More about watching elbows & knees...
I want to come back to this because I believe that this aspect of TWC is of the utmost importance.
Let me also state from the outset that this is pure "William Cheung" - in that he started watching these points based upon his own fighting and sparring experiences, observations, and analysis - and not because this was part of his kung fu training. And I know that because he himself said so a long time ago in the first magazine article he ever wrote about TWC - back in 1982.
If you focus on the imaginary vertical line running down on your opponent's lead side from his shoulders to the floor - and with particular emphasis upon his lead elbow and his lead knee...
meaning that those two points on the vertical line are the "crucial" points - and then focus exclusively on the lead elbow when a strike or an attempted grab comes from his lead arm...
and on the lead knee when a kick or knee strike comes from his lead side...
you're in the money.
And your peripeheral vision will tell you when to focus on the rear elbow or knee, respectively.
Speaking very personally, now...I would say that of all the things I've learned through the years from William Cheung - and if I could only take ONE THING with me to the desert island - this would be it.
It takes lots of drilling to good at this - but once there - it's well worth it.
Because you can see things coming at you in time to react - even though you didn't know in advance what it would be.
And you can do it at close range, mid range, and long range.
The elbow and the knee will telegraph lots of important information to you: is the strike or kick straight? Is it round? Is it high? Is it low? Is it mid level? Is it an uppercut-type motion? A looping overhanded motion? An axe kick-like motion?
Etc.
Its a superb radar system.