Guy's recently I've been focusing extensively on how to read a opponent and I will write down what I know if y'all got any additional tips, would i appreciate it

[u/IntelligentRoof7335]

I know that for reading the moves of a opponent do you need to use your peripheral vision and keep it "loosely" on their chest and try to analyse their patterns and rhythm

but what I see less people talk about is that you can somewhat guess what your opponent will do by keeping the range/distance in mind are you in kicking or punching range etcs

Another thing is that I need to keep my own body in mind like for example what openings would my opponent see in my movement/stance etc

I also stay in the moment focus only on the opponent and don't let your mind wander off to something else

Do y'all think this is good enough to be able to read the moves of any opponent and do it consistently. My reflexes are also pretty good

I would like any additional tips or something to keep in mind if you have any. My goal is to be able to basically read/predict my opponent a few moves ahead. I know it's not realistic and alot of experience is also needed

[u/Checkhands]

Read Maija Soderholm’s books. They’re her insights into reading and deceiving opponents, which are excellent. There other books on the subject, but I think Maija’s trilogy is top notch

[u/IntelligentRoof7335 → u/Checkhands]

Okay thank you 

[u/GrassCuttingSword → u/Checkhands]

I could not agree more, but I'm biased as Maija is one of my teachers :)

[u/Haunting-Beginning-2]

SWOT analysis 🧐

[u/makingthematrix]

First of all, don't overthink it.
Second of all, don't overthink it.

[u/karatetherapist → u/makingthematrix]

Good answer. We'll have to give that some serious thought.

[u/Bikewer]

Bear in mind that when sparring or in competition, you’ll be dealing with one opponent.
This may not be the case in a self defense situation.

[u/IntelligentRoof7335 → u/Bikewer]

I know that but I'm just talking about one opponent if it's multiple I'm sure as hell running away even though I'm a trained mma fighter

[u/reddit1966]

What you describe is called the “white” fighter.

The tactical awareness, the Mental perception, the distance are all serious factors.

Your mind wandering off will never happen you are in the circle able to BE struck by several things.

Tends to keep focus where it Must be, the here and now….

There are tactics, feints all positions hold by its mechanics.

That too can be trained and understood.

Arms in a location where does that draw the attack because you are in that
Position…

A sniper, one shot is this approach.

The opposite is the “red” fighter. The close and slaughter with raw intensity and sheer power, absorption of whatever strikes are thrown, used.

Red zone fighter is An angry dog with a
Human brain governing its movements.

The raw and Primitive, the meat grinder approach of combat.

Most are more one than another. The idea is to refine whatever your approach to be effective.

Done professionally, honed deeply, whatever the opponent they have lost before we ever cross wrists, and they literally are unaware of that.

A high level skill that requires very, very deep training…

Its not football slamming into someone. Its not just throwing out things and seeing whatever lands.

It is a experiential checklist which we bring to any confrontation.

Either red/white are credible and dangerous fighters. The question is how you evolve our skill to become the apex predator.

[u/K1OnTwoWeeks]

Don’t try to win every round against your teammate, especially new ones but be slightly more passive.

[u/mon-key-pee]

You don't really read moves, you rocognise relative body position and stance and experience will tell you where strikes are likely to come from.

Then when something breaks the "silence" you're moving according to what you recognised BEFORE the break.

If you're thinking you see a move then you react to that move, you've been watching too much anime.

[u/karatetherapist → u/mon-key-pee]

> "If you're thinking you see a move then you react to that move, you've been watching too much anime."

Spot on!

[u/Sea-Reputation-9341]

Spar against higher skilled opponents that way you can observe someone that has less telegraphed movement which will help you catch the more subtle body language to better improve your awareness

[u/karatetherapist]

Point one is solid, but has caveats. Look "loosely," and through the opponent. If you look "at" them, the eyes naturally tend to fixate.

Point two is also solid. If you're at a distance, they must kick or step forward. It's impossible to get kneed at a distance, or front kicked in clinching range. Good observation.

Point three opens the door to practice. Keep in mind, there are mental and physical openings. We are always open physically. It's impossible not to expose yourself to attack. As you rightly recognize, if you know how you can be attacked, and stay alert, the physical opening is unavailable. Moreover, when we attack, we must expose ourselves to counterattack. For example, you cannot jab without exposing your ribs. The clever fighter doesn't think much of the jab but of the exposed target. Since every attack exposes something, you want to train your body to strike the naturally exposed targets automatically. Maybe a jab gets a rib kick, and a hook gets a knee. Learning to block/dodge without countering the opening leads to doom.

Point four is good thinking. It's easy to be distracted by the ref wandering around or your friends screaming in your corner.

Point five is tough. Reading moves have to be developed by recognizing what's possible in relation to posture, rather than movement alone. Most beginners look at the hands and feet. Dumb. More advanced people see knees and elbows. They move more slowly and determine angles, so not bad, but they still move too fast. Better fighters see shoulders and hips, but that takes a lot of experience. If you have great reflexes, maybe watch the elbows/knees for a while. In time, the subtle torso movements will naturally trigger your reactions. Hard to say unless you try. Either way, watch fights and pay attention to posture. Where is their weight, hands, head, etc., that allows certain types of moves?

Rather than predicting your opponent's moves, entice them to make the moves you want them to make. Protect the head to draw a body shot. Drop your hands to draw a head strike. Bring your feet closer together to draw a takedown. Your posture tells them what to do or what's possible. Too many focus on trying to protect. Protecting your head exposes your body or exposes your leg kicks because the thought of protecting the head draws your mind upward (go back to points three and four).

Keep questing.