VinylSlash

Maybe it's redundant posting in this thread, given how long it's been since anyone posted in it, but this might be of use to other people who come along. Ah well.
 
Maybe the problem was that you pressed the buttons too quickly? 
Anyway, as I recall, after you press the X button, your character remains still for a few seconds until you either enter the command accurately, or the effect wears off.

I'm almost entirely certain that it's just a style thing. I think that if he was blind, it would be referred to in the games.