Subject: Keep Your Eyes on Their . . . ?
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2004 10:46 AM
Hi
In a fight or a sparring match, where should you look? Some people say the eyes,
others will tell you the hands, many favor looking at the solar plexus.
People who say you should look at the eyes will tell you – and I’ve actually
heard people say this – that if you look at their eyes you can tell where they’re
next target is when they look at it.
I think that’s dumb.
Anyone who knows anything about fighting will work combinations. That means that
A) They’re moving so fast that even if they were looking at their targets their
eyes would be darting around so fast you’d have barely a fraction of a second
between the time they looked at the target and when their strike landed, and B)
they’ve (hopefully for them) determined and practiced their favorite combinations
so many times they have no need to look at targets at all.
Also, maybe they’re not looking at the target because they’re to busy looking at
your eyes.
Some people say look at the hands, but I don’t do that because – among other
reasons - there’s an old tournament trick in which you wave your hand or point
off to the side and as your opponent looks at where you pointed (much like a dog
who’s been faked into believing you actually threw the stick) you nail him with a
roundhouse kick from the opposite side. Not only does it work, but it makes your
opponent look like an Irish Setter. Try it sometime.
Many people say look at the solar plexus, because you can employ peripheral
vision to see what your opponent’s hands and feet are doing. I think anyone who
tells you that is on the right track, but I’d like to suggest a modification.
Instead of looking at the solar plexus, look at mid-chest, which is the spot on
their chest where the lowest button of a polo shirt would be.
Why?
Because when I look at mid-chest, what I’m watching for is not just hand and foot
movement using peripheral vision, but weight shift signaled by shoulder movement.
Think about it. If the other guy is a poor fighter, he’ll telegraph his kicks
with too much weight shift. If he’s a good fighter, he’ll hit with his torso,
not just his arms, so you’ll see his punches coming.
Offensively, you’ll see openings below the elbow and down the centerline when a
shoulder begins to tip
So keep in mind – it’s not just where you’re looking, but what you’re looking for.
In the next issue, I’ll reveal Rule #5 for Street Survival and Dealing with
Violent Crime.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Train like you mean it.
Rob LaPointe
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