A method and system for recognizing gestures on an electronic device, such as a mobile device (e.g., watch), are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the method includes obtaining a gesture template, determining a first mean value based upon the gesture template, obtaining gesture data by way of a motion sensing component of the electronic device, and calculating (by way of a processing device) a correlation metric based at least indirectly upon the gesture data and the gesture template, where the correlation metric is calculated based at least in part upon the first mean value. The method also includes determining based at least in part upon the correlation metric that a first of the gestures has occurred, and taking at least one additional action based at least in part upon the determining.