from one paranoid guitarist to another: i made my own knuckle guards with some rubber floor underlay, cut similar to a brass knuckle shape so...
this is how i was taught also. a good tip my coach used was referencing a golf swing, emulate that motion from the waist down as a golfer drives...
i do it in rounds, circle around it and stay in pretty close to work on reflexes and slipping punches, the constant movement from hands, head &...