APOPKA, Fla. — Finding your center to take aim is key in the sport of archery, and career archer Hendric Gouws instills that lesson in each of his students at Central Florida Archery and Hunting Club. 

Gouws has been practicing and competing in archery for more than 40 years, getting his start in South Africa when he was just 10. He crafted his own bow and later went on to learn and shoot for the school he attended. As he progressed over the years, he eventually went on to compete in Olympic-style shooting. 

Eventually, he came to the United States, where he's remained for the past 23 years. He opened his business, Central Florida Archery, nine years ago and students come to his farm tucked away in Apopka for lessons. 

They range in ages from children 8 to 9 years old to adults who have found the sport later in life.

Archery can be an extremely relaxing and meditative way to spend a day, Gouws said.

“It's a solitary sport,” Gouws said. “You compete against yourself, and while you have seven, eight, or even nine competitors on the line, you are still competing mostly against yourself. For a lot of people, they prefer that solitary sport.” 

Gouws and his team offer hunting classes as well as archery courses, ranging from beginner to advanced.