People always talk about hands up as if that the easiest way to learn and to a point I agree. Would some of it depend on the individual and their build though?

A coach in my gym LOVES both the hands up directly in front for every situation (attacking or defence) and feels comfortable punching out of it and coming back to it. He's extremely, unusually stocky though (not just compared to me) - it seems natural that he can block a lot of force even walking straight into a big right hand.

I on the otherhand SUCK at this! Sure I'll aim to keep my hands up but if I couldn't see I'd move the hand a bit because getting at least partially out of the way is almost the only time I don't get knocked off balance by a punch.

I don't have a large number of people to compare to know if this really has anything to do with it though. Do other people notice this at all or am I just making excuses for not liking something?