This is getting interesting, isn’t it?
Well, first off, well done for being “really solid in your centre”, that’s probably the alpha & omega of Aikido (in my view).
Now, regarding your “odd problem”, I don’t think you should look at your feet AT ALL. The question is then of course, where should one be looking? The answer to this is a wee complex. Actually, you shouldn’t be looking at ANY object in principle. I don’t know whether you have any experience of seated meditation (Buddhist or Taoist), but that could give you a hint in this respect (O Sensei used to call this chinkon kishin). The truth of the matter is, you shouldn’t be looking anywhere outside, but rather inside! What this means is, you’ll simply have to pay attention to your posture (which should be always erect
), relaxation (which will help plunge deep down in your hara), keeping your head up (which will help improve your awareness) and the like. That’s basically where the focus of attention should go (I’ll back up my statements with quotes from the Founder in a sec.) It’s only the PERIPHERAL attention that perceives those OTHER things (footwork, handwork, the opponent’s moves, the birds chirping, a baby crying, a car crashing etc.), but the main focus remains inside.
Here are the quotations from O Sensei:
“Do not stare into the eyes of your opponent: he may mesmerize you. Do not fix your gaze on his sword: he may intimidate you. Do not focus on your opponent at all: he may absorb your energy. The essence of training is to bring your opponent completely into your sphere. Then you can stand wherever you like.”
And a second one, on NEN (concentration):
“This body is the concrete unification of the physical and spiritual created by the universe. It breathes the subtle essence of the universe and becomes one body with it, so training is training in the path of human life. In training the first task is to continually discipline the spirit, sharpen the power of nen, and unify body and mind. This is the foundation for the development of waza (technique), which in turn unfolds endlessly through nen.
It is essential that waza always be in accord with the truth of the universe. For that to take place proper nen is necessary. If one's nen is connected to the desires of the small self, it is erroneous. Since training based upon erroneous ideas goes against the truth of the universe, it invites its own tragic consequences and eventual destruction.
Nen is never concerned with winning or losing, and it grows by becoming properly connected to the ki of the universe. When that happens, nen becomes a supernatural power that sees clearly all things in the world, even the smallest movement of hand or foot. One becomes like the clear mirror reflecting all things, and since one stands in the center of the universe, one can see with clarity that which is off-center. This is the truth of winning without fighting.
To develop the subtle movements of ki based on nen, you must understand that the left side of the body is the basis of martial art and the right side is where the ki of the universe appears. When one reaches the realm of absolute freedom, the body becomes light and manifests divine transformations. The right side brings forth power through the left. The left becomes a shield and the right the foundation of technique. This natural, spontaneous law of nature must be based in the centre, and one must manifest the self freely as dynamic, spherical rotation.”
I hope this will prove helpful.
