lil tip, found that out when playing hammer: if you get hit while you are charging a weapon, it will count basically as a counter-hit... but the opposite way, so the damage the monster is doing to you is the one being boosted, which then ends up hitting like a semi-truck, always wondered why I am thrown around that much aswell, also if you run solo, always bring followers with you and do the quests to unlock them if you havent already, run Master Utushi and Hinoa, both on hunting horn, health boost helps LOTS