If you were attacked and your opponent was in range, would you be able to dodge the punch? Could you get out of the way before it made contact?
Do you think you could be successful at dodging a punch?
My answer to the above question? Not At That Distance
What some people call dodging a punch, I call "turning off." I also refer to it as passing the hit.
Do you practice pivoting your body, to reduce the force of the blow?
Punching Exercises
Imagine standing squared off against a practice partner. You are both in neutral positions – neither foot is in a lead position.
Suddenly, your partner punches with his or her left fist toward the right side of your chest. In the exercise, you are invited to pivot your right side back, so your partner's fist goes whooshing by.
Ideally, your partner's fist completely misses any contact with your body or just barely grazes it as it flies past.
Does the above sound like a good exercise to practice?
Have you practiced this way in the past?
Do you start from a distance where your partner is close enough to hit without stepping in?
I do not practice this way.
Practice At a Better Distance
If your partner is close enough to hit without stepping, then I would not advise you passing his punch.
Why?
You do not have time.
If the person facing you does not telegraph technique – in other words does not accidently move the body before the punch – then you do not have a chance. You will not be able to turn off in time.
The punch will come in quickly. Too fast for your response.
Turning off works fine, if you have enough distance and / or time to respond. For example, passing a slow punch could definitely work to your advantage.
But if your opponent has a fast punch, the hit will be in and out before you even start to respond.