Kung Fu Eye Training

This introduction to the Eye Training Arts or ‘Ienshu’ acknowledges that the eyes are the primary and most used organs of perception and therefore, by implication, the most valuable for a martial artist to train. The following article sets out three basic exercises and practice routines to help with this.

The eyes are a vital feature of the human being ‘The… windows of the soul’, says a popular maxim. Being a martial artist and not training them is crazy! Why? Because it is possible that you will come across someone who has done it, if so, beware! But it would be even better if you had the invisible edge that visual training provides. Training in this area (Iengong) is considered a fundamental basic ‘Gong’ or ‘Kung’ in Shaolin Kung Fu, along with ‘Muyugong’ (ability to withstand blows). and Qigong (breath control) and others.

Eight sector eye training exercise

Keeping your head still, look at the wall to your left and then to the wall to your right and back. Do this eight times. Repeat this backwards (first look right, then left, and back eight times). Now look at the floor, then the ceiling and vice versa eight times before repeating the exercise backwards eight times in a similar way. Next (remember, keep your head still throughout) look diagonally up to the left and then diagonally down and back to the right eight times. Then repeat the exercise in reverse (look right, down, then left, and diagonally up and back eight times) Finally, look up, diagonally, to your right, then down similarly to your left and back eight times. Repeat this in the opposite direction (look down left diagonally, then up right and back) for eight reps and the entire exercise is complete.

Congratulations! After inspecting all eight compass points/directions in your environment (eight times each), you will begin (after many repetitions) to notice little things others miss, things out of place, that were there before: little openings on shields or defenses for example (related to vitals knowledge, this can represent real progress if you have a good teacher).

candlelight meditation

Eye training can be carried out in various ways and candlelight meditation is one of them: 5-10 minutes of sustained meditation over the flickering flame of a tea candle in a dark room increases the ability to focus on one point permanent. Place a sheet of green tissue paper or crepe paper between you and your view of the flame (you may need to build some kind of frame to facilitate this) and it will improve your ability to see in dark rooms.

bidirectional rotation

Rub the thumb and first two fingers of both hands together until the fingers are warm. Place your fingers gently on your eyeballs (closed eyelids), and then roll your eyes eight times clockwise and then eight times counterclockwise. This helps train and strengthen the muscles involved in focusing.

Do these exercises 3-5 times a week for best results. Small improvements should start after 2-3 months of practice. Keep this momentum going for a year or more and then check how you’re doing in darts, table football, billiards, table tennis, etc. and you should notice the performance improvements indicative of those you have imperceptibly transferred to your martial arts.