My best numbers shooting clay's occur when I approach everything with a soft touch. Relaxed stance, lightly gripping my gun, only looking at the target and gently raising the comb to my cheek. Minimizing my movements and thoughts. If I start doing too much or thinking a lot my performance slips. I let my technique become a basic motor skill and let the rest flow. Great video, cheers from the States.
Lots of philosophical and psycho-spiritual discussion introduced here, a bit of a daring topic for a video and a great talk. That shooting is a sport and that any sport offers the opportunity to encounter a meditation, as it were, is of course an ancient idea, as Simon does well to communicate - I'm keen to read his book if he gets to publishing it! But it takes a thoughtful and wholehearted listener like Jonny here, to draw out the deeply insightful nature of "polishing your character" instead of hitting the target, and how such an endeavor is both infinitely rewarding and at the same time infinitely challenging. It all rings very true, I dare say, for most of who shoot, as we see ourselves revealed. Thanks for this.
I am new to shooting, just starting on my journey.but in my other sport I had hit a plateau which technique and diet and discipline could take me no further. I looked to the east and the marshal arts training of my child hood, when I became at one with the moment totally focused but in a zen state of relaxation I could perform far higher but my perceived effort was less than 20%. I struggled to explain this to others until I heard Simon explain mind of no mind. His quote is on my work planing board now for two years and I use it as an approach to get into the right mental place before focusing. It is hard to explain, but when I am in the right place mentally I don't need to force my performance, because I know I will succeed before I even start, everything slows down like slow motion but my performance is far faster, I don't need to think, I just need to stay in the zone and everything just flows easily. I am looking forward to seeing how this translates to shooting. My plan is to get some lessons to learn correct technique, then repeat till engrained, then try to use this approach, its worked for my other sport so I know I can do it. There is something else which I don't know how to explain but it fits with the happiness that comes from this technique which I never got when forcing technique to the edge.
Simon is an extraordinarily interesting individual! Achieving flow or subconscious being is something I never expected to be discussed within the context of field sports- but it makes so much sense! Anybody looking for more on this should look up Eckhart Tolle and go from there. This aspect of mindset, values and conduct should be discussed further- fantastic episode folks 👌
I actually really enjoyed this, I don't know why I said actually I usually do. But I found strange was the discussion on numbers. Because in America you might go under a certain amount, but you can't go over a certain amount without fines and/or cuffs. And actually you can bring out biologist, free of your charge by the state, and have them tell you about the population based on the environment and how to increase it or make it stronger. So you're not just some dude staring at it, You've got a biologist.
Great interview. I think Simon has a very interesting perspective on shooting and the analogy with eastern philosophy around martial arts and Confucianism is bang on. I used to study various martial arts and I like that he’s highlighted the aim of many martial arts being a training of the mind and ego as much as the physical training which is critical if you are to be highly proficient. Bruce Lee said “When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And, when there is an opportunity, I do not hit - it hits all by itself” which is a great way to think about getting in the flow/zone when shooting.
From Australia I am very appreciative of such an in-depth conversation and what a broad subjective look at the times past and a way to face the present and future, very well done guys 👌
Simon and I have had many conversations about the link between Martial Arts and shot gun shooting and have developed this concept in both of our areas of expertise. Understanding mental control has application in all of life.
What I used say to my surgical trainees in a nutshell. It's a Zen thing, you have to be in the moment, relaxed and not having to think about the action. It takes practice/analysis over and over until the action becomes second nature.
Totally get this , I do a lot of MTB riding and the best rides are the ones where you find your flow . It's just a state where everything goes right and you pretty much unconsciously stop thinking about technique. Same in my airrifle shooting , I can easily get in my bubble where all that matters is the shot , if it misses it doesn't matter I clean it from my mind and go to the next , when I finish my course of fire I can't even tell you what my score is .
Sonny Joannou very true, as a business we use this technique with life, business and sporting clients. We created a RIFEE, it combines NLP, Hypnotherapy, psychology traits about getting into the zone, state of mind, relaxing the mind. “Subconscious competence”
Another great aspect that affects the mental side of shooting is getting too much curious about the chokes and shot sizes rather than just sticking with one that works best for you because at the end of the day all that matters is placing the shot at the right place.
