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Article
By Doc - Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:49:41 GMT
Originally Posted at: KenpoTalk
====================
”The Ambidexterity Myth”
Over the years there have been significant misconceptions
regarding the efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal
of discussion exists relative to whether forms performances, and
self-defense techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in
teaching and training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor
himself. Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking
into the concept and reached some rather interesting conclusions
in our own research and discussions.
As a forms example, in most versions of Ed Parker’s Short Form
Two, it does indeed include the physical left side in its right side
presentation. But, it is still considered, by Ed Parker’s definition,
to be the right side, or what he quietly called right side brain
dominant. However you do not reverse the synaptic and
cerebellar pathway responsibilities for movement until the mirror
image is performed.
This is what Parker meant by left side. The physical left is only
motion or movement, but the true left side is an opposite or
reversal of brain dominance and control. Thus all forms
encompass in some manner right and left side, but to begin from
the opposite side or mirror image reverses all mental functions
and changes muscle response significantly enough to have
significant influence on function.
Whether this is necessary in teaching is dependent on how you
teach or train. Ed Parker created a series of conceptually right-
handed techniques. He himself was not ambidextrous, nor what
he working to become that way. His goal was physical
competency in the physical interaction of the activity. And those
who borrow sport concepts like cross training seem to put more
value into ambidexterity than those who concentrate on self-
defense as he did.
Although in his commercial schools he encouraged left & right
training for a variety of reasons, he recognized in self defense,
competence was more important than performing left and right
equally well. He knew that practicing both sides can yield
benefits, but he also knew right & left would never be equal.
Either way the operative phrase is mirror image execution, to
activate both sides of the brain to create balance in any kind of
physical training.
In Ed Parker’s self-defense philosophy however, training should
be based on a curriculum of well thought out systematically
principled and progressive techniques. The mechanisms inherent
in the process are designed to emphasize situational effectiveness
with ambidexterity irrelevant to function. Movements should be
performed on both sides to demonstrate effective basic skills
generated by both sides of the brain with their own unique
synaptic pathways. But, self-defense techniques are about
competence and effectiveness within the sequence first, and
emphasis must be place there as a top priority.
Of course basic skills should be raised to an acceptable level of
effectiveness, but the goal of balance in the execution of self-
defense techniques in their mirror image is unnecessary, time
consuming, and not physically possible when it comes to equity.
The teachers who preach this both sides technique execution
perspective themselves are not equally proficient on both sides.
Most traditional styles and disciplines and even western boxing
have techniques and moves used only from the left or right side.
Most styles promote a left side forward to allow use of the right
(strong) hand and leg from the rear. Even when the techniques
change they still favor the right side. Even in those schools that
promote equal side proficiency it is never, nor is it possible to be
actually achieved.
The reasons it is not possible are physiological involving a mental
interaction with the body’s ability to perform. Each side of the
body is controlled by opposite sides of the brain. For example,
when learning a left kick, a synaptic pathway must be created or
established through the right side of the brain and vice versa. No
matter how you train, the left and right pathways will never be
identical in function. Even though the two sides of the brain
function together, they do not have identical ways of performing
the same function. They may produce identical physical
movement, but how the movements are produced and controlled
from the brain are very different.
Additionally the human body is not mathematically symmetrical in
the true sense of the term. It is normal in human anatomy for
one leg or arm to be longer than the other, and even different in
diameter. Every muscle, tendon, cartilage, and even hair growth
varies from side to side. World-class athletes do not stride, jump,
throw, or move the same on both sides of the body. What is even
more interesting is when an athlete is trained to be exactly
symmetrical in their execution; it has been shown that physical
performance actually declines overall. The body may be visually
aesthetically symmetrical, but not precisely physically or
mathematically.
Most have unreasonable expectations with regard to weak side
performance. If we anticipate we can train the weak side to
perform equally with the strong, we are mistaken. Because of
how the brain works, you cannot attain the exact same degree of
skill on both sides. It would be like attempting to teach yourself
to write equally as well with both hands. You may achieve an
acceptable level on the weak side but the strong will always be
better and dominant.
Human beings have a natural physical preference to have a
dominant side that is predetermined at birth. Even in cases where
a person has activity dedicated dominance, they are always
opposite of each other. I have a student who writes on one side,
throws on the other, and still in baseball, bats opposite his
dominant throwing side. But these activities are still functionally
dedicated. He can’t write, bat, or throw equally with both. This
dominance is so strong in human behavior; it cannot be
overcome by external training.
