Never stand still. Use A-D-A-D strafing combined with occasional W-tapping (releasing W briefly after each hit) to reset your sprint and extend your knockback.
For players seeking a break from combat, Eagle Craft features hundreds of parkour courses. 1.8.8’s precise movement physics (no weird step-up changes from newer versions) make it the definitive version for difficult parkour maps. The "Pit" is a chaotic, free-for-all deathmatch where players drop into an abyss and fight to be the last one standing.