Soft senses began as a concept described to me by my Grampa. The concept was born out his experiences coaching basketball. As a coach he dove deep into coaching philosophy and optimum athletic performance. Through this study but also through his personal insights gleaned from observing how to be most effective on the basketball court. His concept is called Soft Eyes. It is precisely what is described in the first instalment with vision having no focus. Although at the same time maximum field of view. It allowed a defender to anticipate ball movement and flow through the game and around the court. Similarly to martial arts training where someone puts out there arms and attempts to see both hands a basketball player defends with open arms to "see ball see man". Moreover his experience as an Outdoor Education teacher allowed this principle to develop from see ball see man. As it would be imperative while guiding school children on wilderness adventures to be highly aware of ones surroundings. So there was a practical as well as a philosophical experience with this concept. Moreover I remember him telling me once to focus on the space in between the leaves on the trees rather than the leaves themselves. To observe nature with personally obscure perspectives in order to allow a broader sensory input to be understood and processed by your being. This is the origin of my Hero Training: Soft Senses journey.