Absolutely brilliant, great outlook - a reading list would be much appreciated here, I would love to know what's on his bookshelf. Offshoot idea - TGS Books?
This is related to the divide between Science and Art. Science deals with subjects where rules can be understood. Technique is a part of science because it addresses things that can be linked in terms of cause and effect. Art deals with things that are so complicated that the rules cannot be made in stated form. It becomes a result of instinct, very often developed by long experience or by particular talent. Great performers learn the science of a discipline inside out (in fact, some don't), but their long experience and perhaps innate talents, informs them in an instinctive way on how to prolong their scientific or technical skill into the realm of art, where they cannot explain why it works well, but it does. They achieve a point where they 'feel' what needs to be done rather than 'know' what needs to be done to do better. This is true of all art. The difference between an artisan and a great artist is that the artists goes much further than the artisan in the possession of instincts that are conducive to great results. The ultimate hunter, for instance, is the one who through long experience and innate talent can develop an instinct to understand what the animal will do next, without really being able to explain clearly why. The ultimate shooter will teach his body muscle memory that is so subtle that it cannot be put into words, that it cannot be rationalized, but it can only be felt after with long experience and particular mental talent. Not everybody can be a concert pianist. Not all concert pianists are sublime performers. The ones who do have gone well beyond the science or technique of musical mastery and dwell in the realm of unexplainable instinct. They are called geniuses.
2 blokes 'avin a chat. Beautiful topic & video. Aligning wing chun kuen with shooting never was obvious to me.. I wonder if I can apply shooting to my wing chun, too.. not literally, obviously.
I think this can be summarized by saying, you need some technical information to know how to hit targets/birds but once you start hitting them you are relying on muscle memory and instinct and you are in the flow. The bird that you see coming and you have loads of time on breaks the flow. When the pheasants surprise you, you have no time to "think" and rely on instinct.
Professional musicians say an hour in front of an audience is worth a 100 hours of practice. Same idea. The mastery of technique is preliminary to mastering the art.
Use the Force Luke! Seriously, it's the same with playing a musical instrument, once you get in the "zone" there's no effort in it and you sound your best!
I think there are people that are born to be shooters. We had a 10 year old lad that came to a few matches as he didn't have baseball games those days. His Granddad, uncle and cousin were regulars to the match. His second match he shot in the 60s. He'd only shot three other times before that in the backyard at his granddad's. Don't think he'll get serious about it though. 😕
Always shameful to see natural talent go to waste, but i suppose they would never reach the top of their game anyway without a good dose of passion to back it up
Just like fly fishing it's not about catching the trout . It's about executing the perfect cast .but the weird thing is the more you force it the harder you try the worse it gets. you end up fighting the rod all day whereas the perfect cast you don't even feel
I was just thinking the same. It’s like casting to an infrequently rising fish. You don’t think “set the hook the fish has taken my fly”. You would have missed the fish in the time it takes you to process the though. For me anyway, it’s an instant unconscious reflex reaction. You just know.
Got to respectfully disagree over what constitutes the best of shooting sport. Hunting North Dakota prairie over pointing dogs is as good as it gets. I would have no interest at all without my dog.
So basically. instead of learning everything to the point you can throw it away. Much like Bruce Lee or Picasso I fast tracked and took this approach from the very beginning.
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Probably the most inciteful and thought provoking film on shooting I think I`ve ever seen. Truly remarkable!
My best numbers shooting clay's occur when I approach everything with a soft touch. Relaxed stance, lightly gripping my gun, only looking at the target and gently raising the comb to my cheek. Minimizing my movements and thoughts. If I start doing too much or thinking a lot my performance slips. I let my technique become a basic motor skill and let the rest flow. Great video, cheers from the States.
40 minutes well spent. Interesting and genuine conversation. Good work.
This isn’t just about shooting. It’s about treading lightly on this world and interacting with others graciously.
Another great angle to think about the culture of shooting. Jonny, great foresight again in what the shooting community needs. Thank you.
Lots of philosophical and psycho-spiritual discussion introduced here, a bit of a daring topic for a video and a great talk. That shooting is a sport and that any sport offers the opportunity to encounter a meditation, as it were, is of course an ancient idea, as Simon does well to communicate - I'm keen to read his book if he gets to publishing it! But it takes a thoughtful and wholehearted listener like Jonny here, to draw out the deeply insightful nature of "polishing your character" instead of hitting the target, and how such an endeavor is both infinitely rewarding and at the same time infinitely challenging. It all rings very true, I dare say, for most of who shoot, as we see ourselves revealed. Thanks for this.
