How to Take a Punch

Learn how to take a punch so you can absorb bigger punches without getting as hurt. You can do neck exercises or other things to strengthen your jaw and body but ultimately, there's a bit of technique to being able to roll and move with the punches to decrease their impact. Taking punches in boxing is more about technique than conditioning!
00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Rule #1 - Use your eyes
00:51 - Rule #2 - Moving with the motion of the punch
01:15 - Different areas #1 - Head
01:50 - Different areas #2 - Forehead
02:16 - Different areas #3 - Shoulder
02:59 - Different areas #4 - Core
03:51 - Sumary
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[@danielmok3762]

This dude knows what he's talking about. Make sure to have your eyes open at all times because there's a huge difference between knowing the punch is coming and not. This is why counter punches are deadly because you get hit unexpectedly.

[@deanlol]

Do you mean your target gets hit unexpectedly or you get hit unexpectedly? If someone throws a punch at you, your punch is the counter punch. Then it just becomes a series of counter punches.

[@ncrack5018]

Leland Wilson what are you talking about

[@MrOTcomputer]

The worlds greatest puncher, the strongest fighter in the world, fourth degree black belts in two martial arts, fast and knowledgeable and twice your size and strength. And yet if he can't take a punch, he's worthless and easily defeated. - I've seen some of the best fighters who could easily take out an opponent get their butts kicked by someone half their skill because they couldn't take a punch. - One punch and they collapsed like a wind bag and got tossed around like a wet paper bag.

[@yogaraj7454]

@@MrOTcomputer yeah like Anthony Joshua

[@estebangarcia747]

@@yogaraj7454 yep

[@marchofthought]

I read what others have posted. It's funny how people react to someone trying to help and make a difference. Keep it up! Thanks for the advice. Haters gonna hate.

[@expertboxing]

:)

[@leviacherman5107]

I ain't good at blocking so ima make my body as strong as Vibranium

[@kakashisensei9206]

Same I do kickboxing

[@hanoli7933]

Sure but still consider learning better defense. You never know when you'll get hit in the liver or a good hit knocks you out, as long as you're human you can get knocked out after all. Thats why its important to learn defense to prevent these situations. Fights are random asf, you never know when one day itll be your bad day and youll mess up big time getting punished with that kick, knee or punch to a liver/head thatll KO you Definitely wont want to have that happen when your in a bad situation with a dude who wants you dead or harm you and your friends / family

[@professor.cheekclapper6999]

@@hanoli7933 yea, in fights you gotta think on your feet, i fight with my hands down to block body shots because I absolutely hate liver shots lol, my head movement is good enough to where i wont get hit that bad, but blocking has saved me quite a lot, you definitely need to know how to properly block otherwise you wont get far, unless your 10x better than canelo

[@Brcyx193]

I'm good at both I don't want to have a weakness

[@carnage1284]

Who wins in a fight?a Buff dude who can't fight or a slim dude who can fight?

[@vanshsood084]

Everyone have a plan till they get punched in the face- Mike Tyson

[@expertboxing]

hahahah

[@BigSmoke-is1kg]

“Fathe”

[@jamessouza7065]

Mouth.."everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth".

[@patetarr]

Never feel bad for walking away but always make sure you have that option first. Street fighting is almost always life or death nowadays so if you are already fighting just do your best and pay attention to him and your surroundings.

[@jng4evr1]

Amen dude! That is so true man it's very scary nowadays because there are no rules and now a days, people carry weapons. ALOT OF THEM lol so a normal streetfight COULD turn into a Knife/gunfight. It is very scary. But yeah...be safe and God Bless. :)

[@nomo4u886]

Yeah just gotta watch yourself that’s why I only street fight if I have to, I don’t go looking for trouble lmao.

[@AllMi3htykid]

Now adays peoples pride won't let's them walk away

[@deanlol]

Walking away is the best self defense. The martial art I studied presented these philosophies in the very beginning. Awareness ; be aware of your surroundings, Alertness; stay alert to potential danger. Avoidance; If you have to move away to avoid confrontation then do so. Anticipation: Be ready if you can't avoid the problem. Action:; Act as a last resort. If you kill someone in self defense, it can be traumatic. All in all, if you think you are going into a "bad part of town", avoid it.

[@phillyphilly1076]

Great information. Another great way is to train your neck. It actually helps when your head gets rattled from a punch. I used to get hit and my whole head would hurt. I trained my neck for a month straight and now shots don’t rattle me as bad.

[@expertboxing]

It's up to you. I usually just have my neck relaxed, but not loose. When need I might firm up a bit to brace for the impact but I don't think about actually contracting my neck muscles as hard as possible.

