Jan Franko
"The path of the bow is not measured only by accuracy. It is a journey of patience, discipline, and continuous learning."
Founder of the Traditional Archery Academy, Jan Franko unites two decades of holistic therapeutic experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine with rigorous traditional archery training to teach instinctive mastery through structure, mental presence, and safety.
Life Chronology
Birth & Year of the Horse
Born under the zodiac sign of Leo, expressing an early curiosity about maps, continents, distant cultures, and mineralogy.
First Encounter with the Bow
At seven years old, cousin Marek crafted a simple wooden self bow and natural Broadhead point arrows. This encounter set a silent direction for my life.
Traditional Medicine & Holistic Therapy
Began studying acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Prague under Beijing professors, combined with comprehensive massage therapy qualifications. Practiced as a therapist for 9+ years in the Tyrol Alps, Austria.
Korean Bow & Intensive Self-Training
Acquired first traditional Korean bow and embarked on rigorous self-training, practicing many hours each day, often shooting purely by instinct in complete darkness.
Longbow Mentorship with Henry Bodnik
Acquired a Longbow and met Henry Bodnik (founder of Bodnik Bows). Corrected core techniques and began structured teacher training under his personal guidance.
Swiss Bowhunting Certification
Completed specialized Swiss Federation of Bowhunting certification under President Chris Mozolowski, scoring 98% in theoretical exams using a traditional bow.
Field Work & Cultural Research
Alongside personal training and teaching, an important part of Jan's work is the exploration and study of traditional archery cultures in different regions of the world. The aim is to observe, learn from, and document living traditions of the bow where they still exist today — among nomadic cultures, traditional craftsmen, and practitioners who continue these skills across generations.
Global Explorations
Current and planned exploration regions span Europe, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkey, Korea, Japan, Bhutan, South Africa, Hawaii, Yukon (Canada), Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego.
These expeditions connect modern field training directly with authentic historical heritage, creating a global network of traditional craftsmen and archers.
