Keep Your Eye on Your Opponent at All Times, Sometimes You're the Spectator and that Sucks!

It sucks when you're out with an injury.  I can still lift weights, punch and stretch but I just can't kick or walk very well.

So it was Monday night sparring night and I went to the Dojo because it is not always about you. My training partners still need help in the Dojo.  You always need that critical eyes sitting outside the ring to fine tune your technique or break bad habits.

I think my favorite piece of advice of the night was for beginner who was flinching when a strike was incoming.

Here is my advice to him:

When you take your eyes off your opponent, you are sabotaging your chance to survive the attack and ruin any chance of a successful counter strike.

Why?

Because the majority of our training is hand-eye or foot-eye coordination and muscle memory.

Your eyes are at least 50% of this equation so when you look away from your opponent for any reason you loose your ability to block and counter strike effectively.

He applied this in the next match and it was a huge difference immediately. This is not something I see often in advanced fighters but it is something to get rid of immediately when you see it.