[@expertboxing]

I definitely try to cover all the little things. It's hard to remember all the little things I had to learn when I first started.

[@nomo4u886]

Solid info this helped a lot in few personal fights of mine..

[@mark10601]

Really useful, thanks. I do some of these already but have learnt some new tricks too.

[@mohamedhassanin6054]

Thank you very much I just wanna say I changed mistakes to the correct and knew a lot of techniques from you and knew how to move my feet fast and a lot of things I am grateful for you continue man (y)

[@Ribiguurumu]

Man your videos give me hope, seriously thanks for giving us a tool we need to box

[@HiphopPosse]

Johnny is the GOAT! Thank you for all your awesome vids.

[@ElreyRayo]

thanks for sharing all your expertise!

[@expertboxing]

GREAT JOB. Do you have any videos of your fights? I'm happy for you.

[@justinvillar7008]

tnx for your videos expert boxing, it can help me in my boxing training especially in my sparring, I'm fresh in boxing world.

[@francescakray233]

Thank you, for the lesson. 🌹

[@JohnSmith-wk8be]

another awesome clip

[@expertboxing]

Inside or outside, learn every technique and master them. The shorter your arms, the more technique you need to make use of every bit of your reach.

[@cheeraman1631]

thanks for the advice, gotta prepared myself

[@GuruishMike]

Great video, thanks, man.

[@phantomdancer3279]

awesome answer bro i move all the time too and it makes it harder to hit the apponent now i will try to be more grounded.

[@expertboxing]

You are correct. The hit will be harder if you're grounded, then again... being grounded gives you a better ability to react and evade the shot...and also more power to counter back. If all you're doing is taking the shot, then it's better to be uprooted and running or falling away from the shot. If you're going to blocking, evading, or countering the shot, it's better to be grounded so you can reject or divert the energy.

[@chevnova77]

Great advice. I'm a wrestler and I'm learning boxing I'm constantly drope my chin and head and counter with over hand.

[@rysletics214]

Great explanations 👍👍 great channel

[@gegaoli]

Very helpful!

[@expertboxing]

You are too kind!

[@expertboxing]

You have my vote for this. :)

[@expertboxing]

You are correct....and this is a video about a technique that requires you to make an exception and break the rules. But yes, you can just keep your face forward and eat the punch if you want.

[@expertboxing]

Start with stretching and neck rolls. Strap a weight to your forehead and do some lifted at different angles. And if you're hardcore which takes a while to get to, you can do neck bridges...but that's excessive for most guys.

[@Jdog305Cubanito]

I learned some valuable thing's from watching this Thanks Mane

[@ramichahin2]

THANNNNNK YOU GYUS GREAT WORK

[@SuperHobbit84]

Great vid! I laughed when 1:13 came around and you simply say "just get away from it". LOL!

[@Losteys]

AWESOME VIDEO!

[@expertboxing]

Thank you for telling me! I fixed the site just now. Can you see if it works?

[@melaniearenajo6173]

Thanks for the tips mate now i can fight and dodge punch properly!! I really appreciate🥰🥰

[@expertboxing]

great news!

[@poloaasasan]

hey Johnny thanks for more awesome tips. i was wondering do u think its better to tense your neck as u roll with a punch or stay loose. ive heard conflicting views

[@kelbycondie819]

Helpful advice

[@BigRightHands]

Yes! the look away. That's it. I try to do too much to avoid the shooting right, then I get out of position, and have to start over with what got me in position in the first place. I like that. Look away, and fire back.

[@francescakray233]

Thank you. 🌹

[@malacki6554]

Also,exhaling sharply when hit in the body does help as well.

[@expertboxing]

^ best technique ever.

[@expertboxing]

This comes with time. It takes training and experience to develop these kinds of things. After a while, you develop a feel for what is too close and what is too far. Anybody can teach you how to do it but it takes time to be able to do it naturally.

[@expertboxing]

Yes it is! Did you see my latest fight?

[@BDC_STUDIOS]

Thanks

[@TeroPajunen]

Nice. THX!

[@johnnywatson4629]

good vid!

[@expertboxing]

Look up tournament event. Get the registration info and register into your weight division and class. Your trainer should be able to get all the information together for you as well.

[@Cen2050]

I don't claim to be an expert but I had a REAL tough time taking nose shots, the shock stunned me and my nose bled BAD/ My solution was SLOW exposure, light sparring with weaker, less damaging punches hit my nose. Over time my nose toughened up and didn't bleed as much. It worked for me, and a few of the friends I spar with.. I don't know if it will work for EVERYONE but it's advice that might be worth a try.

