About the Academy
An independent, field-based training project studying the bow not simply as sporting equipment, but as a practical discipline combining skill, movement, attention, and the natural landscape.
Our Focus & Purpose
Founded by Jan Franko, the academy operates with a clear purpose: to study and practice traditional archery through real-world environments, disciplined training, and cultural exploration. We are not a conventional sports club or a commercial shooting range. Instead, the academy is a focused initiative for individuals who want to master the bow as both a technical skill and a personal discipline.
Origins & Terrain Mastery
Jan’s approach developed through years of independent training and the deep exploration of historical archery traditions. Rather than limiting his practice to static, indoor target ranges, he took his training into forests, mountains, and varied terrains. In these settings, it became clear that attention, movement, and environmental awareness play a direct and critical role in instinctive shooting.
Evolution of the Academy
Over time, this personal discipline evolved into a structured training framework. What began as individual field practice grew into a complete training system. Today, the academy organizes training sessions, field workshops, multi-day retreats, and cultural expeditions. All programs are conducted in small groups to maintain a calm training atmosphere and preserve the quality of personal instruction.
Academy Pillars
Field-Based Adaptability
Training in varied natural terrains under shifting conditions.
Disciplined Structure
Focus on consistent presence, safety, and physical mastery.
Traditional Heritage
Sourcing custom traditional gear and preserving bowyer craftsmanship.
Training Environments
Traditional archery requires adaptability. The academy operates across several carefully selected natural environments in Central Europe and Asia, each offering different terrain and conditions:
Slovakia
Quiet wilderness platues and forests (Muránska planina, Košice, Zemiansky Vrbovok, Podhájska) suitable for extended outdoor retreats and recovery training.
Austria
Ehrwald - Zugspitze Region providing demanding alpine terrains and access to dedicated mountain field parkour courses.
Germany
Eisenbach (Black Forest) combining forest parkour tracks with traditional field infrastructure for structured training.
Inner Mongolia
Grassland horse archery training grasslands and yurt camps organized in direct partnership with local cultural guilds.
Okinawa, Japan
An active development region representing a future training hub focused on historical Zen and martial training disciplines.
Training Philosophy
Traditional archery is often misunderstood as either target sport shooting or historical reenactment. We approach it differently. It demands more than mechanical accuracy—it requires attention, stability, and the ability to remain composed under changing conditions.
"Shoot with attention. Move with awareness. Practice regularly in real environments."
The goal is not just perfect technique, but consistent presence, mental stability, and physical control under pressure. Jan Franko unites two decades of therapeutic practice with traditional bow disciplines to guide archers to instinctive mastery.