In the Chinese Martial Science, students are taught opposite most
other later martial art disciplines with the strong side forward for
practicality. In examining the basic idea of most techniques, they
can be executed on the prescribed side or they can be executed
in what Mr. Parker, called Half Mirror Image. That is a technique
may be designed for one side attacking, however just because
the opponent uses the other side or mirror doesn’t mean you
have to react in kind with a mirror response.
The self-defense techniques Thrusting Salute and Buckling
Branch as kicking defenses are both interchangeable whether the
right or left kick is used in the attack. In Thrusting Salute the
attack is a front kick with the right leg, and you respond with the
prescribed Default Solution to that particular assault. When the
attack of a left front kick is used in Buckling Branch, the attacker
is now using the Mirror Image Assault of Thrusting Salute.
However if you respond with the Default Solution to Thrusting
Salute, you are in a Half Mirror Image Solution response. These
attacks, although mirror opposites of each other, can be
responded to with the same right handed response.
This type of training only requires one side be developed
significantly to be functional. The opposite side can and will also
be developed, but performing a different function. In another
example, in the attack for Delayed Sword (a right hand), you
defend by stepping back with the left foot and executing with
your front (right) hand. Attacking Mace (again an attacking right
hand), does just the opposite, defending by stepping back with the
right foot. Both techniques are developed independent of
each other on opposite sides of the body, but they both function
quite well with either right or left side dominance. Although all of
Parker’s interpretations of his art tend to be right-handed,
students with left-handed dominance can, and do flourish.
But no matter how well you perform in symmetrical forms, the
dominant side will always be more coordinated and controlled.
However, in a fight or confrontation of significant stress, and
given the choice, you will always have a preference for one side
over the other.
In closing, remember all interpretations of Ed Parker’s American
Kenpo should be about self-defense first. Many, specifically in
America, have confused through clever marketing, sport training
with self-defense training. Cross training and symmetrical
performance borrowed from sport training and tradition-laden
disciplines, must take a back seat to practical function and
applications in reality.
For the same reasons of symmetrical dominance, with the
addition of mechanical efficiency, please consider any passive
non-action while opposite body parts are moving as dysfunctional
in human anatomical movement, and violate this balanced
perspective of anatomical movement as well.
The Ed Parker Slap check (or pak sao in Chinese), and all its
many subcategories and functions are always in some manner
active. To achieve certain balanced skills, it is imperative that
both sides of the body be active and functional at all times, and
never ever passive.
True ambidexterity is a myth and although it is worthy of pursuit,
it should not overshadow the quest for practical application first.
They don’t fight in tournaments they compete. On the street,
right or left is irrelevant to survival. You should be capable of
using both sides of your body, but not necessarily the same nor
equal. Ed Parker was right handed, and so are the systems he
created and influenced.
Over the years there have been significant misconceptions
regarding the efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal
of discussion exists relative to whether forms performances, and
self-defense techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in
teaching and training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor
himself. Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking
into the concept and reached some rather interesting conclusions
in our own research and discussions.
As an example in the execution of "forms," in most versions of Ed
Parker’s Short Form Two, it does indeed include the physical left
side in its right side presentation. But, it is still considered, by Ed
Parker’s definition, to be the right side, or what he quietly called
right side brain dominant. However you do not reverse the
synaptic and cerebellar pathway responsibilities for movement
until the mirror image is performed.
This is what Parker meant by left side. The physical left is only
motion or movement, but the true left side is an opposite or
reversal of brain dominance and control. Thus all forms
encompass in some manner right and left side, but to begin from
the opposite side or mirror image reverses all mental functions
and changes muscle response enough to have significant
influence on function.
Whether this is necessary in teaching is dependent on how you
teach or train. Ed Parker created a series of conceptually right-
handed techniques. He himself was not ambidextrous, nor was he
working to become that way. His goal instead was physical
competency in the physical interaction of the activity. And those
who borrow sport concepts like cross training seem to put more
value into ambidexterity than those who concentrate on self-
defense as he did.
Although in his commercial schools he encouraged left & right
training for a variety of reasons, he recognized in self defense,
competence was more important than performing left and right
equally well. He knew that practicing both sides can yield
benefits, but he also knew right & left would never be equal.
Either way the operative phrase is mirror image execution, to
activate both sides of the brain to create balance in any kind of
physical training.
