Worth it to Compensate?
- Thread starter Telfer
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All the training I've ever done has emphasised doing everything off both sides, kicks are done with left and right leg plus back and front leg so you can always kick whatever your position. Kicks off the front leg aren't as powerful as kicks off the back but they are still good kicks.We train to fight off left and right stance. It also keeps your body balanced and its definitely worth training both sides.
Controversial POV here... No matter how much you work your non-dominant side, it will still be second best. You should spend time being able to use your non-dominant side, but devote the lions share of your training to your default side. Time spent trying to bring your non-dom side up to speed is time not spent getting better with your more natural side.
just my .02
just my .02
Wey
Green Belt
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I think it is foolish to not train your weaker side. Sure, it may never get as strong as your dominant side, but why would you want one side of your body to be so weak that it's almost useless? Why not have both sides of your body be reliable, maybe not equally, but reliable none the less? So yes, I do train both sides. If I punch with my left hand I want to know it's going to be effective and not like a pea hitting my opponent.
Nolerama
Master Black Belt
I'd rather be a specialist with a dominant side and compensate with footwork and different technique when the weaker side is involved. That doesn't mean I won't train the weaker side; I just won't train them the exact same way.
There are two different answers being given here because posters are operating from two different points of view.
You should ALWAYS work to be proficient with your basic skills and weapons on both sides of the body. But there is considerable debate in some technique based systems, like Kenpo, whether all technique combinations should be practiced on both sides. As SD mentioned, your non-dominant side will never be as proficient as your dominant side. In systems like Kenpo, techniques are taught to address a complete range of threats (at least, theoretically) so that the practitioner has a technique to deal with a given threat on both sides of the body (E.g. Right Lapel Grab-Delayed Sword, Left Lapel Grabe-Lone Kimono).
I like to think that practicing your techniques on both sides is extra time spent studying the art/system and is not a wasted effort. It develops enhances coordination and adds tools to your toolbox.
Practice All Basics and Strikes on Both Sides: Definitely!
Practice All Technical Combinations on Both Sides: Depends
Joel
You should ALWAYS work to be proficient with your basic skills and weapons on both sides of the body. But there is considerable debate in some technique based systems, like Kenpo, whether all technique combinations should be practiced on both sides. As SD mentioned, your non-dominant side will never be as proficient as your dominant side. In systems like Kenpo, techniques are taught to address a complete range of threats (at least, theoretically) so that the practitioner has a technique to deal with a given threat on both sides of the body (E.g. Right Lapel Grab-Delayed Sword, Left Lapel Grabe-Lone Kimono).
I like to think that practicing your techniques on both sides is extra time spent studying the art/system and is not a wasted effort. It develops enhances coordination and adds tools to your toolbox.
Practice All Basics and Strikes on Both Sides: Definitely!
Practice All Technical Combinations on Both Sides: Depends
Joel
I will go against the majority of the views stated and go with the need to be good with both sides. Reason? If you train your non-dominant side it will make your dominant side better. Don't care why, but it works. Plus, if you get an injury to your dominant side you still have your non-dominant. This is what happened to me last year.
Every time we work a technique we alternate between sides. It's a simple matter of not knowing from which side the attack is going to come from. If you are at least moderately proficient with your non-dominant side you'll still be able to survive the initial attack (and hopefully be proficient enough to end it with that side as well) instead of just being able to flail up a block of some sort.
Milt G.
Purple Belt
Hello...
I have always practiced 25-30% more "reps" of whatever on my weak side. It never catches up with my strong side, but my weak side is much stronger then it once was.
I think it is helpful, and continue to train that way. Anything you can do to enhance your skills and abilities is never a waste of time IMO. And my "weak" side, was just that.
Good topic, thank you.
Milt G.
Well all I can say is what I do and what works for me. For some reason my left side is better at some things than my right side. I am right handed and footed. However I like to put my strong side foward due to it being easier to catch my opponent with the strong side closest. Much faster to me. Because I have been doing this for years, I natrually got better with my left side being the power side as that side would always be back. So my reverse punches, off the line or back leg round kicks all come from the left side. This also keeps most of my opponents open as most are right handed and legged. By being open I can attack the body when offensive and counters go to the back.
So yes you should train both sides but they will be used differently.
So yes you should train both sides but they will be used differently.
still learning
Senior Master
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Hello, Bruce Lee had on leg longer than the other...by birth...so he train his longer leg to be the power...that is why his right leg is in the front and closest to the tarket....
Yet..it was a good idea to train both sides....(unless golfing,bowling,football? ..baseball lots of guys hit opposite sides depending on the Pitchers, etc..
Aloha,.
Yet..it was a good idea to train both sides....(unless golfing,bowling,football? ..baseball lots of guys hit opposite sides depending on the Pitchers, etc..
Aloha,.
I practice both sides equally from the start. There is nothing worse than getting it down with one side and then you are called upon to swap it round. It dont take long to get things pretty even both sides. Even power is no real issue with me. Both are equally weak! hahaha, only jokin. If I had to throw a left for some reason the punchee/kickee would get a shock from the puncher/kicker. I also like to swap about sides when sparring. Some people will copy you, some will stay, some will get all confused.
IMO, I dont think its a waste of time. Actually, I've commented on training the opposite side, with many of the Kenpo techniques. In my current school, it is required that all techs. be done left and right side. IMO, I think this is good. While the majority of people may be right handed, and while left side techs. are taught as well, I havent seen many weapon techs done lefty.
Brother John
Senior Master
I agree. It's not as important to be able to do every technique equally on both sides, but I think it's important to try. The process, I think, is very beneficial to anyone's training. However, when it comes to practical application in combat (Which always happens at ramming speed) we'll use what works best from where we are in the moment, and almost always with the dominant limb. BUT Trying to become ambidextrous is very good for our overall training.
Your Brother
John
Cirdan
Senior Master
I train my body, I would no sooner neglect my left side than I would my legs in favor of my arms.
I was ambidextrous as a child, though I was forced to choose a hand and now write with my right. I train both sides equally, though I've noticed some differences in them. Kicks with my left leg are more accurate; my right is more powerful. In sparring, being able to fight with either side forward is often an advantage over one-sided fighters. When you're old and rickety (like me) it also helps to be able to switch sides to rest your legs.
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