I am new to shooting, just starting on my journey.but in my other sport I had hit a plateau which technique and diet and discipline could take me no further. I looked to the east and the marshal arts training of my child hood, when I became at one with the moment totally focused but in a zen state of relaxation I could perform far higher but my perceived effort was less than 20%. I struggled to explain this to others until I heard Simon explain mind of no mind. His quote is on my work planing board now for two years and I use it as an approach to get into the right mental place before focusing. It is hard to explain, but when I am in the right place mentally I don't need to force my performance, because I know I will succeed before I even start, everything slows down like slow motion but my performance is far faster, I don't need to think, I just need to stay in the zone and everything just flows easily. I am looking forward to seeing how this translates to shooting. My plan is to get some lessons to learn correct technique, then repeat till engrained, then try to use this approach, its worked for my other sport so I know I can do it.
There is something else which I don't know how to explain but it fits with the happiness that comes from this technique which I never got when forcing technique to the edge.
Simon is an extraordinarily interesting individual! Achieving flow or subconscious being is something I never expected to be discussed within the context of field sports- but it makes so much sense! Anybody looking for more on this should look up Eckhart Tolle and go from there. This aspect of mindset, values and conduct should be discussed further- fantastic episode folks 👌
I actually really enjoyed this, I don't know why I said actually I usually do. But I found strange was the discussion on numbers. Because in America you might go under a certain amount, but you can't go over a certain amount without fines and/or cuffs. And actually you can bring out biologist, free of your charge by the state, and have them tell you about the population based on the environment and how to increase it or make it stronger. So you're not just some dude staring at it, You've got a biologist.
I really enjoyed that video Jonny, Simon is obviously a very, very clever man. Thanks both for the time to make this for us to view.
Great interview. I think Simon has a very interesting perspective on shooting and the analogy with eastern philosophy around martial arts and Confucianism is bang on. I used to study various martial arts and I like that he’s highlighted the aim of many martial arts being a training of the mind and ego as much as the physical training which is critical if you are to be highly proficient. Bruce Lee said “When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And, when there is an opportunity, I do not hit - it hits all by itself” which is a great way to think about getting in the flow/zone when shooting.
"Be like water".
From Australia I am very appreciative of such an in-depth conversation and what a broad subjective look at the times past and a way to face the present and future, very well done guys 👌
Simon and I have had many conversations about the link between Martial Arts and shot gun shooting and have developed this concept in both of our areas of expertise. Understanding mental control has application in all of life.
What I used say to my surgical trainees in a nutshell. It's a Zen thing, you have to be in the moment, relaxed and not having to think about the action. It takes practice/analysis over and over until the action becomes second nature.
Absolutely enthralling. I’m going to have to watch this a few times... and read around it too. Thanks chaps!
Totally get this , I do a lot of MTB riding and the best rides are the ones where you find your flow . It's just a state where everything goes right and you pretty much unconsciously stop thinking about technique.
Same in my airrifle shooting , I can easily get in my bubble where all that matters is the shot , if it misses it doesn't matter I clean it from my mind and go to the next , when I finish my course of fire I can't even tell you what my score is .
This ☝️
That was great. Thanks guys.
More videos with Simmon please he’s straight to the point and always entertaining really liking the bolts gun room reviews too
That was great.
Really enjoy this one, it very true.
This is profound on many levels. Top Banana 😎👍
Listen to him carefully as he is giving you a lesson in NLP. This stuff can be applied to many sports as well as in life skills
Some very Stoic based thoughts too, I like it!
Sonny Joannou very true, as a business we use this technique with life, business and sporting clients.
We created a RIFEE, it combines NLP, Hypnotherapy, psychology traits about getting into the zone, state of mind, relaxing the mind.
“Subconscious competence”
Great video, a lot of those lessons can be applied to everything in life.
Very well put points of view and something we should all aim to achieve in our game shooting gaining experience to do the right thing
Thanks, interesting conversation
Another great aspect that affects the mental side of shooting is getting too much curious about the chokes and shot sizes rather than just sticking with one that works best for you because at the end of the day all that matters is placing the shot at the right place.
