Observing with your spirit
One of the rules in the text is called "eyes of the heart"; it says, in Shahan's translation, that "you should not look at your opponent with your eyes, but view them with your spirit … If you look with your eyes you may get distracted, however by looking with your mind you remain focused."
This is not "magical" but a technique which is still taught in modern day aikido. I can't remember the Japanese name but it essentialy means "soft focus" or "soft eyes".
It means that you do not concentrate by staring at the opponents eyes or hands, but relax your focus so that you view the opponent as a whole, so that you can spot changes in his stance, posture or view which which you would otherwise miss if you simply focused on his hands or face.
When training with beginners I often have to remind them of this – it works but requires practice before it comes naturally.
:-)
Barrie
