Here is a hard core way of overcoming the problem. I am sure I will be bombarded with objections; so please realize that his might not be for everyone.
Step #1: Sit in quiet meditation, and visualize a slew of punches coming at you. Make it as vivid as you can. Visualize yourself getting "wailed on," falling to the ground, but getting back up again unharmed. [It may work better to have someone, partner or instructor, voice guide you through scenarios of you getting wailed on while you have your eyes close]. If you are doing this correctly, your imagination should be so vivid that you feel that same anxiety when someone does it for real; you should almost want to freeze right then, even though your only visualizing.
#2 Now picture in your head the different ways that you would counter someone bombarding you with combos.
#3 Practice by "slow sparring." Have someone bombard you but in a very slow and controlled manner. You then practice your counters at the same pace. This will help you to experiment with what might work without the danger of actually getting hit if your technique falls short.
#4 Once you have a few counters that work really well in place, go back to visualizing/meditation. Repeat #1, except this time instead of falling to the ground and getting back up unharmed, you are successfully countering the persons technique. Practice all the counters in your head over and over again.
#5 Now, with a trusted partner, stand with you hands behind your back, with a mouth guard, head gear, and a cup. Your partner is going to punch and kick at your head, legs, and body as fast and as hard as he can, but he won't actually touch you. He will practice bombarding you in the same way that makes you feeze. You will practice dealing with your feelings. Your are to get to a point where you are not flinching, and you are visualizing your counters as he is attacking you.
#6 Once you are successful w/ #5, repeat #5, except this time your partner is actually going to make contact. Light at first. This should build however to where you feel his strikes. He should have pads on, by the way. He shouldn't strike as hard as he can to invoke injury, but it should sting. You should feel it. Yet, you should be practicing your visualizing of counters, and making your body "harder" so that his strikes will sting less.
#7 When you no longer feel like freezing after #6, take a break, then do it again. Eccept this time bind your hands behind your back. Now you will have no control, and you will be at the mercy of your partner. You will have to deal with anxiety when you are not in control over the situation. Still visualize making your body "hard", and still visualize your counters.
#8 Now, go back to "slow sparring," where he practices his "bombarding" on you. Except this time, speed it up gradually. Tell your partner that 1 is slow sparring speed, and 10 is full out as fast as he can go. Start with 1. Then after 2 minutes or so, go to 3. Then 5. Then 7. Then 9. Then all out (10). At this point, you are going all out. He should be attempting to bombard you. Your body/mind should be conditioned at this point were you are now reacting the way that you want to, rather then freezing up. You have just reconditioned your body/mind, and this should maintain for the rest of your days.
So, try the above. Each step might only take 10-20 minutes, so in theory you can cure this in a day. However, rushing it isn't necissary, Quality is more important. You should be comfortable at each step before moving on, but don't get so caught up in each step that you are afraid of failing if you move on too quickly. Just get comfortable, then go on; keep it simple. The longest it should take anyone if they do this strictly is a few weeks. [This is of course provided that the "counters" to this sort of thing are in place already from you system. If they aren't I'd suggest finding a different system or teacher. Regardless, if they aren't you have some research to do, so it might take longer].
Trust me...this works. Have fun. If any of you try this method, let me know how it works for you!
