Left forwards.

[Tvebak]

I just spoke to my uncle who was a boxer in his youth, and he told me that the reason that boxers usually have their left side forwards is because of the way the internal organs is situated in the body, í have heard the same from Xingyi people.
Anyone of you know if this is true?

[apoweyn]

Um, I'm no physiologist (and I may be about to prove that in spades), but aren't we pretty close to symmetrical?

The conventional explanation for the left-side lead is to keep the power hand in the back where it can generate even more power. Since most people are right handed, most boxers are left lead.


Stuart B.

[Shooter]

Well, Apoweyn, you might wanna consider how much less coverage the rib-cage offers the liver on the right than on the left.

[Kristoffer]

Never heard of it.. Sounds interesting

[Xebsball]

I had not heard that theory, but im just a begginer.

I put my left in front cos im a lefty in legs and righty in hands.
So this way i am keeping my best balance and can kick with my front leg.

[Shooter]

Kristoffer, the liver's left lobe is much smaller than the right and the dividing line between right and left lobes falls in line with the sternum. The right lobe is positioned lower in the troso cavity, making it more vulnerable to strikes.

If you place the middle finger-tip of your right hand on the tip of your sternum and let your hand lay horizontal on your abdomen, the area that your hand covers is roughly the spot where liver-shots are most likely to put an opponent down. If the opponent goes backward or to the side as they're struck, they're usually ok. If they drop or lean forward as the strike lands or immediately after it lands, they'll be out of comission for a few minutes.

[Tvebak]

I dont think that the liver thing is the only reason that people fight with the left forwards...but it may be part of the reason, and a reason that people maybe have forgotten in some places, i spoke to one of my friends who is a pro boxer, and he never heard of it...
Actually he said that the only reason he fight with the left forwards is because hes teacher told him to...no explanation.

[Budokan]

Jeez. How some people over analyze things.

Right-handed boxers lead with the left so their power hand is in back. Vice versa for southpaws.

Life can sometimes be so simple.

[Shooter]

...the original question asked whether the position of the organs has anything to do with the idea of leading left...

Protecting the liver may be incidental to the purpose, budokan. But it was something one of my old boxing coaches pointed out to me as well.

[IronFist]

Originally posted by Tvebak
I just spoke to my uncle who was a boxer in his youth, and he told me that the reason that boxers usually have their left side forwards is because of the way the internal organs is situated in the body, í have heard the same from Xingyi people.
Anyone of you know if this is true?

I've never thought of that before. Very interesting!

IronFist

[Former castleva]

That liver thing sounds reasonable.

[scotty1]

The liver thing does sound reasonable.

But it seems like too much of a coincidence to me that best positioning for the liver also coincides with best position for right handed people.

[apoweyn]

Shooter,

I wasn't aware of that. Cheers. I think I'll remain a right leader, all the same. But that's very interesting.


Stuart B.

[IronFist]

Originally posted by scotty1
The liver thing does sound reasonable.

But it seems like too much of a coincidence to me that best positioning for the liver also coincides with best position for right handed people.

How? I mean, there was a 50% chance of this being the case

IronFist

[SevenStar]

Interesting....This is something khun kao should probably comment on. I haven't heard that one either, but I have heard that the plum when done correctly creates presure on some meridian that corresponds to the bladder, and the knee strikes are directed at the bladder, which causes serious damage in an opponent. I dunno how true it is, but it's interesting nonetheless.