Do you make the most of your senses?

Last time we looked at how blind martial artists were learning special self defense techniques to enable them to stay safe on the streets.

I gave you a challenge: Strike a pad while blindfolded.

Unless you were extremely lucky, (or had superpowers like Daredevil) chances are you missed. The fact is we reply so much on sight that when it’s taken away we often fall apart. But open yourself up to your other senses and you might be surprised at how they help us compensate.

Here are two drills you can practise to develop incredible abilities to fight using your other senses, even while ‘blind’.

1. If you can touch it, you can strike it

From a normal fighting stance extend your leading hand with an open palm.
Keeping both hands up use your leading fingertips to touch the pad
Once you make contact with the edge of the pad, strike with the other hand – it will now be easy.

This technique works because we all have an intrinsic understanding of our own body. If we can feel something we know where it is. Even in pitch black darkness.
 

2. Use sound

From the same blindfolded position ask your partner to say Hot or Cold, depending on how close you get to the pad. This is similar to the Marco Polo game, using your hearing to hone in on the source.
Once you are in range, again you can reach out and strike

This is a subject we cover in far more depth my bestselling self defense book “How to Defend Yourself in 3 Seconds...” so if you’d like to get a deeper understanding and really learn how to easily protect yourself check it out here.

But it’s not all for fighters and martial artists.

Next time we’ll find out how switching your other senses on can boost your fitness, sharpen your techniques and perfect your form – whether you are a runner, athlete or practising yoga on the beach!