How to not be afraid?

freaky

freaky

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So I close my eyes everytime someone throws something at me. Everytime I get hit even on the body, I would blink.

One time I even turned my head away as I threw a jab. I'm such a coward it's not even funny. How do I grow a pair and stare at the punches hitting my face without blinking or looking away?

I just feel like cowering in a corner whenever some guy comes towards me.

The only way I can fight is jab and push kick to keep them at a distance. If they come anywhere close to hitting me distance I start to feel like cowering and blink or just complete shut down.

Help me
 
I don't know if I'm getting trolled or not but my advice to you is simply do a drill defense. Have your partner throw basic jabs, crosses hooks and uppercuts at you in 3s or 4s. Work on both slipping, parrying, long arm blocks and column (peak a boo) blocks. Look up "crazy monkey defense", that is pretty effective for novices. When practicing these for the love of God don't look away, blinking is natural (try not to) but always keep your eye on on their chest and chin down. If you are going to get hit clench your mouthguard, stiffen your neck and give them your forehead. Work on staying in the pocket. Best drill for that is take a tire and put your lead leg in it. Have the partner do the same and go at about 20 percent. You won't be able to go anywhere so you have to stay and defend.

If you honestly feel like cowering in a corner try the drills I listed or maybe MT just isn't for you.
 
MuayThaiDude said:
I don't know if I'm getting trolled or not but my advice to you is simply do a drill defense. Have your partner throw basic jabs, crosses hooks and uppercuts at you in 3s or 4s. Work on both slipping, parrying, long arm blocks and column (peak a boo) blocks. Look up "crazy monkey defense", that is pretty effective for novices. When practicing these for the love of God don't look away, blinking is natural (try not to) but always keep your eye on on their chest and chin down. If you are going to get hit clench your mouthguard, stiffen your neck and give them your forehead. Work on staying in the pocket. Best drill for that is take a tire and put your lead leg in it. Have the partner do the same and go at about 20 percent. You won't be able to go anywhere so you have to stay and defend.

If you honestly feel like cowering in a corner try the drills I listed or maybe MT just isn't for you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the post. Great advice. Ill be trying some of that tonight. Have to get this job thing out of the way first though...
 
It happened with me too, not only blink but I turned away and expose my back. Only training erased that over time. Just continue traiing.
 
Pretty ballsy of you for admitting it, the truth is a lot of people react very poorly to being hit. I don't think I've ever actually seen a complete beginner not turn or look away when getting hit.

MuayThaiDude had good advice. You just have to get used to it. Build it up slowly. But, you also have to embrace the discomfort at some point and turn it around.
 
Through the repetition of danger one can become accustom to it.
 
i've been boxing a while now, and sometimes i am still afraid. Fear isn't a totally bad thing. The drills is a great idea. Give yourself the tools to know how to react to what's hitting you and that helps with the fear no end. Then the only thing you'l have to fear is someone who is much stronger or vastly better :) and I don't think that ever ends :)
 
Very honest post. I think most hit the nail on the head here about different drills to help. Buy honestly the most effective way is to get hit - and get use to it. Now, I'm not saying go out there and get pummeled or something. But the truth is, after a while you don't even think about it once you are use to the sensation. Maybe even train your mind to take a moment of impact as a time to throw a counter.
 
Practice till you stop blinking:
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duck-bites-boy-s-nose.gif
 
Best advice has already been given. Drills and more live sparring. Getting used to it is about all you can do. I hope you have a coach who has a good eye and mind for bringing the best out of you- my old trainer was a pretty old-school dude, his approach was usually to try and just hammer it out of people through rounds and rounds of sparring. This approach doesn't work for everyone though. For some people, you can just throw them in the deep end, but when it's sink or swim, not everyone can swim. Some people need to be built up with confidence gradually. One post on the internet won't tell me which kind of person you are, but talk to your trainer about ideas for which might work for you.
 
MuayThaiDude said:
I don't know if I'm getting trolled or not but my advice to you is simply do a drill defense. Have your partner throw basic jabs, crosses hooks and uppercuts at you in 3s or 4s. Work on both slipping, parrying, long arm blocks and column (peak a boo) blocks. Look up "crazy monkey defense", that is pretty effective for novices. When practicing these for the love of God don't look away, blinking is natural (try not to) but always keep your eye on on their chest and chin down. If you are going to get hit clench your mouthguard, stiffen your neck and give them your forehead. Work on staying in the pocket. Best drill for that is take a tire and put your lead leg in it. Have the partner do the same and go at about 20 percent. You won't be able to go anywhere so you have to stay and defend.

If you honestly feel like cowering in a corner try the drills I listed or maybe MT just isn't for you.
Click to expand...
Although this is good advice, I believe the BEST way to avoid blinking or looking away while being punched is not to learn how to avoid punches but how to roll with them.

Once you've learned how to roll with punches:
1) You will be less afraid of getting hit since you know the punches you saw coming won't knock you out.
2) You will force yourself to look at the punches instead of turning your head so you won't get knocked out.
 
jonander50 said:
It happened with me too, not only blink but I turned away and expose my back. Only training erased that over time. Just continue traiing.
Click to expand...
How long did it take you to erase it?
 
Confidence only comes from doing! Stick in there, keep working on all of your training and over time as your ability increases, so will your confidence! Good luck!
 
Hmm, I think confidence comes more from knowing what you're supposed to be doing and it working. Getting beaten up a shitload of times does force the issue, but it doesn't always work with people who are otherwise perfectly trainable and just need to be shown and taught what to do, then they can apply it.
 
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