Avoid being hit, by not being there
While sparring, Sensei Darren and Sensei Lynton anticipate one another, to avoid being hit or minimize the effect of the attack.
Body evasion (tai-sabaki), is the tactic of getting out of the way of an opponent's attack. It sounds like an obvious thing to do, but the pressure of combat makes it hard to do well.
Bobbing, weaving, ducking and shuffling out of the way (whatever we want to call it) allows repositioning. That evasion combined with a counter-strike primes the devastating and decisive response that would end the encounter.