In TaeKwonDo, Karate, or whatever martial art, when you spar, do you look at the center of your opponent's chest, or in their eyes, and why?
by 
Amorphous Blob is thrilled to have hair
ANSWERS: 49
-
their eyes, eyes tell you alot about what they are thinking, unless they know not to indicate such things. then you move to body cues as for their next action.
-
I would look between their eyes, or their face as a whole.
-
I always look at the middle of their chest; you can see all 4 limbs move from there, and you won't betray your next move as much. Plus, I've always found it distracting to look at their eyes.
-
Don't concentrate on just one part of them. Expand your vision so you are looking at all of your opponent. If you look at one particular spot, you are just leaving yourself more vulnerable to attacks.
-
My teacher always says to look in a person's eyes normally, but to keep the eyes relaxed and centered on the solar plexus in a fight. Looking in someone's eyes is a good way to tell if they're going to start a fight (and is considered polite), but once it's begun, keeping a relaxed gaze on the center of a person's body keeps their entire body in view.
-
Focus on the elbow with soft focus on everything else.
-
I try to look _past_ the opponent, allowing him to become a little fuzzy. This allows for the use of scotopic vision, which is more senstitive to movement, and allows one to react faster.
-
Imagine, if you will, 3 moving vertical lines ... 1 going down through the top of your head, out your butt and vertically down to the center of the earth, indicating exactly where your centerline is ... another one indicating your attacker's centerline ... and another imaginary vertical line exactly at the precise point between you and your attacker that would mark the center of your gravity, or combined mass and motion ... ... FEEL the YOU line ... look through the MIDline at your attaker's CENTERLINE ... and try to dominate the intersectional points at the MIDline with your moves ... ... keep your mind even sharper than you keep your sword!
-
u should watch the elbows and knees. It takes some practice and patience to get used to it. u cant throw a punch without moving the elbow and u cant kick without moving the knee.
-
Look at The spot where the ribs meet. That way you will be able to see their shoulders and their hips. Every movement comes from the hips. And on a man your center of gravity is in your shoulders. So by looking at this spot you will be able to tell if he shifts his weight or if he moves any part of his body cause of his hips.
-
I'm just a first dan, but i can spar like the end of tha world is coming.. i look in the eyes... makes my opponents much more intimidated... just STARE at their eyes, make them feel alot less confident. oh yea, and i was at a tournament... 2 3rd dans, a 2nd dan, and a 1st dan... i took a third dan, a 1st dan and then the 2nd dan (who i may mention... was trained in korea!) and got a 1st place sparring.
-
YOu look at the eyes, because it gives you an idea of what the opponant is going to do next and also distabilises some people to be looked at in the eyes, and keep a good periferal view of the rest of the body to anticipate incoming hits or to find an open spot.
-
I was taught to just relax. Take hints off of their eyes but keep an eye on their body movements as well. Relax don't concentrate on looking at them in the eyes. Concentrate on the martial art and the rest will follow.
-
You should look at the angle of their shoulders. Its a dead give away for how they will turn and move, so you can more effectively plan to hit a target. But for intimidation, nothing works like straight eye contact. I use a bit of both.
-
In the eyes but always aware and observant of slight changes in the shoulder neck and chest region..everyone has a tell..a certain little flinch or whatever you want to call it.
-
No that's not true. You don't look at the opponants eyes. The eyes lie. The center, which is the area above the solar plexus never lies. You can react to the opponants body when they are going to strike. When fighting NEVER look at their eyes. Reaction time wins all situations.
-
I watch their feet. As I've learned, people tend to do a few little things with their feet before they kick. It gives you a split second notice....
-
I don't spar, but if I sparred my instinct would be to look at the center of the chest. Maybe I'll be knocked out but that's my instinct.
-
Never take your eyes off of your enemy's.
-
I close my eyes and use the force to "see" them.
-
My okinowa training has taught me to not look at the opponents face and or eyes, for the simple reason for that is that by not looking your opponent in the eyes leaves him wondering what is going on here, your opponent was counting on the stare down, the sizing up you have not given this opportunity and now he thinking about this and he has now been thrown of balance, further more he sees you as niether afraid and by not showing all your cards you have the atvantage in your favour. it is only to your to continue to look at his upper chest, by looking at his chest you can see what way he is going lean and shift his weight, and he is not able to use his reputation on your conscience to further his detirmination. the disciplined mind gives you an edge that every fighter must come to master. these tactics should be used sparring and full contact fighting so your disiplined mind body and fighting styles can come together to give your opponent a lesson in losing
-
Mr. Kesuke Miyagi always promoted the philosophy to "always keep eye".
-
Upper body look at the neck, they give it away there. The eyes will lie. If its kicks, look at the hips. Its best not to stare, try to use your Peripheral vision. Its faster. I'll give a story. When I race if I look at the shift light I will over rev. If I look at the track and have my peripheral vision catch the light I shift on time. It's the same as facing an opponent. You gaze so you can see everything. Hope it helps.
