There are three things you can do to avoid a punch. You can block it. You can slip it, or you can jam it before it lands.

To avoid a punch, you can block it. You block every punch coming your way. If your opponent tries to hit you in the face, you execute an upward block to avoid being hit in the face. If your opponent tries to land a punch to your body, you execute an inner or outer block to deflect the punch away from it. If your opponent tries to hit you below the belt, you execute a downward block that redirects his punch away from your groin area to avoid being hit there. Wherever your opponent aims his attack, you meet him there with your blocking defense.

Another way to avoid a punch is to slip it. Simply put: You evade it. You get out of the way of his attack. When a freight train is heading your way, do you stand there and take its full impact? No. You get out of the way. The same thing applies when you slip a punch. You also get out of the way. So the next time someone tries to hit you in the face or body with a punch, don't just stand there. Do something: Get out of the way! Slip his punch by doing one of three things: (1.) Take a big step away from the punch with your trailing foot, (2.) bend your knees and duck under the punch-this is know as "bobbing and weaving" in boxing; or (3.) bend your upper body to the left or right at a somewhat of a 45 degree angle to get away from the punch.

Still a third way to avoid a punch is to jam your opponents attack before he can fully execute it. The best way that I can think of to describe this technique is for you to imagine that someone is busy texting a friend while walking down the street. You yourself are walking towards him in the opposite direction. Being attentive, you see a deep yet narrow hole before him that he is about to step into. As he begins to step, you hurriedly step in towards him just in time with fully extended arms, pushing him back, to prevent him from stepping into the hole and falling down the shaft. This is a perfect example of jamming-keeping your opponent from doing what he is in the process of doing. You stop him before he can hit you. And you do this by stiff arming him with a single or double palm strike to the chin, chest, shoulder, or whatever area of his body to prevent him from fully executing his punch.

So the next time someone tries to sucker punch you, remember to block it, slip it, or jam it.