Whether you want to become a professional fighter or just know how to defend yourself in a fight, knowing how to take a punch can make the difference between a victory and a crushing defeat, or even between life and death. Read this guide to learn how to get punched in the stomach or face without hurting yourself.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Getting into Position
Step 1. Raise your fists to face level
Your tight knuckles should touch your cheeks. That way you'll be able to deal the blow if you're hit in the face, and it's the first defensive measure you should take when you know for sure it's coming.
- When clenching your fists, keep your thumbs out of the rest of your fingers, rather than squeezing them in.
- The aim is to try to protect your face with your fists, so position them to cover as much surface as possible.
- Raising your fists to face height puts you in a good position to respond to the attack if necessary. If you don't feel comfortable in this position, you can block with your elbows; with this position the reaction time will be much longer and your opponent will have time to deliver a second punch before you can react.
Step 2. Lower your chin
Doing so will reduce the portion of the exposed face, while limiting the openings at the neck. Keep it tucked against your chest with your fists raised, but don't tilt your head too low or you won't be able to see your opponent and predict his moves.
Step 3. Keep your elbows firmly in contact with your body
You need to protect your internal organs, which could be seriously damaged by a well-placed side punch. Shoulders, pecs, arms, and fists can take violent blows without taking particularly high damage. The elbows should be flat against the hips, but loose enough to move them and block any punches.
Step 4. Maintain a wide stance
Keep your knees bent and your legs steady. By lowering the center of gravity, you will increase your stability. Plus, you'll be a much harder target to hit, as you'll be in the right position to move fast and dodge hits.
- Avoid the blow by twisting your body slightly to protect your centerline which includes groin, solar plexus and throat.
- Place your dominant foot slightly forward, shifting most of your weight to your back so that you can effectively counterattack.
Step 5. Keep your eyes on the attacker
Maintain eye contact and check where his gaze is resting; usually, people look at a spot before trying to punch it. Doing so will give you clues as to where the blow might go, increasing the chances of dodging it.
- If you think you may be intimidated or out of focus by looking your opponent in the eye, shift your gaze to the solar plexus. Some people are more easily distracted by making eye contact.
- Try not to go into "limited vision". When there is a threat, it is quite common to focus solely on it. Strive to avoid this natural tendency, and try to maintain peripheral gaze and knowledge of your surroundings, especially in the presence of other attackers.
Step 6. Stay calm
Your fight or flight instinct will likely come into play, but you need to stay focused and try to make the right decision. Stay alert despite the possibility of hurting yourself; it might help you to know that the body recovers surprisingly fast from a punch. The most important thing is to protect your head, so focus on that.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Punch the Body
Step 1. Squeeze your abs
If the punch is strong enough, it could damage internal organs and kill you. By tightening your abs you will protect your vital parts. Try to avoid bending over. If the situation permits, try to lie back slightly instead.
- It's hard to contract your abs if they're not trained, so try this: Before the punch comes in, exhale briefly through your mouth or nose (take a short, quick breath). Your abs will naturally contract, reducing pain and damage to internal organs.
- Try not to get hit while breathing or holding your breath, or you will end up out of breath or with the breath coming out of your lungs. When the body is in a state of shock like this, it is unable to respond for a while, giving the attacker time to deal more blows.
Step 2. Dampen the punch
If you can't avoid the blow, go for the punch with your body. Orient your body towards the side of the impact point to avoid getting hit in the center line. This will increase the duration of the impact, varying the momentum of the punch and decreasing its strength.
You can also lean forward, or move your body slightly towards your opponent. This movement has the advantage of reducing the power of the punch or completely eliminating it. If you can catch your opponent off balance, you can drop him and have time to escape
Step 3. Maintain balance
Getting landed in a fist fight isn't nice, as it reduces your ability to escape, makes you vulnerable to kicks and knees, and puts you at risk of injury from falling.
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Get a Punch in the Face
Step 1. Keep your mouth closed and your jaw tightened
If you take an open jaw punch you may find it broken or with one less tooth. Keep your tongue inside to avoid cutting it.
Step 2. Take the fist with the forehead
If a punch is aimed at the face or throat and cannot be blocked or dodged, the best thing to do is bend over and try to impact with the forehead rather than the nose or neck. Obviously it will hurt, but not in the same way.
- If you can take the punch with your forehead, your assailant's fist will not touch anything other than your skull, and he may end up with broken fingers as a souvenir.
- Remember to keep your chin down and your fists up.
Step 3. Move with your fist
You should always rotate with your fist if it is directed at your head; move in the direction of the punch, rather than against it. Never move your head towards the fist if you don't want to seriously hurt yourself.
Step 4. Open your eyes
It is natural to close your eyes when a punch arrives. Try not to close them for too long, so you can predict the opponent's next move and decide when to launch your attack.
Advice
- If you are knocked down, try not to get up until you are out of attack range of your attacker. Remember that you are completely at the mercy of his blows as you get up. Try to roll out of range of his shots (about 2 meters). Your opponent will still be standing, so try to keep an eye on him as you roll away.
- Remember that learning how to take a punch takes more than just reading a guidebook. You have to train your mind and body, and this takes time and a lot of effort.
- Before throwing yourself into a fight it would be better to have an idea of what to do; for example, don't move your arms at random trying to hit. Moves like "right, left and head" are better because they combine a series of hits that will increase the pain inflicted on the opponent, giving you more time to escape.
- If you get hit in the head and start bleeding, you need to know that your body will keep the blood pressure high in that area. Don't panic if you start nosebleeds, even in gushes, as it looks worse than it actually is. While it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, you must try to stay calm and get out of the urgency of danger.
- Try to maximize the time of impact of the punch. As the laws of physics teach, the longer the impulse (in this case the fist), the less force will be exerted.
Warnings
- An "expert" fighter will attack you in the most vulnerable parts: groin, throat, eyes, kidneys; or he will try to use an object (a bottle of beer, a chair, a stone, etc.) to do so. Unfortunately, you will understand that you are struggling with this type of wrestler when the fight has already begun. In any case, your best option is to consider all attacks as dangerous, trying not to be hit even once. Do not try to "take" a punch unless you can't avoid it in any way. Many people try to fight dirty, and if your life is in danger, you shouldn't be outdone. Kick the assailant's lower parts, run away and call the carabinieri.
- If possible, dodge the punches! Receiving a punch can cause very serious damage to your nervous system or bones, even fatal. However, if you find yourself in a situation with a high probability of getting punched, don't think about these things until the fight is over.
- Systema is a Russian martial art, which focuses on shock absorption and is ideal for these situations. With the right amount of technique and training, punches will cause very little damage.
- Following this guide does not make you invulnerable. Remember always to get checked by a doctor after taking a punch.
- This guide Not he wants to encourage physical confrontation. Fighting should always be the last resort in any situation. Running away is almost always the best solution.
