Where do you place your eyes on while fencing?

[Despic]

Personally, I look straight into my opponent's face, but it causes me to be unable to focus on his point. I was wondering where you guys focus your eyes on?

[keropie]

Don't watch, just see. Once you start really focusing on one thing, you're not 'seeing' everything else. If nothing else, once I decide what you're focusing on, I know what to use to lie to you. Think splattervision, zen, or whatever you like, but I don't really focus on anything in particular (visually speaking) when I fence.

[Ordway]

I place them on the table where the box is set up, so that they can look balefully at the referee while I'm fencing. I used to just have them in my back pocket, but sometimes they'd fall out and roll across the floor, and that would freak people out.

Oh, you mean where do I focus my eyes? More or less on the general body of the opponent, I think. Definitely not on the eyes, or on the blade. I try to get a sense of movement (from body language) and distance from the torso of the opponent, more or less, and get blade/arm movement from peripheral vision. I think. It's hard to know for sure.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Their elbow.

[NGFC]

Don't watch, just see. Once you start really focusing on one thing, you're not 'seeing' everything else. If nothing else, once I decide what you're focusing on, I know what to use to lie to you. Think splattervision, zen, or whatever you like, but I don't really focus on anything in particular (visually speaking) when I fence.

i would agree, when i fence i don't focus on any part as some other part of the fencer may cause me harm. so i kinda also go out of focus. it's also better to fence at a greater distance (somewhat like a fencing director, the farther away, the more to "see". that is also why i use the white striped mask, so my oponent can't see my eyes, ( i think this causes anxiety in some of my oponents) definately allows or misdirection.

bottom line... feel with your eyes, feel for the lunge, fleche, whatever! also watch the body mass and practice bladework without having to see the blade! "feel the force Luke!" nothing better than taking a parry riposte and not have to watch the action take place, almost like a fire and forget missile!, NICE!

[JackOfHearts]

http://www.samurai.com/5rings/wind/

Look under "Fixing the Eyes".

[Invictious]

Well I am a newbie, I generally look at their swords when we are actually 'engaged' and his eyes when we are just moving around. Again, we are newbies, we shouldn't be 'moving around' :P

[the doc]

even if you are not exactly focussing on anything in particular, it is best to have your eyes pointing roughly at the chest area. it is better to judge distance from there. also it means that the sword arm will be in peripheral vision, which is more sensitive to movement than direct focus.

place you should definitely not be looking is the opponent's point, sword, or hand. your distance can be messed around with way too easily that way.

[Peach]

I place them on the table where the box is set up, so that they can look balefully at the referee while I'm fencing. I used to just have them in my back pocket, but sometimes they'd fall out and roll across the floor, and that would freak people out.

I can't give you more rep at the moment, so will laughing helplessly do?

Oh, you mean where do I focus my eyes? More or less on the general body of the opponent, I think. Definitely not on the eyes, or on the blade. I try to get a sense of movement (from body language) and distance from the torso of the opponent, more or less, and get blade/arm movement from peripheral vision. I think. It's hard to know for sure.

Sounds like what I do. I sort of unfocus my eyes, or strive for a fairly deep field. That's not hard, since I don't wear my glasses while fencing--they are on the scoring table looking balefully at the referee.

[Ordway]

I can't give you more rep at the moment, so will laughing helplessly do?

Yep.

Sounds like what I do. I sort of unfocus my eyes, or strive for a fairly deep field. That's not hard, since I don't wear my glasses while fencing--they are on the scoring table looking balefully at the referee.

I tried that once, in the days before I got really good contact lenses that I could wear all day comfortably. It doesn't work out so well when one's vision is so poor that, uncorrected, it's like "Where's my opponent?"

[lindajdunn]

Yep.


I tried that once, in the days before I got really good contact lenses that I could wear all day comfortably. It doesn't work out so well when one's vision is so poor that, uncorrected, it's like "Where's my opponent?"

One of the problems with growing older is that I cannot judge the distance of that blurry object in front of me without glasses. I find that contact lenses gave me peripheral vision again. When I made that change, I stopped trying to focus on any one body part (or weapon).

[GorillaSmile]

I fence epee and I focus on their bell but I sort of let my eyes unfocus like looking at one of those hidden 3D pictures. This lets me "see" thier movements and notice differences in patterns while still using their weapon to gage the distance.

[RITFencing]

http://www.samurai.com/5rings/wind/

Look under "Fixing the Eyes".

There's some good advice in there, but it is in possibly the most pretentious wording ever used.

I like to look at my opponent's eyes every so often to see if they are focussing on anything... if they are, I know what part of my body I have to use for fients.

[Slim]

There's some good advice in there, but it is in possibly the most pretentious wording ever used.

It's a translation Musashi's Book of 5 Rings..probalby the first, and definitely one of the most famous writings on swordsmanship and fighting philosophy. It's over 350 years old. Pretentious? I dont think so. They used real weapons back then.

[RITFencing]

It's a translation Musashi's Book of 5 Rings..probalby the first, and definitely one of the most famous writings on swordsmanship and fighting philosophy. It's over 350 years old. Pretentious? I dont think so. They used real weapons back then.

The wording is pretentious, at least to me; not the content. As I said, the advice in there is good. I'm not an expert in classical asian languages, but it seems like the translator worked very hard to make it sound extra weighty and insightful. If I'm wrong, I apologize.

[Slacker]

Despic, I've asked that very question to my coach and other fencers the last 4 years, and everyone's answer is vague. It's that whole Luke Skywalker thing- "feel the force, Luke". BUT! I did have an epiphany of sorts at my last lesson. We were practicing changing line during an attack. I found that by looking right where the chin was, I could see my point (perspective to the target), I could see movement if the opponent reacted to my threat, and I could gauge distanceto target. I could even see the glint in the eye before their action. It may not come again so easily but it was a little piece of Nirvana for me.

[Slacker]

Hey, Linda J Dunn- Question about contacts: Glasses are a real pain to wear under a mask, but I wouldn't be able to function without them,either. I tried a pair of contacts that focused on an area the length of the strip, but I could not read the roster then. How do you manage to see during fencing meets?

[NGFC]

Personally, I look straight into my opponent's face, but it causes me to be unable to focus on his point. I was wondering where you guys focus your eyes on?

...then i pop in em back in the sockets after the bout!

[purpzeyFCLI]

Since you're making me think about it I'd have to say my eyes sort of work for themselves. I've been at this for almost 10 years. . .My eyes are surveying my opponent constantly.

One thing I rarely look at (I fence epee) is my opponents blade, b/c unless they are particuarly talented I make it my business to know where it is at all times. Not to look, just to know.

So, my eyes are surveying from the front shoulder (measure distance), down to the elbow, down the bell, then both legs. The general idea is, try to watch it all and then, pick up on the one thing I need to see. Often it's someones back-leg as it may project where they are going.

The less I need to worry about where their blade is going, the better. If I'm doing my job, I know where the blade is and where it is going. The blade goes with the feet. As does the rest of the body.

[lindajdunn]

Hey, Linda J Dunn- Question about contacts: Glasses are a real pain to wear under a mask, but I wouldn't be able to function without them,either. I tried a pair of contacts that focused on an area the length of the strip, but I could not read the roster then. How do you manage to see during fencing meets?

The bottom line is that I have distance contact lenses for fencing and carry a pair of WalMart 1.5 magnification glasses with me to meets so I can read the scorecard before signing it.

I tried the contacts that gave me both near and far (one in each eye) and found it destroyed my depth perception.