In Ed Parker’s self-defense philosophy however, training should
be based on a curriculum of well thought out systematically
principled and progressive techniques. The mechanisms inherent
in the process are designed to emphasize situational effectiveness
with ambidexterity irrelevant to function. Movements should be
performed on both sides to demonstrate effective basic skills
generated by both sides of the brain with their own unique
synaptic pathways. But, self-defense techniques are about
competence and effectiveness within the sequence first, and
emphasis must be place there as a top priority.
Of course basic skills should be raised to an acceptable level of
effectiveness, but the goal of balance in the execution of self-
defense techniques in their mirror image is unnecessary, time
consuming, and not physically possible when it comes to equity.
The teachers who preach this both sides technique execution
perspective themselves are not equally proficient on both sides.
Most traditional styles and disciplines and even western boxing
have techniques and moves used only from the left or right side.
Most styles promote a left side forward to allow use of the right
(strong) hand and leg from the rear. Even when the techniques
change they still favor the right side. Even in those schools that
promote equal side proficiency it is never, nor is it possible to be
actually achieved.
The reasons it is not possible are physiological involving a mental
interaction with the body’s ability to perform. Each side of the
body is controlled by opposite sides of the brain. For example,
when learning a left kick, a synaptic pathway must be created or
established through the right side of the brain and vice versa. No
matter how you train, the left and right pathways will never be
identical in function. Even though the two sides of the brain
function together, they do not have identical ways of performing
the same function. They may produce identical physical
movement, but how the movements are produced and controlled
from the brain are very different.
Additionally the human body is not mathematically symmetrical in
the true sense of the term. It is normal in human anatomy for
one leg or arm to be longer than the other, and even different in
diameter. Every muscle, tendon, cartilage, and even hair growth
varies from side to side. World-class athletes do not stride, jump,
throw, or move the same on both sides of the body. What is even
more interesting is when an athlete is trained to be exactly
symmetrical in their execution; it has been shown that physical
performance actually declines overall. The body may be visually
aesthetically symmetrical, but not precisely physically or
mathematically.
Most have unreasonable expectations with regard to weak side
performance. If we anticipate we can train the weak side to
perform equally with the strong, we are mistaken. Because of
how the brain works, you cannot attain the exact same degree of
skill on both sides. It would be like attempting to teach yourself
to write equally as well with both hands. You may achieve an
acceptable level on the weak side but the strong will always be
better and dominant.
Human beings have a natural physical preference to have a
dominant side that is predetermined at birth. Even in cases where
a person has activity dedicated dominance, they are always
opposite of each other. I have a student who writes on one side,
throws on the other, and still in baseball, bats opposite his dominant
throwing side. But these activities are still functionally
dedicated. He can’t write, bat, or throw equally with both. This
dominance is so strong in human behavior; it cannot be
overcome by external training.
In the Chinese Martial Science, students are taught opposite most
other later martial art disciplines with the strong side forward for
practicality. In examining the basic idea of most techniques, they
can be executed on the prescribed side or they can be executed
in what Mr. Parker, called Half Mirror Image. That is a technique
may be designed for one side attacking, however just because
the opponent uses the other side or mirror, doesn’t mean you
have to react in kind with a mirror response.
The self-defense techniques Thrusting Salute and Buckling Branch
as kicking defenses are both interchangeable whether the right or
left kick is used in the attack. In Thrusting Salute the attack is a
front kick with the right leg, and you respond with the prescribed
Default Solution to that particular assault. When the attack of a
left front kick is used in Buckling Branch, the attacker is now
using the Mirror Image Assault of Thrusting Salute. However if
you respond with the Default Solution to Thrusting Salute, you
are in a Half Mirror Image Solution response. These attacks,
although mirror opposites of each other, can be responded to
with the same right handed response.
This type of training only requires one side be developed
significantly to be functional. The opposite side can and will also
be developed, but performing a different function. In another
example, in the attack for Delayed Sword (a right hand), you
defend by stepping back with the left foot and executing with
your front (right) hand. Attacking Mace (again an attacking right
hand), does just the opposite, defending by stepping back with
the right foot. Both techniques are developed independent of
each other on opposite sides of the body, but they both function
quite well with either right or left side dominance. Although all of
Parker’s interpretations of his art tend to be right-handed,
students with left-handed dominance can, and do flourish.
But no matter how well you perform in symmetrical forms, the
dominant side will always be more coordinated and controlled.
