I posted on the “Functional Fitness blog” why Field-of-Vision (FOV) is important for seniors. However, the topic is totally applicable to martial artist! For example,
- When you go into a restaurant, do you always find a seat facing out so that you can see people going in and out? or you are fine facing a wall with your back facing outside?
- Do you know that in soccer, hockey, football, there are indeed players that purposely play dirty when the referree cannot see?
- Do you know that for movies, actors don’t necessarily punch with contact but it is everything to do with camera angles?
- If you stay in visible areas, your chances of getting help when needed is much greater?
- If I can move to the attacker’s side or behind him, it makes it much harder for him to defend because he cannot easily defend what he cannot see
- As a driver, I hate people who dress in dark clothing on a rainy night jay-walking. Are you one of those?
- FOV can be applied to more than just visual signals. For example, in the TV show Survivor, they talk about “Blindside” as a strategy. If you haven’t watched the show, what do you think it means?
- In communist countries, they often limit the flow of information by blocking the internet and controlling news. This is their form of limiting “FOV” for strategic purposes. So FOV can be applied beyond vision.
Combat is about maximizing your advantage AND creating a disadvantage to your opponent and thereby maximizing the gap.
There are times when you don’t count on your vision either. Furthermore, being able to see something may not help you draw the right conclusions either. Nonetheless, the first step is to be able to see relevant differences and that takes time and experiences.
Exercise
Did it occur to you that you can increase your “field of vision” by use of indirect source or by force your opponent’s to show his cards? Try elaborate.
What are the ways to limit your opponent’s FOV? How are you going to apply the concept strategically?