About the Author: Eyes, Ears, Nose or Toes …Where are YOU looking?
Welcome to the Arrowhead Martial Arts Studios blog. We're located in Salt Lake City, Utah and exclusively teach adults the martial art of AMERICAN KENPO. If you want to be notified the next time I write something, sign up for email alerts or subscribe to the RSS feed. Be sure to also sign up for our monthly newsletter and our free trial program. Thanks for reading! -- Ryan
Next time you work a technique, try and determine where you’re looking before, during and after you execute it.
Are you looking at your opponents …
A. Eyes?
B. Throat?
C. Chest?
D. Hands?
E. Knees?
F. Feet?
G. Belt buckle?
So, where should you look? Is it all the same throughout the technique?
Once you engage your opponent, look straight ahead at your own eye level on your opponents centerline before, during and after any technique. In short, keep your chin up and eyes forward. Staring at a particular fixed target - like their eyes - doesn’t apply to everyone because of varying height factors involved with an opponent (they may be taller than you).
Why? Because you can’t block what you don’t see coming. You will have a greater chance of picking up initiated movements anywhere on their body this way.
Why shouldn’t you try and watch the incoming attack? It’s too fast and deceptive to keep track of, especially at close range (go ahead and try). Instead, try to pick up the angle of attack (read quadrant) using your peripheral vision and initiate a spinal reflex arc response instead.
Bonus tip: This not only applies to the defense, but also to the attack as well.
So where are YOU looking?