However, in a fight or confrontation of significant stress, and
given the choice, you will always have a preference for one side
over the other.
In closing, remember all interpretations of Ed Parker’s American
Kenpo should be about self-defense first. Many, specifically in
America, have confused through clever marketing, sport training
with self-defense training. Cross training and symmetrical
performance borrowed from sport training and tradition-laden
disciplines, must take a back seat to practical function and
applications in reality.
For the same reasons of symmetrical dominance, with the
addition of mechanical efficiency, please consider any passive
non-action while opposite body parts are moving, as
dysfunctional in human anatomy. This too violates the balanced
perspective of anatomical movement as well.
The Ed Parker Slap check (or pak sao in Chinese), and all its
many subcategories and functions are always in some manner
active. To achieve certain balanced skills, it is imperative that
both sides of the body be active and functional at all times, and
never ever passive.
True ambidexterity is a myth and although it is worthy of pursuit,
it should not overshadow the quest for practical application first.
They don’t fight in tournaments they compete. On the street,
right or left is irrelevant to survival. You should be capable of
using both sides of your body, but not necessarily the same nor
equal. Ed Parker was right handed, and so are the systems he
created and influenced.
Read More...
------------------------------------
KenpoTalk.com Post Bot - Kenpo Feed
By Doc - Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:49:41 GMT
Originally Posted at: KenpoTalk
====================
”The Ambidexterity Myth”
Over the years there have been significant misconceptions
regarding the efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal
of discussion exists relative to whether forms performances, and
self-defense techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in
teaching and training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor
himself. Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking
into the concept and reached some rather interesting conclusions
in our own research and discussions.
As a forms example, in most versions of Ed Parker’s Short Form
Two, it does indeed include the physical left side in its right side
presentation. But, it is still considered, by Ed Parker’s definition,
to be the right side, or what he quietly called right side brain
dominant. However you do not reverse the synaptic and
cerebellar pathway responsibilities for movement until the mirror
image is performed.
This is what Parker meant by left side. The physical left is only
motion or movement, but the true left side is an opposite or
reversal of brain dominance and control. Thus all forms
encompass in some manner right and left side, but to begin from
the opposite side or mirror image reverses all mental functions
and changes muscle response significantly enough to have
significant influence on function.
Whether this is necessary in teaching is dependent on how you
teach or train. Ed Parker created a series of conceptually right-
handed techniques. He himself was not ambidextrous, nor what
he working to become that way. His goal was physical
competency in the physical interaction of the activity. And those
who borrow sport concepts like cross training seem to put more
value into ambidexterity than those who concentrate on self-
defense as he did.
Although in his commercial schools he encouraged left & right
training for a variety of reasons, he recognized in self defense,
competence was more important than performing left and right
equally well. He knew that practicing both sides can yield
benefits, but he also knew right & left would never be equal.
Either way the operative phrase is mirror image execution, to
activate both sides of the brain to create balance in any kind of
physical training.
In Ed Parker’s self-defense philosophy however, training should
be based on a curriculum of well thought out systematically
principled and progressive techniques. The mechanisms inherent
in the process are designed to emphasize situational effectiveness
with ambidexterity irrelevant to function. Movements should be
performed on both sides to demonstrate effective basic skills
generated by both sides of the brain with their own unique
synaptic pathways. But, self-defense techniques are about
competence and effectiveness within the sequence first, and
emphasis must be place there as a top priority.
Of course basic skills should be raised to an acceptable level of
effectiveness, but the goal of balance in the execution of self-
defense techniques in their mirror image is unnecessary, time
consuming, and not physically possible when it comes to equity.
The teachers who preach this both sides technique execution
perspective themselves are not equally proficient on both sides.
Most traditional styles and disciplines and even western boxing
have techniques and moves used only from the left or right side.
Most styles promote a left side forward to allow use of the right
(strong) hand and leg from the rear. Even when the techniques
change they still favor the right side. Even in those schools that
promote equal side proficiency it is never, nor is it possible to be
actually achieved.
The reasons it is not possible are physiological involving a mental
interaction with the body’s ability to perform. Each side of the
body is controlled by opposite sides of the brain. For example,
when learning a left kick, a synaptic pathway must be created or
established through the right side of the brain and vice versa. No
matter how you train, the left and right pathways will never be
identical in function. Even though the two sides of the brain
function together, they do not have identical ways of performing
the same function. They may produce identical physical
movement, but how the movements are produced and controlled
from the brain are very different.
