I've never had difficulty personally, but there are a few things you can do. You can buy Sea Tea from Gerson in waterfall to increase your speed, or use the pie to lower his defense and attack. The Heart Locket from new home is a good defense, but if you're getting hit multiple times by specific attacks, the Apron might be a better choice for a defensive item, as it increases your invincibility window. Make sure you use the new home knife.