Learning How and What to See During a Fight
The Pen and Sword Journal - Vol 88
What does it mean to truly see in combat? In a chaotic exchange, an untrained eye may only catch blurs of motion and flashes of fists or feet. But experienced fighters learn to calm their vision and focus on the right things. Legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi distinguished between observation and perception – “the observing eye” versus “the perceiving eye.” He wrote that the observing eye is naturally strong, it sees only the truth of what is happening in the present, “nothing more, nothing less,” filtering out distractions.
The perceiving eye, on the other hand, is weak. It sees “more than what is there,” clouded by fear, doubt, or preconceived ideas. In simple terms, Musashi is telling us that a fighter must strive to see what actually is, not what they fear or assume. If you let panic or bias dictate what you think you see (a flinch that isn’t there, a threat magnified by anxiety), you’re no longer in the moment. Training your observing eye means looking at your opponent with clarity and objectivity, and seeing that
their big wind-up is actually telegraphing a slow punch, or noticing that their lead foot is inching forward which signals an imminent attack. It means seeing without judgment, just information.
How can we apply this practically? One technique is to use a soft, unfocused gaze rather than drilling your eyes on one point. If you fixate on your opponent’s hands, for example, you might miss a kick coming at your legs. Instead, many fighters learn to focus around the opponent’s chest or neck, using peripheral vision to catch the movement of arms and legs. Musashi advised having an “unfocused attention that allows responding to everything, a readiness for anything while focusing on nothing specifically”. In other words, avoid tunnel vision. By keeping your gaze broad, you can simultaneously watch the opponent’s shoulders (which often telegraph punches), hips (which signal kicks or weight shifts), and feet (for steps and balance changes).
Equally important is learning what to look for. An experienced striker picks up subtle cues. A tensing of the opponent’s shoulder might precede a hook punch; shifting weight to the front foot could mean a heavy rear-hand strike is coming; a sudden step or hip turn might telegraph a kick. By sparring extensively, you start to recognize these tells instinctively.
Over time, your brain develops pattern recognition for common setups – you’ve seen that combination before, you’ve felt this rhythm before. What once seemed impossibly fast now almost slows down in your perception because you can anticipate the next move. This is why veteran fighters often describe feeling like time dilates in a fight. It is precisely because their minds have seen the patterns so many times that they aren’t shocked by them.
There’s also value in watching the opponent’s eyes, not so much to aim your focus there, but to glean psychological insight. It’s been said that “the eyes are the window to the soul,” and in the ring they can be the key to the fight. Your opponent’s body might maintain a poker face under fire, but their eyes can betray fatigue, frustration, or fear. For example, a fighter may appear confident and composed, but when you land a solid shot, you might catch a flash of uncertainty in their eyes. They might wave you in as if they’re fine, yet their eyes tell a different story.
Perhaps a momentary glassy, unfocused look that says “you got me”. Smart and cunning fighters learn to spot these signs. “On the surface, a fighter may appear physically strong, but look deeper and you may be able to see signs of fatigue or concern,” as one boxing trainer once taught me. And if your opponent’s eyes show that your punches are getting to them – a blink, a wince, a sudden avoiding of eye contact – that might be your cue to press forward.
At the same time, you must be aware of your own eyes and body language. Are you giving away your intentions or distress? Part of “learning how to see” is also learning how to not show certain things to the other side, which ties into the psychological dynamics we’ll discuss later. For now, remember that clear observation is the foundation of a superior fighter’s mindset. See what’s really there, not what your fears or ego want to see. As Musashi said, perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye, which is to say, stay aware of the bigger picture and do not let your mind’s noise cloud reality.
See you on the next one, everybody! May your week begin with clear thoughts and a sharp focus!
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Very cool. This is almost like what I am doing out and about taking photos. Just no punches...