Single kidney since birth, 40 – boxing for self-defense with light sparring. Anyone done it or coached it?

[Minimum64052]

Hi all, new here. I'm 40, 186 cm, 84 kg, with 6 years of coached weight training behind me. I don't drink, don't smoke and take no meds. I'm signing up for boxing to be able to defend myself, not to compete.

This year I found out I was born with only one kidney (the right one). It's enlarged to compensate and my labs are good (normal cystatin C and urine albumin). Doctors' general line is "case by case", so I'm looking for people with real experience.

My setup for sparring:
- 16 oz gloves, headgear, mouthguard
- Kidney/flank protection. In the photo are the options I'm comparing (Rival 360 foul protector, a lacrosse rib pad, an EvoShield rib shirt); my current favourite is the Rival 360 with D3O + a soft rib shirt + a soft rib belt on top
- Technical sparring only, ~30-50%, trusted partners my weight, coach informed
- Agreed rule: no body shots on my right side

Questions:
1. Has anyone here sparred with one kidney, or coached someone who did? How hard, how often, what gear, any scares?
2. Coaches: what rules would you put in place? Would you allow it at all?
3. Which of these protectors actually stays in place and doesn't bother sparring partners?

I'm not after "just don't do it" or medical advice. I'd like concrete experience and what you'd change. Thanks!

 

[Buka32 1]

Welcome to Martial Talk, buddy.

I have no first hand experience with the kidney issue (either first hand or with students/sparring partners) but spent several years in boxing gyms.

Trusting your trainer, the people you spar with, and your doctor is key.

I can’t comment on the protective gear without trying on all of them, I’ve only worn the one on the far left.

Maybe someone else here has some input to share.

Please keep us posted as to your progress.

 

[Marsha Larts1 1]

Hi all, new here. I'm 40, 186 cm, 84 kg, with 6 years of coached weight training behind me. I don't drink, don't smoke and take no meds. I'm signing up for boxing to be able to defend myself, not to compete.

This year I found out I was born with only one kidney (the right one). It's enlarged to compensate and my labs are good (normal cystatin C and urine albumin). Doctors' general line is "case by case", so I'm looking for people with real experience.

My setup for sparring:
- 16 oz gloves, headgear, mouthguard
- Kidney/flank protection. In the photo are the options I'm comparing (Rival 360 foul protector, a lacrosse rib pad, an EvoShield rib shirt); my current favourite is the Rival 360 with D3O + a soft rib shirt + a soft rib belt on top
- Technical sparring only, ~30-50%, trusted partners my weight, coach informed
- Agreed rule: no body shots on my right side

Questions:
1. Has anyone here sparred with one kidney, or coached someone who did? How hard, how often, what gear, any scares?
2. Coaches: what rules would you put in place? Would you allow it at all?
3. Which of these protectors actually stays in place and doesn't bother sparring partners?

I'm not after "just don't do it" or medical advice. I'd like concrete experience and what you'd change. Thanks!

I lost my left kidney and my bottom floating rib in an accident at 15 y/o. Boxed for 6 years before it happened and for more than 20 years after. Never worried about it in sparring and was only self-conscious about it once, when I did my first tuffman tourney at 17. I wore a tank top in the ring because the scar was still relatively fresh and so nasty (at least 12 inches long from front to back around my left side) I didn't think they'd let me participate - aside from the fact that I was too young for the promoter's 18+ requirement.

Did lots of full-contact competitions in various formats until I turned 40.

To answer your questions;
1 - Light to hard sparring (kick-punch-grapple-groundfight). Some serious cramping in the left abdominals at times from certain alignments.

2 - If you're right handed, you'll most likely be learning to box orthodox which will put your kidney in a 'safe zone' as long as you don't square up or switch to southpaw. But, IME, it really doesn't make you any more vulnerable injury-wise aside from the degree of enlargement that may or may not affect your comfort and/or apprehension (mental vulnerability) to protect your right side. A good coach will let you take your time and find your own level of comfort with perceived vulnerability and actual inurement to contact once you go into deeper waters with your sparring partners.

3 - Personally, I'd try it without protection if you are sparring at, as you say, 30% to 50% power. But since you mentioned that power restriction in your lead-up to your questions, 75% power is always best because it'll build your cardio, timing and a sense of "Protect yourself at all times" since you're most interested in defending yourself and not so much about pursuing boxing as a sport. Kidney shots are illegal in sportive boxing and, as with all 'dirty boxing' (elbows, knee-on-knee, pinning the foot, headbutts, chokes etc) they should only be trained with caution and without any kind of real contact or pressure.

Hope you find a good gym, and enjoy the training.

 

[Prince_Alarming97 33]

Welcome aboard, glad to have you, I can't answer any of your questions but I can wish you the very best of luck.