Here is how you learn to take blows, by inviting a fellow fighter to actually punch into you. This calls for tremendous stamina, and of course, it is not a play thing. You are seriously taking blows. If it is not an experienced fighter, a rank beginner, there are chances that he will put more power than form into the blows, thus actually creating more focus by helping you learn and ward off blows that are coming helter-skelter. In fact, before even entering an actual fight, my suggestion is, take a blow or two by a fellow fighter. That puts you into another mind frame altogether. The adrenaline is already flowing. Your hyperviglance goes up.  You are in form.
More on this soon..