[DKM76]

I noticed that the older I get, the more conservative my standup fighting skill gets. I use to be the type of a person who got hit hard and didn't care...I came back harder and with balls, nothing use to stop me......BUT NOW, it's like everytime I get hit hard, I get intimidated and I am afraid to go in and hit hard back. I tend to keep distance and play defense most of the time. Hardly any hitting because I am afraid that I am going to make my opponent mad and he'll come back with harder and faster punches in a flurry that will drop me. Also, I am shorter than most of my opponents, so I have a harder time going inside. So I end up catching their punches without being able to return much back.

I don't know the reason for the 180 degree turn around. Maybe I don't like getting hit anymore. Maybe, I've lost confidence. Where did my courage that I was known for go? I recently ran into a guy who is a professional fighter now. I use to spar with him and he use to tell me how good I was. That was encouraging, but what difference does it make now.

What you folks do when you face an intimidating opponent who is out to hurt you?

[KOU In3]

This might sound funny, but I used to try to get hit. Mentally, if I'm trying to take a hard shot, it's not such a big deal when it lands as it's what I was hoping for.

This isn't to say I'd stick my face out and drop my guard so much as have the notion in my mind that I'm hoping to take the guy's best shot.

Not sure if I'm verbalizing it well as far as not fighting poorly and taking unnecessary damage so much as mentally having it in my head that I want to get hit. You can't be afraid of falling if you jump of the edge of your own free will so to speak.

[richieb19]

think of it this way...fear profits man nothing...i know its a dumb saying but its true...if you get hit hard, laugh away and retaliate...dont let it get to you...

remember fear profits man nothing

[CowboyPete]

Along the lines of what KOU said, I like to sort of dare my opponent to hurt me in a fight. I've got my guard up, I'm sticking my jabs and just working my opponent over thinking the whole time "c'mon. I dare you to hit me back." At the same time, I'll defend myself as well as possible and when I do get hit, my thought is "pretty good. How about this?" and I'll press the action a little harder.

I think what it is is planning and expecting to get hit removes the fear of getting hit. It's all about confidence as well. If you don't believe in your abilities, train harder until you do.

[hockeyfacekilla]

Originally Posted by KOU In3

This might sound funny, but I used to try to get hit. Mentally, if I'm trying to take a hard shot, it's not such a big deal when it lands as it's what I was hoping for.

This isn't to say I'd stick my face out and drop my guard so much as have the notion in my mind that I'm hoping to take the guy's best shot.

Not sure if I'm verbalizing it well as far as not fighting poorly and taking unnecessary damage so much as mentally having it in my head that I want to get hit. You can't be afraid of falling if you jump of the edge of your own free will so to speak.

i like that, my muay thai class has me stand there while people go away at my gut. i'll try that

[danny_171]

I'm still pretty young (16) so I'm not scared. At all, ever, in the gym. It's weird, but if they catch me with a good shot I just think "Hmm, not bad. How 'bout this?" and try to shrug it off. As long as I don't get hit on the top of my head (that hurts) then I'm usually fine.

[blanko]

try taking some time off, you might be burning out.

[EPT]

That's kind of weird, when I was younger I was a bit scared to get hit, now that
I'm older it doesn't seem to bother me anywhere near as much.

[GermanBlitz]

I am kinda face shy too. But I think this is inexperience as I am far more a grappler than a striker...

Have you been outta the game for a while? Maybe you need to regain your feet, so to speak

[TheFoxChokeNKO]

Alcohol