Become Fighter
Changing levels to the body: Boxing guide
Drop the hips, not the head, to reach the ribs and the liver.
Body shots drain stamina, drop the guard and set up the head. Landing them cleanly means changing your level. You bend the knees and drop the hips so the shot comes up from below, with your head off the centre line.
The common mistake is to bend at the waist. That puts your face where their knee or uppercut lands. You go down with the legs, keep your back straight and your eyes on the target.
Key points
- Bend the knees, not the waist. The spine stays long.
- Move the head off the centre line as you drop, usually outside their lead shoulder.
- The liver sits under the right ribs. For an orthodox opponent, the lead hook to the body hits it.
- Aim for the soft area under the elbow when their guard is high.
- Come back up with your hands up. The exit is where you are most exposed.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Bending at the waist and dropping the head. Bend the knees. Imagine sitting back into a chair.
- Looking at the floor. Keep your eyes forward on the target. You need to see the counter.
- Reaching up to the face straight after. Mix it up. Go to the head only when the body shots have earned the opening.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Body attack and inside fighting module of Boxing fundamentals.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Body attack and inside fighting
- Head and body combinations: Boxing guide
- Short punches on the inside: Boxing guide
- Clinching and breaking: Boxing guide
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.