15
« on: February 24, 2008, 07:17:56 PM »
Woof Crafty,
I have 20/200 in my right eye., 20/400 in my left eye, fortunately correctable to 20/20 in both. In addition, I've had retina detatchment surgery in my left eye and lost 20-25% in my field of vision in that eye, fortunately it is in the periphery and not in the center. That being said, my vision has not hampered my ability to participate in the last six Gatherings. I have to take special care in training and especially in fighting at the Gatherings.
Here are some things that I do to adjust. Training in pure grappling should not pose any problem, seeing opportunities while grappling is not as important as "feeling" them. In striking/mma training (i.e. boxing, MT, etc.), I still train without any glasses/goggles. Because I see the world as one giant blur, I have taught myself to recognize what strikes look like when they come at you and to keep my hands up. Similarly when striking a target, I taught myself to strike where I think my target is. For example, if I want to punch someone in the nose, I aim about one third down from the blur that is the opponent's head. In stickfighting is where I wear the goggles. The sticks are coming in too hard and fast not to see.
I say, if you need 'em, use 'em. If not, then don't.