Do you contract your scapula together?

seamaster · Post by **seamaster** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:57 am

Recently I had the opportunity of talking to a member of the Chinese national team.

He told me their national head coach Wang Yi-fu (?) stressed contracting scapula together while raising the pistol arm. This contraction creates a stable skeletal frame, minimizing the overusage of weaker neck muscles for raising pistol arm.

I tried this scapula contraction technique. It seem to work very well.

Steve Swartz · Post by **Steve Swartz** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:46 pm

1. Sometimes we misunderstand what others are saying.

2. Sometimes others intentionally mislead.

3. Those who are successful generally do not desire company at the top.

4. "Contracting muscles" unecessarily does not seem to be a good idea?

Perhaps the national coach meant that by contracting the muscles of the back to relieve the work done by the muscles of the neck- temporarily, while raising the pistol- but not while holding hte pistol in it's settled mode- provided the "holiding" muscles soem relief?

It just seems like I must be misunderstanding somethihjng here. Is the chinese coach suggesting that we squeeze our shoulder blades together during the settle (while holding)?

Or???

jackh · Post by **jackh** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:56 pm

The coach might simply mean 'stand tall, shoulders back'. Making sure the scapulae are not slouched over helps.

JamesH · Post by **JamesH** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:06 am

The coach might simply mean 'stand tall, shoulders back'. Making sure the scapulae are not slouched over helps.

Reckon so, works for me, when I can do it.

Steve Swartz · Post by **Steve Swartz** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:54 am

Seamaster:

What exactly is being recommended?

Contracting shoulder blades during loft or during hold or both?

Seamaster · Post by **Seamaster** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:36 pm

From what this shooter demonstrated to me it looks like this: stand tall but relaxed, shoulder back, scapula contracted but downward into lumbar area. He had this peculiar look as if his mid belly is puffing out.

I did a google search on what Wang Yi-Fu looked like in his prime. Those photos look very much like what this shooter demonstrated to me.

Relaxed, shoulders back, scapula contracted down into lumbar lower back, mid belly slightly puffing out.

deadeyedick · Post by **deadeyedick** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 5:38 pm

mid belly slightly puffing out.

Sounds like a description of my shooting style.

seamaster · Post by **seamaster** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:47 pm

http://www.targetshooting.ca/

Under coaching information

Under Wang Yi-fu

Relaxed, shoulder back, scapula pulled into lower back, mid abdomen (not lower) puffing out.