text: when sparring does the fighter watch the opponents eyes, shoulders or what? in boxing, kick boxing or other martial art what does he focus on when he is sparring to anticipate a punch or kick? what should a begginer look for or concentrate on? old school martial arts tend to say look at the eyes but as a mixed martial artist i would always say watch the chest/shoulder area as they tend to give movement away. my old karate instructor (even after i left karate) was positive that the eyes were the key until he & i gave krav-mega a go and he was suddenly converted as by watching the eyes with a faster martial art he kept missing the punches to his head etc :)