The Elusive Lead: Theory
Putting Your Strong Side In Front
Bruce Lee broke with conventional training when he started teaching his students to fight with their strong side in front, usually the right side for most people.
The reason for this was that Bruce Lee felt that being able to fire hard shots with the lead hand would allow a fighter to land more solid shots while also keeping relatively guarded.
It also allows a fighter to dart in and out instead of having to stay in close with an opponent and exchange shots.
Keeping The Lead Hand Low
Bruce Lee also taught the advantages of keeping the lead hand low while fighting.
There are some positives and some negatives to this approach, which will touch on.
Offensive Considerations
As far as advantages, keeping the lead hand low puts your hand more in the periphery of your opponent, making it harder for him to see when you fire a shot.
It also allows you to fire a much wider range of shots without telegraphing your attack.
And you can get more power from the added momentum.
It also makes it easier to intercept a punch with your lead hand, using your rear hand for defense.
Defensive Considerations
The biggest disadvantage, though, of having your lead hand down is that it makes your head an easier target.
That’s why it’s usually best to be comfortable with having both hands up high before you start experimenting with keeping the lead hand low.
Develop good head movement and the ability to defend well with your rear hand first.
Then start playing with it.
Lead Hand Movement
Ultimately, you don’t want your lead hand to be static in ANY position, high or low.
It should be constantly in motion.
This makes it more unpredictable and easier to land shots at any time.