-
When I box my eyes are aimed at chest level but Im not really looking at the chest, I kinda go into a zone and become aware of the whole picture standing in front of me, don't stare at the eyes.
-
i find that looking at their face helps one read what they are going to do. they can fake u with their body but ,most will signal with some facial exspreshion befor they make their move. thats my experiance
-
You want to keep your eyes on your opponents eyes. This way, you can see every move he throws at you. I don't know why that is but that is how you do it.
-
sometimes for me (i do karate) i look in both, cause ur eyes and your body movement can tell what the person might do next, but its best to look in the eyes and try to understand the opponent, but if ur uncomfertable with sparing a new person, who may look in the chest, because eyecontact is akward sometimes. but long story short, it dunt matter!
-
joints, and face and more, if you can, you should use the Kan way of seeing
-
I like to let my eyes fall around their navel. I find the movement of their hips gives away their intentions. Also, by letting your gaze fall here you can see both legs and both arms so you can get a more complete picture of what they will do. Of course I study TKD where the emphasis is on kicking, I wonder if a practitioner of an art that is more upper body oriented would want to look more toward the shoulders?
-
Hips No battle can take place without that first step to think eyeys would almost seem like mind reading hips torque wind up.
-
I look at chest when sparring/fighting. Looking at eyes makes it too easy to do a head fake, and you can see entire body better.
-
i was taught to look everywhere eyes,body,surroudings
-
I've been instructed by several different black belts in a couple different systems, and they've all said to look around the center of the chest. Eyes can be used to distract you. Arms and feet are used to attack you.
-
Do not lock your vision by looking directly at the opponents eyes, body etc. use your peripheral vision, this way you see the entire body and this type of vision picks up movement much more quickly giveing you an edge. This is taught in the military for observeing tasks and is well suited for the martial arts. In Japan there is the saying to view a distant moutian in the sword arts this means to look past the opponent, his sword or body to pick up the movement of the attack.
-
I have to agree with Oriash. You can't afford to see just a part of your opponent. You have to develop a "battle gaze", so that you can see your entire opponent as well as keep track of your environment. Focusing on one piece leaves you open to strikes from another, as well as leaving you blind to obstacles, terrain, etc.
-
Its either best to look at the eyes, if you can, but if you do not have enough self-confidence to do this, it is just as good to look at their chest because you can see mostly what their fists and feet are doing so you would have more chance in defending their attack
-
I try to not look in the eyes. I try to stare at the throat or solar plexus in a relaxed manner. I'm not there yet though. So much to learn.
-
Look at the chest as the eyes can be deceiving. Sometimes in sparring the opponent will trick you with their eyes.
-
the only time I really look into someones eyes is just before the fight. I guess this doesnt really apply to sparing. But if someone is getting up in my face saying they want to fight, you can normaly tell there true intentions from their eyes. With that said... once the fight is happening I don't pay much attention at all to their head, except knowing where it is so i can land my blows. I make sure to watch their chest and their waste. if you see that hip pop to the side, you better get ready to take one hell of a blow(if they know how to fight that is) or be throwing a counter shot to stop their attack.
-
Don't lock your eyes on either..learn to see the eyes, shoulders, chest..and dont forget to notice the jaws..all at one time..involuntary muscle movement..even the slightest will show the next move :)
-
Well being this answer is open to everyone to read. I am not going to give a total answer. But what I can tell you is to use your peripheral vision.........+5 for your question.............M.C.S.
-
Always look in your opponents which will tell you the exact move that will be exicuted, the time you look down at the feet there are possible chances of a punch attack and you have lesser chance to counter, focus should always be on eyes & your reflexses will catch up easily
-
Patrick Foss is correct. The eyes should be the focus only until the fighting starts. That said, I will look into my opponents' eyes just to give them an eye fake. In any martial other than Olympic style TKD I would say to look at the sternum area. In olympic style sparring I will (depending on the fighter) actually watch the knot of the belt while keeping their arms in my periphery.
-
Look in the eyes... In time you will be able to read your opponent thoughts if you sync correctly
-
you must not restrict yourself. watch every thing!
-
I watch around their navels. They can (and often will) distract you with hand movements and weaving around, especially the Drunken ***** styles, but the center of mass never lies.
-
LOOKING OPPONENTS EYES ARE BEST IN MY KNOWLEDGE. I AM TEACHING THAT TOO. WE CAN JUDGE THE OPPONENTS WHOLE MOVEMENTS WHEN WE LOOK AT THEIR EYES. AND WE CAN SHOW A FIRE IN OUR EYES TO MAKE THE OPPONENTS AFFRAID OF US.
-
eyes. They will help u predict your opponent's next move
-
Look where your going to strike, then strike. Look where you going to strike then look away, then strike. Strike.Strike. Compose yourself. Did it work? Do it again. This time? REPEAT 10000xs Now you know where to look when you spar.
Spicy Hot 
MrJosh 
- M.C.S. - Dave RELATED QUESTIONS
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC