“I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

 

That’s all fine and dandy, but if some joker’s hittin’ on your lady or bad talking’ your momma, you need be ready to throw down. And the key to success at fisticuffs is the ability to take a punch as well as dish one out.

 

Taking a punch is like eating broccoli . . . the more you do it, the more your body becomes accustomed. Allowing a friend to punch you in the face and stomach is a good place to start. When you get to the place where you don’t flinch anymore, you know you’re ready. Bullies expect you to flee in fear. Facing up to them is half of the battle. For the other half, let’s look at some practical steps.

 

First and foremost, steer clear of getting hit. If possible, out-maneuver your foe. Stay outside his range. Usually you’ll see it coming—you know when somebody throws a punch. When you feel the punch coming, take a diagonal step forward. If you time it right, the other guy will punch thin air, and you’ll now be standing next to him, close enough deliver a counterpunch. What you want to do now is “stun and run.” Here are your options:

 

1. Fist in the lower back (otherwise known as a kidney punch). Hit him on the side of his spine, as low as possible.

 

2. Fist to the base of the neck. Strike the bend where the shoulder becomes the neck.

 

3. Fist or elbow to the schnoz. Hit him as hard as you can in the nose, preferably with the base of the palm.

 

4. Fist to the ribcage, or slightly below. He’ll be thinking about taking his next breath while you skedaddle.

 

5. Knee to the nuts. (No explanation needed.)

 

Remember, the Bible teaches that it’s better to give rather than to receive. Now, “RUN!” Get the heck out of there, and live to see another day.

 

If getting hit is inevitable, keep the following principles in mind:

 

1. Avoid a direct blow. Deflect or block blows with your fists and forearms. Protect your ribs and chest with your upper arms.

 

2. Go inside. (Move your feet, don’t just lean.) Get in close to the attacker. If you’re in close, he can’t extend on his punches. However, watch out for knees, head butts, and elbows. Those are very effective at close quarters.

 

3. Don’t panic! If you panic, you will have a hard time recovering from a hard blow. You’ll be surprised how fast your body will recover after a hard punch. As you near middle age, your recovery time will increase, but you’ll be losing your memory by then, so don’t sweat it.

 

These “How-To” instructions are taken from How to Hit a Curve Ball, Grill the Perfect Steak and Become a Real Man (Tyndale) by Stephen James and David Thomas. To order the book click here!