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Author Topic: Where should you look...  (Read 4211 times)

Offline Paul Roberts

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Where should you look...
« on: May 29, 2003, 10:50:12 AM »
...when you're facing an opponent in kumite? This is a question I got asked recently, and I'm not sure the answer's all that clear-cut.

A lot of people advocate looking straight at an opponent's beady eyes, I've heard others say they tend to look roughly at the neck area, but with relaxed focus.

Now I remember reading somewhere that peripheral vision is not only better in low light conditions but also more sensitive to movement. Ever noticed how a desk fan doesn't seem to be spinning quite so fast when it's at the edge of your vision? Look at it head-on and the blades disappear in a blur of motion. And you'll notice the flicker of a poorly adjusted computer screen more when you're not viewing it dead-on.

This might mean that looking at a particular point on your opponent makes you more able to sense subtle telegraphing motions prior to an attack? On the other hand looking someone right in the eye must have a psychological component... :twisted:

Any thoughts?
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Offline Huw

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Where should you look...
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2003, 11:05:59 PM »
Hi Paul,

One thing Gwyn always tells us in class is to look at as much as you can of your oponent - "look into his/her eyes but with VERY relaxed focus" kinda thing. Try to read their mind etc. I've found this to work very well with my 'usual' kumite partner - who BTW is HUGE !! :-(  Concertrates the mind wonderfully when your oppenent is a 6'5 joiner with arms like most people's legs !!!

In full freestyle kumite Ihave no idea .... I await enlightenment !!

Grasshopper
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Offline Mole Bach

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Where should you look...
« Reply #2 on: June 01, 2003, 07:32:40 PM »
Paul,

Personaly, I tend to look somewhare in the region of the mouth/nose area of my opponent, this is due to many of them being (at the time) Kyu grades, and I think that it's un-nerving enough for them to face a Dan-grade in Gohon Ippon, let alone being stared at as well.

For other partners/opponents, I tend to look them in the eyes, I feel this is a necessity, not just to 'see' their movements, but to gain control of the fight/situation.

I remember reading once an interview with the late Steve Cattle (WKSA and former KUGB team member) about this, he stated that he looked at his opponents chest, and I think his words were "as if there's a great big cross on their chest", he went on to state that he could anticipate his opponents attack, since they almost always started from this area of the body.  I'm not sure if he meant that they 'telegraphed' their attacks, or if the inhalation of the opponent allowed him the split second timing to counter??

Anyway, I tried this, and it did'nt work for me, I think that it's up to the individual to find what works for them.

Dave Hooper Sempai always stresses that you should look into your opponents eyes, and comming from someone who's trained at taku-dai, I think maybe he's on to something.

BTW, the article with Steve Cattle was in one of the old Fighting Arts Int. magazines, not sure if any still exists, maybe 'KAMAE' (the gi people in Chester) may have some of the back issues left, if I have time (or bored one day) I'll go through my issues to find the No.

Mole Bach
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Offline Jewels

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Where should you look...
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2003, 01:31:17 PM »
Yes thanks for that Mole Bach, its definately unnerving to have to look you in the eyes when your all stonyfaced and fierce on the inside..scary! :?

Moley was talking about hacking in through eye contact sometime ago..
which was very interesting..and scary actually because it definately works, so i,m a lot more cautious..i,m still working on it..
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Offline gizmo

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Where should you look...
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2003, 08:32:03 AM »
I don't tend to look at anything in particular. By that I mean I don't let my eyes settle on any single thing or area rather I tend to scan around a particular zone. I don't think human beings actually operate that way. We tend to scan rapidly, often without conscious processing. Look at nothing see everything.
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Offline Moley

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Where should you look...
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2003, 09:33:35 AM »
I was just about to post on this subject.
My thoughts just before the thread appeared on the screen was..

"Look at nothing - see everything"  !

Uncanny.
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Offline gizmo

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Where should you look...
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2003, 10:07:01 AM »
Just goes to prove that we shotokan stylists don't need to look in the eyes when we can read minds 8)
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Offline Jewels

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where to look
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2003, 12:10:03 PM »
So its beware of those that aernt looking at you is it? :roll:
Most blind people have a small amount of peripherel vision which is why they have those particular mannerisms, it being more acute than focused vision.
Watching people during Kumite, they seem to open there eyes very wide as if absorbing all the light and activity, whilst focusing on the opponent.
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Offline Moley

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Re: where to look
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2003, 05:37:04 PM »
Quote from: Jewels

Watching people during Kumite, they seem to open there eyes very wide as if absorbing all the light and activity, whilst focusing on the opponent.


Well spotted Jewels. I think I can almost feel my pupils dilating during kumite. Everything seems so clear, I can see and hear everything (even though I am a deaf old fart in normal life --according to Annie!), all pain disappears and it's one hell of a rush.
Never having taken drugs in my life..(Well apart from a little Gas and air after Eryl put me in the local hospital) I think I am hooked on the Kumite rush.

Marvellous.
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Cryf oedd calon hen y glas glogwyni,
Cryfach oedd ei ebill ef a'i ddur,
Chwyddodd gyfoeth gwr yr aur a'r faenol,
O'i enillion prin a'i amal gur.

Offline Jewels

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Where should you look...
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2003, 06:39:20 PM »
Marvellous it certainly is.. and your right it is a well earned natural high, i don,t feel pain either and i used to hurt myself without being aware of it.. i,m a lot more careful with myself now..cool
And don,t listen to that Annie, you are not a deaf old fart! who,s Annie?
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Offline dogberry

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Re: where to look
« Reply #10 on: June 13, 2003, 11:16:28 PM »
Quote from: Jewels

Watching people during Kumite, they seem to open there eyes very wide as if absorbing all the light and activity, whilst focusing on the opponent.


something I have been made aware of in work when it come to describing someone who is about to launch an attack is to be aware of certain body language including the widening of the eyes,clenching of fists,heavy breathing.....all quite apparent in our kumite....i suppose the art is in disguising these natural traits......"telegraphing"........I have found recently that purely relaxing and then letting your reflexes take control amount to a lot......the message from the eyes to brain to limbs is tooooo long
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Offline Moley

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Where should you look...
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2003, 10:36:55 PM »
Last night we decided that the best place to look during kumite is
 "Huw's cleavage"
That is the mean little wrinkle he's got between his eyebrows.
Staring at this makes your opponent think you're "CRAZY"
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Cryf oedd calon hen y glas glogwyni,
Cryfach oedd ei ebill ef a'i ddur,
Chwyddodd gyfoeth gwr yr aur a'r faenol,
O'i enillion prin a'i amal gur.

Offline Mole Bach

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Where should you look...
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2003, 02:03:00 PM »
Quote from: Moley
"Huw's cleavage"


Well,

Azzy has had his doubts about the "pain killers" that Huw's been taking.  Next he'll be on 'oil of eavening primrose' like another Seki we know. :oops:
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Offline Jewels

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Where should you look...
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2003, 04:26:08 PM »
Who me? :)  maybe i should try Huw's painkillers..to help my cleavage :lol: its what they get up to with that Tiger Balm thats worrying..
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Offline Huw

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Where should you look...
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2003, 10:24:59 PM »
What the hell is all this talk about my cleavage ?!!

Quote from: Mole Bach
Azzy has had his doubts about the "pain killers" that Huw's been taking.  


Would this be the pain killer that comes in pints ? Mmmmm, great stuff - you should try it sometime!! ;-)

Huw

"I love the smell of Tiger Balm in the morning ....

it's the smell of victory".
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