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Andy runs a tight ship at Team Kaobon in Atherton, England. For the elder Aspinall, the secret has always been not to get hit. Andy revealed that he has been working on Tom’s defense since he was a kid. Tom has passed on the tradition to his own kids, who are now good at evading shots. Andy says that he wouldn’t have advised Tom to venture into MMA if he had seen him getting hit early. Andy’s concern and sincerity about defense isn’t limited to his son but extends to everyone in the gym.
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Andy Aspinall: Evasive Skills Are Essential in MMA
“The secret is not to get hit,” Andy said on YouTube. “When he was a kid, that was what it was all about. His kids now, you touch them and they just [dodge]. So you teach them very early, don’t let them touch you. That was paramount in what he had to learn. So it was about being quick — you’ve got to move your head fast, you gotta move your legs fast. So it’s always been about trying to enjoy it and trying to be good at it.
“If he wasn’t good at it, I’m not stupid, and if he got hit in the head a lot, he would’ve fallen out, and I’d have said go and do it, and you’ll end up not too happy when you get older. You can’t get punched in the head all the time. For everybody in the gym, we don’t want any of them getting punched. So we train a lot on evading being punched.”
Despite packing over 250 pounds, Aspinall is known for his speed and agility as a heavyweight. After nearly a year of hunting Jon Jones, Aspinall was recently promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champ after “Bones” announced his retirement. “Honey Badger” is now scheduled to defend his title against Ciryl Gane (13-2) in the main event at UFC 321 on Oct. 25 at the Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Tom Aspinall’s father reveals how not getting hit became the foundation of Tom’s style 🧠🫡
“The secret is not to get hit. When he was a kid, that was what it was all about. His kids, you touch them and they just [dodge]. So you teach them very early, don’t let them touch you.… pic.twitter.com/Pz7YutY1BB
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 31, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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