[@zohaibasif6274]

Cen2050 the thing is, you can't tighten up your nose. The cartilage is weak and I've seen people break noses if they get hit with a hard cross

[@varunrai486]

Thanks Johnny for replying to my question.............And 1 more thing ......Is that "long term damage " on your shoulder still pains.

[@boxingfocus]

Moving the head away from a punch is often called a Mexican roll; Canelo can be seen doing it vs Mosley, for example. I think the key to taking a good punch is to keep your chin down. Many boxers lift their chin up as they punch, and that's when they're vulnerable to a counter. If your chin is always down, you become very hard to hit clean. Juan Manuel Marquez is an excellent example; his forehead is usually battered and bruised at the end of a fight because he absorbs with it. Good vid.

[@gabk4955]

Hihi!Thanks for all those videos!! I have a question for you if you dont mind,Im 19 6'0f/185 lbs in average shape **its been a few weeks/month i got a new dream and im rlly minded about it i even stoped smoking for it.My question is do you think that someone who rlly want it could get in pro if he begins to train for it at 19? i got some experience in street fight but nothing more.

[@stillnessinmovement]

systema is a great place to learn how to take punches, this is good info, but the systema practice is much more thorough, it's a main part of their training. anyone wishing to take punches better might enjoy some systema cross training, especially with vladmir vasiliev or konstantin komorov. they have mad punch taking skills. thanks for posting,

[@expertboxing]

Catching punches with your elbows is a great idea.

[@CBMorrison36]

lmaooo stare at the hand.

[@expertboxing]

All the time.

[@earleofdawgz]

Do you have any videos of you boxing in a tournament or a spar?

[@diegogc6747]

@expertboxing thanx

[@keepitreal4592]

The forehead technique is very useful

[@johnnydoran7170]

Thanks for the advice as I got a fight tomorrow

[@stacknotsactbrok8356]

johnny doran did u win

[@oscard1565]

did u win

[@johnnydoran7170]

Yes got another one Wednesday

[@landlockedcroat1554]

johnny doran nice

[@muhannadalhabashi8205]

johnny doran how did it go

[@ryanpedros667]

Hey coach can you make a vid , on some technique of using south pole. mahalos

[@ramiebashir7260]

Question: do you have a video that shows how to deal with a street fighter or other kind of fighting? You know since they use their feet and all. And btw I feel very lucky to have found your channel, i'm just a normal guy who didn't use to workout much, and never took interest in boxing... All that before I found this channel about a week ago. Thanks!

[@guitarfan84]

Same question J, how to stop getting punched in the nose? A high guard? I got smacked with a hard jab from a heavyweight wearing 10 oz gloves. the cartilage in my nose still feels funny :(

[@izjerker]

how do you measure your punching in the ring? I have a hard time picking when and where to punch because i dont know my distance when i punch. Do you automatically know when? or do you have to train for it.

[@ralphmelvin1046]

This is excellent, moving with the motion of the punch. Letting the punch roll off . That's what you're basically doing that's what Muhammad Ali was able to do that's why he was able to take a punch. The toughest chin in the world and there was a little trick to it

[@expertboxing]

Yes, every now and then I feel it but it's ok. I can still fight. :)

[@amrwg6111]

not a lot of videos on this particular subject...thanks

[@justaname935]

Johnny, can you make a video or article about rolling the head under the punch? I saw it explained on this video around 5:10 TITLE BOXING - Vol 02.02 - Boxing Defensive Skills And Drills I'm curious about this technique.

[@expertboxing]

I definitely can. I will need an assistant to really show the timing, though.

[@expertboxing]

I stay calm, so as to not encourage him to throw more. And then I react, with a defensive move or a counter. As for avoiding the follow-up shots, it takes skills. If his punches get through, they get through. It's not like you can just make them go away during the fight. You have to come into the fight prepared. Training, skills, all the stuff that has to be done BEFORE you step into the ring.

[@Videoknite]

Hey can you make a video about how to hit the vital points on the body?

[@HAlGhanim98]

hi i want to thank for all your tips because of them i took two gold medals in my ametur tournaments the thing is i'm not defeated yet because of u and training

[@expertboxing]

Yes, I can. That's coming soon!

[@gabrieljohnson161]

Fr though my jaw never hurts when I get punched but my brainnnnn

[@daneunsworth908]

you should never look away from your opponent, very dangerous

[@michaelh1067]

When shelling up in a high guard position do you tense your muscles or keep them relaxed?

[@expertboxing]

i only tense upon impact

[@expertboxing]

That is a concern but I'm not taking hard shots like that at such regular intervals that I'm worried about it. Watching how some other guys spar, I'd definitely be scared if I was them.

