I know I'm going to get flamed to high heaven for posting this, but I have the bad habit of flinching during sparring.

Basically, when I get in close to someone during sparring, I have a tendency to flinch a lot. Any advice?

Right before you spar, drop your hands, present your head and tell the guy to hit you. Do this about 5 times. You'll realize you have nothing to be afraid of.

This method also works if you're sparring a guy afraid to hit you.

Actually I agree with evemas. That does sound like a very good way. I flinch every now and then during sparring, any time I do I usually tend to start working on dodge and covering up. Basically, I step up close and concentrate on keeping myself covered and dodge as need. Usually, if my partner opens up I'll hit back with a hook but the point of it is to put yourself into a position where you know your going to be hit. Then, instead of flinching and worrying about getting hit concentrate on actively dodging and keeping yourself covered. This should give your mind something to work. Also, when you get better at it you won't even really be thinking about the dodging and covering you'll only be feeling for that retalitory hook ;)

One day your coach will connect with a solid headkick or other power shot and everything else won't be so bad in comparison.

Other than that, develop better footwork and practice throwing strikes and keeping the pressure up to prevent the other guy from overwhelming you. This only comes through lots and lots of practice. I still have problems with it but I find they go away when I start returning fire instead of tensing up and defending.

Aside from sparring (which is the best thing), let your eyes unfocus a bit. I'm not quite sure why this works, bit it does. This will also keep you from telegraphing with your eyes.

sixth-ing the 'get hit more' idea.

Spar more. That's all that works.

When you see a punch start coming, PUNCH. It is too hard to explain in words, but the body mechanics is such that if you are punching the other person can not connect with a punch. I know that this may not sound like it make sense in words, but in person I could show you.

The best defense is a good counter attack.

Strike on the same side that you opponent is attacking, and strike his arm on the way in, it deflects his punch (and hurts if you do it right).

You won't flinch if you are attacking.

Practice the movement with a partner with light contact at first and then build up speed.

Besides, seventh-ing the "take 5 shots w/your hands down approach" (which is something we actually do in my gym as part of class occasionally), I say you should really work hard on keeping your chin down. This is good advice for a whole bunch of reasons, but I personally flinch alot more when I'm on my heels w/my chin up.

there's always good old sanchin dachi.

there's always good old sanchin dachi.
Yeah stand there looking like you've got to pee, that should help... LOL

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/4683/sanchindachi1zh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

i was refering to the testing that goes with it. ie, stand there, no flinching, no blinking while people throw punches in your face and kick you in the stomach, etc.

Flinches are weird, man. But trying to out-think it is imho a waste of time. Why? Because intellectually we already know it's nothing to be afraid of. It's Lizard Brain that hasn't gotten the message.

I recommend the following: have somebody wail on you bigtime. You're allowed to scoot around, but can never go out of range. Mean-time, whenever you flinch, have another buddy hit you with a stick.

Not much fun, but it worked for me.

I used to do this as well. Getting repeatedly punched and kicked in the head fixed it for me. Now, I don't flinch; I just stand there and get punched in the face.

Basically, you stop flinching when you get used to being hit. It's a simple matter of gaining more experience.

Get to lvl 60, farm some good gear and find a good gym.