| In The Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi admonishes Daniel-san | | | | thank them for being there. There are no second |
| for not looking him in the eyes. In Enter the Dragon, | | | | chances or "re-trys" with an attacker on the street. |
| Bruce Lee points to the moon and tells his student not | | | | The eyes tell you where the attack is coming from. |
| to concentrate on the finger or he will lose all the | | | | The boxer has to worry about two hands. Martial |
| heavenly glory. Some martial artists, however, spend a | | | | artists are concerned with four limbs and a variety of |
| lot of time working on their basics, polishing their forms, | | | | attacks. It is important to maintain your eyes on the |
| but little or no time developing proper eye contact and | | | | centerline, drawing your focus on the upper chest or |
| focus. Why are the eyes important in martial arts | | | | collarbone. This will give you a good scan of the entire |
| training? | | | | body. Developing good peripheral vision is also |
| The eyes are a declaration of your fighting spirit. What | | | | important. Practice looking out of the "corner of your |
| kind of self-confidence do you exude if you can't look | | | | eye." This may help you avoid that roundhouse kick |
| your attacker in the eye? Is your sparring opponent | | | | headed for your skull! |
| going to take you seriously? Are you looking away? | | | | The eyes can telegraph your next move. Don't look at |
| Are you looking down? Look him right in the eye at the | | | | the target or you might as well tell your opponent |
| start. This type of body language says you mean | | | | where you're going to hit him so he's good and ready |
| business! This is particularly important in self-defense | | | | for you! |
| situations on the street. The eyes can be weak or hold | | | | The eyes can trick your opponent by looking in one |
| the intimidation factor you will need to defend yourself. | | | | direction and striking at another. Fake a glance at his |
| The eyes show respect and gratitude. When bowing | | | | thigh and strike at the head instead. Bruce Lee, for |
| to our opponents, we maintain eye contact as a | | | | example, deceived his opponent by looking him straight |
| courtesy. When we shake hands before and after | | | | in the eye and dropping him to the ground with his |
| sparring or working on self-defense, we thank our | | | | famous foot sweep. They never saw it coming! |
| partners for their participation in our growth as martial | | | | So remember, next time you're in class working on |
| artists. That technique you had to use on the street | | | | sparring or practicing with a classmate, don't neglect |
| was honed in a school with the help of a partner willing | | | | the eyes. Applying these principles will add a new |
| to practice with you. Look him or her in the eye and | | | | dimension to your training. |