the moment during follow through when one can call the shot with the accuracy that only comes from absolute concentration when the shot was fired...Almost as if one was merely an observer when the shot fired itself !

[Albert B]

Amen!