tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post8655765430343383221..comments2023-10-22T16:13:55.130+01:00Comments on My journey to black belt: Karate provides ambidextrous trainingSue Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-30909451338642606212012-11-29T17:22:13.158+00:002012-11-29T17:22:13.158+00:00Thank you ChariceThank you ChariceSue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-52714381224585968852012-11-29T00:26:50.726+00:002012-11-29T00:26:50.726+00:00Such a great and informative post about karate tra...Such a great and informative post about karate training. This will really help people who masters karate! Thumbs up for this!Charicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-83215379391777370782010-09-03T11:36:50.055+01:002010-09-03T11:36:50.055+01:00Hi Journeyman, I take your point that most people ...Hi Journeyman, I take your point that most people are right handed and therefore most attacks will be received from the right hand side. I'll have to talk to my instructor about why left handed techniques are introduced so late in the syllabus and get back to you :-)<br /><br />Hi Matt, I was sparring with a left hander in class on Wednesday, without initially realising they were left handed. By the time I'd worked it out they'd landed a few punches on me! <br /><br />Handedness is a strange and incomplete thing. Though I am predominantly right handed I can only iron clothes in a left handed manner and I am left legged for kicking a ball! My right handed son can only use a knife and fork the left handed way as well. Strange but true! :-)Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-25507435034894197162010-09-03T04:44:51.054+01:002010-09-03T04:44:51.054+01:00Let me say first, I am left-handed. It has provide...Let me say first, I am left-handed. It has provided me with a huge advantage in the martial arts over time. First, since most of your opponents are right handed and normally face right-handed opponents, they are not ready for a southpaw. Second, since you have trained in the mostly right-handed world of martial arts, you become ambidextrous faster than a right-hander. In Kenpo, most of our forms are mirror-image, using both sides, so that has helped.<br /><br />Keep in mind that as a left hander you are susceptible to an overhand right by a right hander. It is really hard to see. As a right-hander, you are likely to get hit by a left-handers jab. Loved the post Sue.SenseiMattKleinhttp://karate-kids.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-45950081614177936062010-09-02T05:56:23.591+01:002010-09-02T05:56:23.591+01:00I can't agree more that it's important to ...I can't agree more that it's important to train both sides. I have done so from the beginning. I found it interesting that some styles of Jiu Jitsu are only practiced right handed. I have not run into this yet in my travels. Sue, do you know why your style doesn't introduce left handed techniques until 2nd dan?<br /><br />I'm still on the fence about equal training on both sides. I'm more of the opinion that you should train proportionately based on the most likely attack. And most people are right handed, therefore most attacks are received from this side.<br /><br />Having said that, I've sometimes found that new and challenging techniques are easier with the off hand. No ingrained bad habits, I imagine.Journeymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146093025259375890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-49883461435025761822010-09-01T11:51:44.982+01:002010-09-01T11:51:44.982+01:00Hi Frank, I've just discovered that my nunchuc...Hi Frank, I've just discovered that my nunchuck manipulations are not as controlled on the left side as the right, so like you I need to work more on the left side :-)Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-72219490186198872782010-08-31T19:59:20.724+01:002010-08-31T19:59:20.724+01:00In Isshinryu, my instructor is constantly saying, ...In Isshinryu, my instructor is constantly saying, "Whatever we do with the right, we also do with the left," so we focus on training both sides. In my own solo practice, I try to train more with the left side, since that's my non-dominant side. It's a little more stubborn, but gradually, it comes along. :-)Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00864581044857425565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-74012599665082181252010-08-30T09:17:27.655+01:002010-08-30T09:17:27.655+01:00Hi Marie, have you ever tried doing a kata left ha...Hi Marie, have you ever tried doing a kata left handed? Now that's a real challenge!<br /><br />Felicia, with my kobudo training most of the techniques are done right handed (apart from manipulation and blocks). I expect this is because my kobudo training is done at my jujitsu club rather than my karate club.<br /><br />Dan, I hadn't thought of that but now that you mention it my left side breakfall is better than my right!Sue Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16008609198511182782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-88165658922421782532010-08-29T23:55:41.487+01:002010-08-29T23:55:41.487+01:00Hi Sue
Thanks for the plug. I'd add that in ...Hi Sue<br /><br />Thanks for the plug. I'd add that in our jiu-jitsu sometimes the asymmetry goes the other way, resulting in enhanced skills on the left, and this also contributes to evening up of physical development.<br /><br />E.g. Right-handed throws lead to left-handed breakfalls. Since most throws are right-handed *everyone* ends up with a better left-side breakfall.Dan Pragerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234352019207324148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-15713315588121953622010-08-29T22:05:47.891+01:002010-08-29T22:05:47.891+01:00Like you and Marie, we train both sides equally as...Like you and Marie, we train both sides equally as well. My sensei and a few of my training partners are lefties and I always forget that when we are sparing! They all see it as a huge advantage - and I can understand why...<br /><br />For me, difficulties with my "other good (left) side" are most apparent when I am working the bo. Right-side forward techniques still feel a bit strange, but I try to now do new techniques on that side first so it can "teach" my strong side what to do. I forces me to think about it, which is a good thing, I think.<br /><br />Great post, Sue. Thanks for the food for thought :-)Feliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017194727231120284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7361443425638782419.post-15501729746284517452010-08-29T20:02:33.400+01:002010-08-29T20:02:33.400+01:00Ditto on the training both sides equally for us to...Ditto on the training both sides equally for us too. I definitely noticed a big difference between my left handed and right handed techniques (I'm right handed) when I first started training. Elbow strikes on the left side particularly always felt really clunky and uncomfortable. I'm finally starting to feel more comfortable on that side though so the deficit is much less now.<br /><br />xMx.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03272574764983174076noreply@blogger.com