[@expertboxing]

You should read my website. That's a good place to start learning how to box.

[@cokiieturner1188]

Fight tips vs expert boxing a real boxing match.lets go I won't to see that fight it will be huge for KZbin not as big as ksi vs Joey but big and big$$$

[@sendlocation8476]

I’m not good at blocking so I went to a black market surgeon and installed metal plates all around my body. Best investment ever.

[@expertboxing]

hahaha wtf

[@kingcon4690]

what would you do after being caught by a big shot? usually when i get rocked my defence just goes and i get caught more, how would you avoid this?

[@TheNoahlocurto]

Knowing that, if I see a boxer has bad balance, how can I throw him of balance to get a good punch in?

[@expertboxing]

+Noah LoCurto If he's got bad balance, you only have to let him throw himself off balance. And make sure you stay in position to capitalize.

[@joshuaboryer6433]

When he/she is coming at you, don't go back, slide out to the side at an angle so you can still reach him/her then do whatever punch you want from there. If he/she tries to hit you, they have to put themselves off balance to hit.

[@Xterrorcz]

Kick him in the balls

[@24601h]

Serious question, are you not concerned with the potential for brain injury from repeated impacts. Do you ever do blood tests to detect protein NSE?

[@JT1698]

When you told us to "Move it" at the shoulder joint, i pictured you about to get a cross from a dude, then break out into that new age dubstep dance stuff.

[@expertboxing]

Hahahaha. So blunt but transformational words of wisdom.

[@Roddykay]

hi mate, i am new to boxing and get headaches if i get hit in the head. is this normal and will it improve

[@ArMiNiSfUCkinRedicK]

these simple little movements can be the difference between you going to snooze on canvas or surviving.. wudnt u also advise trying to keep ur chin tucked wenever possible rnt like alot of nerve endings on chin

[@ShaderockLouis]

Who are you because I listen to your speedback(LOL) ,I mean advice.My first feedback,but your expert spurts make sense to me.I'm training and I want to be the fastest boxer ....

[@chrisfischer232]

Usually on body shots, I cover my body with my elbows a little bit more than usual. When I see the punch coming,, I usually turn to the outside of the punch and the guy ends up hitting my elbow. This guy had bruises on his fist. Can't say the same for head shots though. My bobbing and weaving isn't that great.

[@nuggetmilk87]

Also take classes! If you have the money it’s really fun and it helps at the same time. I take jujitsu and I just started but already I’m realizing things while Watching untrained people fight saying “ooh I could have gotten you there”

[@nuggetmilk87]

Don’t just take my word for it since I just started

[@godseydavid16]

I get bullied a lot at school and am skinny and sorta clumbsy, I recently got heat up for no reason. Can you give me tips to help me defend myself. Like how to get a kinda good offence and defence?

[@Noah_2008]

Ive been thinking of doing boxing but i have low pain tolerance and probably cant take a punch, is it worth it?

[@expertboxing]

I've got tons but am too lazy to dig them up, edit them, pick a nice one for you guys etc. My focus is on training, not showing off how good or bad I am.

[@expertboxing]

It's part physical training, part mental training. Try it and see if it works.

[@ramiebashir7260]

Thanks :) but people actually create martial arts to be able to handle any kind of tough situations ... I guess that's why there is now a martial art called: kick-box. It's simply boxing plus using the feet. My friend entered a kick-box course, that's the main reason why I wanna know how to fight with my feet properly. to Finnish ... Thanks a lot for this channel :D

[@expertboxing]

Chin resistance has to do with genetics more than anything. Some guys have a bone structure that's better built for withstanding impact. But if you insist, there are neck exercises you could do.

[@kirko2889]

Beginner here. How do you take an uppercut? I figured looking down wouldn't help my case like most other punches to the head. Is there any way to soften the blow if you don't have time to block or dogde it?

[@isaiassaavedra7685]

Their is no way to roll with an uppercut like the way you can just turn your head in this vid. Only way is to "pull" go watch some of canelo pulling from uppercuts. Because either that punch is gonna hit your chin or your forehead but most likely your chin or your nose if it lands so pulling is the best way or just blocking with your hand

[@isaiassaavedra7685]

But if you are a beginner better to practice blocking first if you haven't technically it can be more safe

[@expertboxing]

It's probably normal to get headaches if you get hit in the head. Maybe you should slow down the pace a bit so you can learn before you take hard punches.

[@Gameoloupolis]

how do you prevent headaches if you have you get headaches easily

[@k54u2]

quick question how long is your reach?

[@k54u2]

i box and im 5'5 and have a reach of 62'', will i only be able to only fight on the inside