Perception of Body Language

Here is an exercise I gave to young man who I am teaching through email. I figured it would be nice to share this with all of you in case you have not heard me teach this in my class-room (Dojo).

We will start with your Eyes first, ok?

I would like you to always have fun when I give you an exercises to do. This will be an eye exercise on perception of body language. I want you to start noticing all around you. When you look at a person (man/woman – boy/girl) notice what their bodies are doing. Photo by Karmalize.

Things to notice

1. Are they hurt? Are they limping when walking and if so, what is injured on them: Ankle – foot – knee – hip – leg – back etc..?
2. Are they doing happy things (smile on their face – singing – skipping etc)?
3. Are they angry ( frown on their face, hands balled up into a fist, their shoulders raised up next to their ears)?  Are they stomping their feet when walking?  Do their eyes look mean when they speak? Are they talking with an angry voice? Are they staring at others with an angry stare? Are they pushing things over or looking for trouble?
4. Do they look lost? Are they looking around like a tourist (reading signs , looking at a map or or carrying a map)? Are they taking pictures of themselves standing next to objects of importance’s like a statue or a building?
5. Are they scared or look scared? Are their eyes open wide and are they frightened easily? Are their hands up by their throat area like they need to protect it? Are their arms folded tightly with their head down?
6. Are they acting spaced out like on drugs or alcohol. Are they drunk and stumbling all over the place? Are they slurring their words when trying to talk? Are their bodies having trouble going in the direction they are trying to walk in. Are they falling down or almost falling down?
7. How are other people watching other people. Can you see if someone is hateful towards another human being? If you can watch peoples face expressions, after a while you will notice a lot you never knew about before.
8. Are people showing love towards each other – like a mother to her child or a man towards a woman? Are they walking and holding hands. Does the woman place her head on his shoulder and are they both smiling a lot.
9. Look for aggression. Is some one walking over to push another person or maybe even punch or kick another person? Is some one kicking a dog or running up to scare a pigeon or birds on the ground? Are they walking behind another person acting dumb and doing bad things behind that persons back (acting out)?
10. Look for deception, like when some one is talking nice to you but in their eyes they look mean or in their voice they raise it and deepen their sound of their voice. Notice if you or others don’t agree
    with them they look to become upset but then smile again and act like nothing is wrong or make a joke out of it.
11. Look for lies, when you ask someone something and they are lying look into their eyes and their pupils will shrink. Also if you ask them a question and they are lying they may double blink. They may look away from you when lying and then after they get through or past their lie they will look at you again. Watch which way they roll their eyes when you ask them a question.

Always watch everybody and study them without them knowing you are doing this. Some times when you stare at people it can cause you trouble, so be careful practicing your exercises. Some people do not like it when other stare at them.

The next time a bully comes your way try to notice if he is coming over to you before he knows it. Then leave the area. Avoidance is the best self defense tool we have in our martial arts toolbox. OK? Remember this, bullies  bully other people for many reasons. But the most important reason they do it is because they are afraid. They are scared of what others will think of them. They themselves are frightened to be bullied, so they go ahead and bully others to scare away the bullies who might prey on them. Does this make sense? They may become bullies because of trouble in their home life  and this can be deep.

Some people who are mentally ill will hurt you and not even care. They might not even be aware they are hurting you. They are acting out like in a dream and are out of control. You must be able to see them before they can see you to avoid any problems.

You need to be able to do these exercises for the rest of your life.
This is one of the survival skill sets I am giving out as a gift. My treat! but you need to develop it and eventually it will become automatic.

Let me know how you feel about this exercise. Always be a gentleman or lady  in control of your own mind and temper. Remember, no one can make you angry but your self. People can say and do what ever they want to, but it is you who has to make the choice to be calm or to become angry. It really is a choice. A good martial artist is in control of their choices all the time.
It is the Holiday seasons now, so try your best to always be in control of
your self and your emotions. Every one is under great strain. Please remember this and give way, let them go by.

Remember with each passing day do your good deeds daily.
Go out of your way to be nice!
Go out of your way to be understanding.
Always be nice…

Respect
Coach Peter Freedman Sensei Guro

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Tagged as: attention, eyes, perception