Anti Flinch Control Redux

( I just realized that I am wrote this 5 years to the day since my last article on anti-flinch and almost identical!,  strange.................)

 I’ve talked about this for years and cannot stress how important it is to overcome the flinch reflex.  I don’t care how good your technique is, if you haven’t mastered your flinch reflex you cannot effectively fight back.  Everyone has this reflex and must overcome it.  Literally it is the first thing I teach my students. I go through a series of steps starting with the students standing with their arms at their sides and not lifting them.  Their partner will lightly throw punches at them but never hitting them. Most punches are thrown at the face because it is most threatening.  They are not allowed to step out of the way.  Initially the student will flinch but after a while they will calm down and observe the punches. Next, I teach them a center weighted stance, not a blade stance.  This way they can transfer their weight onto either leg without difficulty.   Their arms are still at their sides the partner punches again at the face but this time lightly touching it.  Now the student must slowly shift their weight to avoid the punches, all the while paying absolute attention to the punches and not blocking them, just slipping them in a small motion. Gradually we do this faster and with more intent but if the student is flinching then you take it down a notch.
This teaches you how to distance yourself in a fight, how far you can stand out of range and be able to counter.  Most people, when slipping a punch move much farther than they need to avoid it and then have to cover a great distance to strike back. This obviously puts you behind in the action. When you can continuously keep your eyes on the opponent and succinctly move back and forth while keeping your opponent in range you begin to develop an entire new attitude.  It’s freedom.  Now you are choosing when to strike, clearly, no panic, just cold observation.  If you don’t master this then you are moving at your opponent’s whim and not your own.  Any good fighter can read this.  In the classic Musashi story when the two samurais meet on the bridge they can both instantly see that the other is skilled and not going to back down.  Their presence is known to each other immediately.  An amateur wouldn’t see this It’s clear this is going to be difficult they respectfully both back off.
I have seen fights where an unskilled person is threatening a stranger.  The stranger doesn’t panic, he moves and observes quietly, still as deep water and if the time comes, strikes.  You cannot do this if you cannot properly assess your opponent’s abilities.  If you are flinching, you are lost. I’ve taught this for decades and discussed it with both Teddy Atlas and Bas Rutten when I worked on shows with them.  Bas has an excellent video on this so find it on YouTube, it is worth your time.
Once you control your flinching, then you must control your stance. Stance or horse development is incredibly important in martial arts and sadly many MMA fighters do not work on this. Good stance/balance development will serve you your entire life.  Up next.