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Dodging Punches

Author: Keith Pascal
Date Posted: February 20, 2009

If you were attacked and your opponent was in range, would you be able to dodge the punch? Could you get out of the way before it made contact?

Do you think you could be successful at dodging a punch?

My answer to the above question? Not At That Distance

What some people call dodging a punch, I call "turning off." I also refer to it as passing the hit.

Do you practice pivoting your body, to reduce the force of the blow?

Punching Exercises

Imagine standing squared off against a practice partner. You are both in neutral positions -- neither foot is in a lead position.

Suddenly, your partner punches with his or her left fist toward the right side of your chest. In the exercise, you are supposed to pivot your right side back, so your partner's fist goes whooshing by.

Ideally, your partner's fist completely misses any contact with your body or just barely grazes it as it flies past.

Does the above sound like a good exercise to practice?

Have you practiced this way in the past?

Do you start from a distance where your partner is close enough to hit without stepping in?

I don't practice this way.

Practice At a Better Distance

If your partner is close enough to hit without stepping, then I wouldn't advise you passing his punch.

Why?

You don't have time.

If the person facing you doesn't telegraph technique -- in other words doesn't accidentally move the body before the punch -- then you don't have a chance. You won't be able to turn off in time.

The punch will come in quickly. Too fast for your response.

Turning off works fine, if you have enough distance and/or time to respond. For example, passing a slow punch could definitely work to your advantage.

But if your opponent has a fast punch, the hit will be in and out before you even start to respond.

About The Author

Keith Pascal edits a Free ezine on practical punching: PunchHarder.com. (You get a great free ebooklet on devastating punches, when you join.)

Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.

Keith is the author of several books, including Wrist Locks (Revised) joint locking book

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of articles on self-defense.

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