Path to improvements

One of the simplest and most effective self defense techniques
there is, is the eye strike.

I remember reading an account of a famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu
fighter who was giving a seminar on ground fighting. Halfway
through the seminar he inadvertently got poked in the eye.
His reaction was similar to what any of us would be.
He pulled back, brought both hands to his face and protected
his injured eye. This happened instantly. It was a knee
jerk reaction. It was the body's automatic response to
that type of injury. It is predictable.

An attacker could be 6 foot five, 275 pounds and an eye strike
will work just as well on him as on you, or anyone else. It is
one of those targets that the size, strength or knowledge
of the attacker makes no difference...as long as the strike
hits it's target.

To do an effective eye strike it takes a lot more than
just 'poking' someone in the eye. Not that it wouldn't
work it's just that it may not find it's target.

The key in using effective eye strikes in my opinion
is hitting the target.

Think about it, the eyes are a relatively small target. The
attacker may be moving. He is going to flinch as your hand
approaches his eye (again another auto body reaction). So
for an effective eye strike to land there are some key
principle to know and follow.

Look, if the guy is grabbing you in a way that your hands
are free and his face is close to you, driving your fingers
or thumb into his eye may be easy. But what happens if that
is not the case. What if he is approaching you or attempting
to grab you? That is why we need to train our abilities for some
unintended situation.