History Main / KungFuClairvoyance

* In ''KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', multiple characters, including Kenichi himself and the first BigBad Odin use a technique called Seikuken, which grants this to the user. The more advanced levels involve maintaining eye contact with the foe to better read and predict their rhythm.

The audience watches in awe as the protagonist beats down countless enemies, but if one were to pay closer attention to what was happening onscreen, a few questions would arise: How did he know the guy behind him was throwing a punch? How did he know the guy in the rafters was about to open fire? How did he know a knife was flying towards the side of his head?

When done well, Kung Fu Clairvoyance is not noticeable. When done poorly, it can break the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief and/or paint the character as a GodModeSue. Sometimes, Kung Fu Clairvoyance will be made obvious in order to point out how much of a BadAss a character is (for example, the OffhandBackhand or BadassBack), and whether or not the audience is willing to accept this depends on how well it takes RefugeInAudacity or if it follows the RuleOfCool. When such lampshaded, you can also expect an emphasis on the fighter's ear (or [[TheNoseKnows nose]] for guys like {{Wolverine}}), to suggest he simply heard the baddie coming.

* ''{{Champions}}'' has Danger Sense, which can enable your character to not be surprised by an attack. Make the roll by enough, and you even know where the attack came from, so you can counter-attack.
* Similarly ''{{GURPS}}'' has a Danger Sense advantage. A number of cinematic skills also help recreate these feats like: Blind Fighting, Timed Defense, Precognitive Parry and Sensitivity
* The game ''{{Exalted}}'' has the Sidereals. Masters of Martial Arts that allow them to read the strands of fate. Knowing the strands of fate allows them to know when a knife is going to fly at them, when another martial artist is going to attack or when that sniper three floors above is going to open fire with precision accuracy.

* Done to almost {{egregious}} levels in ''Film/TheMatrixRevloaded'', where Neo does complete polevault-backflips to counter against a pouncing Smith, among other instances. [[TheChosenOne Then]] [[RealityWarper again...]]

* ''SinCity'' has Miho who is apparently so good that she can fall asleep and know when a mook is just thinking about shooting her, as seen in ''Family Values''.

* Done to almost {{egregious}} levels in the second ''Film/TheMatrix'' film, where Neo does complete polevault-backflips to counter against a pouncing Smith, among other instances. [[TheChosenOne Then]] [[RealityWarper again...]]
* The GunKata in ''{{Equilibrium}}'' is actually based on knowing where the enemies are and what they'll shoot at before they do.

* In RedVsBlue, when Agent Texas brawls with Agents Maine, Wyoming, and York, she at several points dodges or blocks punches going at her back.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons''

* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', both Ranma and Akane have been shown to sense sneak attacks a split second before they happen, giving them enough warning to dodge or block the attacks.

* Obligatory ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' example: the famous sequence in the S2 finale, where Buffy catches Angelus' blade with her bare hands and eyes closed. But then she is the Slayer.

* Pain from ''Manga/Naruto'' seems to possess this ability at first.[[spoiler: Turns out his rinnegan allows him to share his vision with his other bodies. In other words, he can see whatever the other bodies see and vice versa.]]
* In ''RanmaOneHalf'', both Ranma and Akane have been shown to sense sneak attacks a split second before they happen, giving them enough warning to dodge or block the attacks.

* Explained in ''HunterXHunter''. Characters capable of fending off attacks they logically shouldn't be able to notice are actually projecting their aura around themselves in all directions, known as an "en field." This allows them to sense everything from a distance and (hopefully) react accordingly. The downside is that this expends a lot of energy and is thus difficult to master, so only a small group of people in this series can actually apply it in battle. Even then, it's nowhere near foolproof: The character seen the most who uses it frequently is a ButtMonkey and is rarely able to use it effectively.

* In ''SamuraiJack'', Jack blindfolds himself to fight a trio of magically enhanced archers after he realizes they are blind and targeting him based on the noise he makes as he approaches their tower. By blocking out his own vision, he is able to focus on listening and moving silently in order to escape detection.

* {{Batman}} always seems to know when someone is sneaking up on him, as do most martial artists in comics. [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} Cassandra Cain]] and her mother, ComicBook/LadyShiva have a version of this as an explicit ability.

* Not only sports, but regular pool players begin to develop this ability. The geometry of complex pool shots is staggering from an academic point of view.

* {{Batman}} always seems to know when someone is sneaking up on him, as do most martial artists in comics. [[Comicbook/{{Batgirl2000}} Cassandra Cain]] and her mother, Lady Shiva have a version of this as an explicit ability.

When done well, Kung Fu Clairvoyance is not noticeable. When done poorly, it can break the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief and/or paint the character as a GodModeSue. Sometimes, Kung Fu Clairvoyance will be made obvious in order to point out how much of a BadAss a character is (for example, the OffhandBackhand or BadassBack), and whether or not the audience is willing to accept this depends on how well it takes RefugeInAudacity or if it follows the RuleOfCool. When such lampshaded, you can also expect an emphasis on the fighter's ear (or [[TheNoseKnows nose]] for guys like [[XMen Wolverine]]), to suggest he simply heard the baddie coming.

When done well, Kung Fu Clairvoyance is not noticeable. When done poorly, it can break the audience's WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief and/or paint the character as a GodModeSue. Sometimes, Kung Fu Clairvoyance will be made obvious in order to point out how much of a BadAss a character is (for example, the OffhandBackhand or BadassBack), and whether or not the audience is willing to accept this depends on how well it takes RefugeInAudacity or if it follows the RuleOfCool. When such lampshaded, you can also expect an emphasis on the fighter's ear (or nose for guys like [[XMen Wolverine]]), to suggest he simply heard the baddie coming.

%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

Not to be confused with CombatClairvoyance, which occurs when a character can literally see into the future. Compare OffhandBackhand which is a single punch at an unseen foe. This may be [[JutifiedTrope justified]] by KillingIntent.