Pretty simple right? What do you do that cause you to get hit? I get hit if I'm looking for something and become so focused on that that I forget about other things. I get hit sometimes while I'm trying to counterpunch. I get hit when I try to mix it up. I get hit when I am predicting my opponent to react a certain way but he doesn't. I get hit from just plain not paying attention.

One thing that seems to remain constant through each one of these is that for some reason I lack awareness. That is, I am doing something that momentarily takes away my ability to predict punches. Well then if I could increase my awareness and limit the things that cause me to lose it I would be able to predict everything coming my way. And when I can do that; I can then become nearly impossible to hit.

I think the things I mentioned are honestly what cause - not only me - but everybody to get hit. Being unable to predict the punches coming whether because you weren't looking for them or you were preoccupied during the act of punching. So If I want to get hit less I would have to be able to fight in such a way that I see things coming and stop mixing it up so much that I'm too busy in the act of punching to see things happening clearly.

I would have to circle to maintain distance. This reduces my opponent's punch output and gives me extra time to see what he is getting ready to throw. I would have to punch (this includes counterpunching) less in that I can't mix it up so much to the point that I get so busy punching I can't see and predict whats happening around me.

Well thats the basic blueprint for a fighter with good defense; a fighter who rarely gets hit. These are fighters who - through the process of circling and limiting their punch selections - are able to fully maximize their awareness thus allowing themselves to predict what their opponent is doing with greater accuracy than other fighters who tend to just go into a fight face first.



Well this leads me into my next question. Do you get hit with your opponent's lead punches? It is of my opinion that you should never get hit with lead punches and to be hit by a lead punch is a shameful thing. Tunney once said he was ashamed of himself when he let Dempsey knock him down with a simple lead left hook. No set-up, no nothing: just a simple lead left hook. If I were him I would have been ashamed too. I think he blamed it on his eye or something but in any event the point he was trying to drive him is poignant. You shouldn't begetting hit with your opponent's leads at all. If you are there is something wrong in your defense that must be altered.

So with that said do you get hit by your opponent's leads? If so how often. And with what? Jabs, right hands, left hooks? If these leads are landing on you with any frequency alterations must be made.