[McFlown]

One of my problems when sparring is that I always seem to get dropped by a body shot, either to the solar plexus or a liver punch/kick. They hurt like shit and also make me look like a wuss when I keel over .

Does anyone have any good techniques to avoid/block/take a punch or kick aimed at the midsection? For now the only technique that I use is to lower my guard to block it, which doesn't work all the time.

[randy watkins]

avoid a punch is always better.i bet your partner goes for a head shot before he hits you to the body.this to make you raise your guard and leave your body open .just be aware when he goes for the head even a fake .the chances are a body shot is coming up

[Brendon Katz]

tuck ur elbow in tight against ur bottom rib, keepin ur hands up. if its a straight shot turn sideon. u can take biiig shots like that with no ill effects

[eLbo85]

exhale!

[Ju Jitz]

Are you standing up straight when blocking your head?
If so, maybe you should hunch forward and keep your chin tucked in to your chest, elbows at the sides almost on the hips and hands on your temples. Hard to explain, but you should get the point.

Also, do what I do, MOVE MOVE MOVE!

[moodymikey]

for him to get a decent body shot off he needs to be fairly close to you, so just make sure you keep a safe distance from the shot and dont let him move in whatever you do

[Pale1]

exhale, roll with the punch, clinch before it, keep him/her away with kicks

[BlackBeltNow]

I am a sucker for body shots too. What I do is keep my elbow down, and in flurries, I try not let my right guard hand go too high. Since I box and not kickbox, I keep a "sidestance" and keep that door closed and that liver in the back and out of reach.

[Zankou]

You gotta roll to the right man, roll into the body shot to take the power out of it.

Dropping the right elbow is nice too, but the reality is half that time the hook is going to be coming for your head, so you don't want to do it very much ... too dangerous. Plus a lot of guys who fire the left hook to the body love to double it up high and low.

Best bet is to punch the (#$@# in the head while you move away. If you're shelled up, not moving, and he wants to hit you to the body, he will. There's nothing you can do about it. You gotta move or put him on the defensive to have any luck.

Good luck. Body shots are the best btw, don't be afraid to use them! The BEST!!!

[Spoonman7]

I have really long arms so I try to keep my elbows down so that they protect my ribs and body but occasionlly I get caught by suprise and boy do they sting