I want this mans book!!!
This interview was great, very insightful!
fanastic video....really enjoyed this one TGS!
Absolutely brilliant, great outlook - a reading list would be much appreciated here, I would love to know what's on his bookshelf. Offshoot idea - TGS Books?
Loved it! Congratulations!
This is related to the divide between Science and Art. Science deals with subjects where rules can be understood. Technique is a part of science because it addresses things that can be linked in terms of cause and effect. Art deals with things that are so complicated that the rules cannot be made in stated form. It becomes a result of instinct, very often developed by long experience or by particular talent. Great performers learn the science of a discipline inside out (in fact, some don't), but their long experience and perhaps innate talents, informs them in an instinctive way on how to prolong their scientific or technical skill into the realm of art, where they cannot explain why it works well, but it does. They achieve a point where they 'feel' what needs to be done rather than 'know' what needs to be done to do better. This is true of all art. The difference between an artisan and a great artist is that the artists goes much further than the artisan in the possession of instincts that are conducive to great results. The ultimate hunter, for instance, is the one who through long experience and innate talent can develop an instinct to understand what the animal will do next, without really being able to explain clearly why. The ultimate shooter will teach his body muscle memory that is so subtle that it cannot be put into words, that it cannot be rationalized, but it can only be felt after with long experience and particular mental talent. Not everybody can be a concert pianist. Not all concert pianists are sublime performers. The ones who do have gone well beyond the science or technique of musical mastery and dwell in the realm of unexplainable instinct. They are called geniuses.
2 blokes 'avin a chat. Beautiful topic & video. Aligning wing chun kuen with shooting never was obvious to me.. I wonder if I can apply shooting to my wing chun, too.. not literally, obviously.
Very fine words indeed 👌
I think this can be summarized by saying, you need some technical information to know how to hit targets/birds but once you start hitting them you are relying on muscle memory and instinct and you are in the flow. The bird that you see coming and you have loads of time on breaks the flow. When the pheasants surprise you, you have no time to "think" and rely on instinct.
You should enjoy getting out in the field, shooting, and eating with friends more than the numbers you kill. This is what seems natural to me.
Professional musicians say an hour in front of an audience is worth a 100 hours of practice. Same idea. The mastery of technique is preliminary to mastering the art.
If your mind is not in it, never mind. Try at a different time. Never force yourself, it has got to flow.
Use the Force Luke!
Seriously, it's the same with playing a musical instrument, once you get in the "zone" there's no effort in it and you sound your best!
I think there are people that are born to be shooters. We had a 10 year old lad that came to a few matches as he didn't have baseball games those days. His Granddad, uncle and cousin were regulars to the match. His second match he shot in the 60s. He'd only shot three other times before that in the backyard at his granddad's. Don't think he'll get serious about it though. 😕
Always shameful to see natural talent go to waste, but i suppose they would never reach the top of their game anyway without a good dose of passion to back it up
Just like fly fishing it's not about catching the trout . It's about executing the perfect cast .but the weird thing is the more you force it the harder you try the worse it gets. you end up fighting the rod all day whereas the perfect cast you don't even feel
I was just thinking the same. It’s like casting to an infrequently rising fish. You don’t think “set the hook the fish has taken my fly”. You would have missed the fish in the time it takes you to process the though. For me anyway, it’s an instant unconscious reflex reaction. You just know.
James. You've just nailed it mate.
Nah its like tying thay perfect soft hackle or when the crimp station on your progressive press makes perfect star crimps. Who cares if it goes bang?
The art of shooting like it doesn’t matter when it does.
Shu-Ha-Ri... great discussion
I once heard that Jonny Carter doesn’t have an Over Reliance on anything. In fact Technique relies on Jonny Carter
So good! Hot Damn!
Got to respectfully disagree over what constitutes the best of shooting sport. Hunting North Dakota prairie over pointing dogs is as good as it gets. I would have no interest at all without my dog.
So basically. instead of learning everything to the point you can throw it away. Much like Bruce Lee or Picasso I fast tracked and took this approach from the very beginning.
Hui Neng...
Square breathing
Interesting video. Too bad the Chinese have totally lost their ethics and respect for the natural world and their fellow man.
Guys perrazi hi teach s or dt11 as only gun
He reads too much.
first comment baby