#584 - How to Take a Punch

How to Take a Punch

Whether you're interested in becoming a proficient fighter or you just want to be able to defend yourself in a street fight, knowing how to take a punch is often the difference between winning and losing - or life and death. Read on to learn how to take a punch to the stomach or head without getting hurt.


Step 1
Raise your fists to your face.
Your clenched knuckles should be touching either cheek. This diffuses the blow if you get punched in the face, and it's the first defensive move you should make when you're pretty sure a blow is coming.

• When you clench your fists, hold your thumbs on the outside of your fingers, rather than tucking them inside.
• The point is to protect as much of your face as possible with your fists, so position them to cover the maximum amount of surface area.
• Raising your fists to your face puts you in a good position to punch back, if necessary. If you're uncomfortable doing this, you can raise your elbows to your face to block the punch; just know the recovery time will be much longer, and you might have to take a second punch before you can fight back.

Step 2

Tuck your chin.

This reduces the amount of your face that's exposed, and limits access to your neck. Keep it tucked against your chest with your fists up, but don't bend your head so low you can't see the assailant; you need to be able to predict his or her move.

Step 3

Keep your elbow tight against your body

You've got to protect your organs, which could be severely damaged by a well-placed punch to the side. Your shoulders, pectorals, arms, and fists can take strong hits with relatively minor damage. Present these targets to your opponent while protecting your vulnerable areas. Elbows should be flat against your sides, but loose enough to move around and block a punch once it's thrown.

Step 4

Adopt a wide stance.

Stand with your knees bent and your legs firmly underneath you. This lowers your center of gravity, helping you stay balanced. It also makes you a more difficult target to hit, since you'll be poised to move and dodge if you need to.

• Turn your body slightly away from the oncoming attack to protect your center line, including your groin, solar plexus, and throat.
• Position your dominant foot slightly forward and keep a little more weight on your back foot, so you'll be poised to strike back if necessary.

Step 5

Keep your eyes on the attacker.

Hold eye contact and pay attention to where his or her eyes go when they dart away, since people generally look before they punch. This gives you subtle clues about where the punch may land, and you might be able to dodge it.

• If you think you'll get intimidated or confused by looking into the person's eyes, look at the solar plexus instead. Some people find making eye contact to be distracting.
• Avoid tunnel vision. When confronted with a threat, it's very easy to make that the center of your universe. Avoid this natural tendency and try to maintain peripheral vision and awareness of your surroundings, especially other assailants.

Step 6

Stay Relaxed

Your fight or flight instinct will probably kick in, but you have to think through it and maintain the ability to make good decisions. Keep your mind alert in spite of the possibility of pain; it may help to know that the body recovers surprisingly quickly after a hard punch. The important thing is to keep your head protected, so stay focused on that.

source: wikihow