What to Watch

Watch the hips?

If the opponent’s head, feet, or hands are not the best things to watch, what is? What about watching for a movement of the opponent’s hips? They are about half way between the head and the feet, so, on the average, this should be a good place to watch. However, taking the middle or the average position is seldom a good choice in anything. For example, if you stand with one foot on a block of ice and one foot on a hot stove, on the average, you will be comfortable. If you watch the opponent’s hips, you will probably get punched and kicked a lot.

Watch the upper chest?

It is best to watch is the opponent’s upper chest. By concentrating on the opponent’s upper chest, you may detect minute weight shifts that indicate a hand or foot attack is imminent. By watching the opponent’s upper chest, his or head will still be in sight so you may detect its movement, but you will not be aware of the opponent’s eyes or facial expression. In addition, by not looking at the opponent’s face, the opponent is not able to detect your emotions or intentions from your eyes; you will appear disinterested. By focusing on the opponent’s upper chest the opponent’s hands are out of focus, thus, while you are not directly watching them, you will still be able to detect their movement. The upper legs will be in your peripheral vision so you will be able to detect leg movements; you can detect movement quicker with your peripheral vision than you can with your direct vision.

Some fighters look into the distance just over the opponent’s shoulders, so the opponent’s entire body is in the peripheral vision. Other fighters defocus their eyes so they do not directly see any part of the opponent. These techniques also work, but they do not work as well as upper chest watching. With practice, you will be able to anticipate opponents’ movements so accurately that they will begin to think you are psychic.