Additionally the human body is not mathematically symmetrical in
the true sense of the term. It is normal in human anatomy for
one leg or arm to be longer than the other, and even different in
diameter. Every muscle, tendon, cartilage, and even hair growth
varies from side to side. World-class athletes do not stride, jump,
throw, or move the same on both sides of the body. What is even
more interesting is when an athlete is trained to be exactly
symmetrical in their execution; it has been shown that physical
performance actually declines overall. The body may be visually
aesthetically symmetrical, but not precisely physically or
mathematically.
Most have unreasonable expectations with regard to weak side
performance. If we anticipate we can train the weak side to
perform equally with the strong, we are mistaken. Because of
how the brain works, you cannot attain the exact same degree of
skill on both sides. It would be like attempting to teach yourself
to write equally as well with both hands. You may achieve an
acceptable level on the weak side but the strong will always be
better and dominant.
Human beings have a natural physical preference to have a
dominant side that is predetermined at birth. Even in cases where
a person has activity dedicated dominance, they are always
opposite of each other. I have a student who writes on one side,
throws on the other, and still in baseball, bats opposite his
dominant throwing side. But these activities are still functionally
dedicated. He can’t write, bat, or throw equally with both. This
dominance is so strong in human behavior; it cannot be
overcome by external training.
In the Chinese Martial Science, students are taught opposite most
other later martial art disciplines with the strong side forward for
practicality. In examining the basic idea of most techniques, they
can be executed on the prescribed side or they can be executed
in what Mr. Parker, called Half Mirror Image. That is a technique
may be designed for one side attacking, however just because
the opponent uses the other side or mirror doesn’t mean you
have to react in kind with a mirror response.
The self-defense techniques Thrusting Salute and Buckling
Branch as kicking defenses are both interchangeable whether the
right or left kick is used in the attack. In Thrusting Salute the
attack is a front kick with the right leg, and you respond with the
prescribed Default Solution to that particular assault. When the
attack of a left front kick is used in Buckling Branch, the attacker
is now using the Mirror Image Assault of Thrusting Salute.
However if you respond with the Default Solution to Thrusting
Salute, you are in a Half Mirror Image Solution response. These
attacks, although mirror opposites of each other, can be
responded to with the same right handed response.
This type of training only requires one side be developed
significantly to be functional. The opposite side can and will also
be developed, but performing a different function. In another
example, in the attack for Delayed Sword (a right hand), you
defend by stepping back with the left foot and executing with
your front (right) hand. Attacking Mace (again an attacking right
hand), does just the opposite, defending by stepping back with the
right foot. Both techniques are developed independent of
each other on opposite sides of the body, but they both function
quite well with either right or left side dominance. Although all of
Parker’s interpretations of his art tend to be right-handed,
students with left-handed dominance can, and do flourish.
But no matter how well you perform in symmetrical forms, the
dominant side will always be more coordinated and controlled.
However, in a fight or confrontation of significant stress, and
given the choice, you will always have a preference for one side
over the other.
In closing, remember all interpretations of Ed Parker’s American
Kenpo should be about self-defense first. Many, specifically in
America, have confused through clever marketing, sport training
with self-defense training. Cross training and symmetrical
performance borrowed from sport training and tradition-laden
disciplines, must take a back seat to practical function and
applications in reality.
For the same reasons of symmetrical dominance, with the
addition of mechanical efficiency, please consider any passive
non-action while opposite body parts are moving as dysfunctional
in human anatomical movement, and violate this balanced
perspective of anatomical movement as well.
The Ed Parker Slap check (or pak sao in Chinese), and all its
many subcategories and functions are always in some manner
active. To achieve certain balanced skills, it is imperative that
both sides of the body be active and functional at all times, and
never ever passive.
True ambidexterity is a myth and although it is worthy of pursuit,
it should not overshadow the quest for practical application first.
They don’t fight in tournaments they compete. On the street,
right or left is irrelevant to survival. You should be capable of
using both sides of your body, but not necessarily the same nor
equal. Ed Parker was right handed, and so are the systems he
created and influenced.
Over the years there have been significant misconceptions
regarding the efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal
of discussion exists relative to whether forms performances, and
self-defense techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in
teaching and training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor
himself. Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking
into the concept and reached some rather interesting conclusions
in our own research and discussions.
As an example in the execution of "forms," in most versions of Ed
Parker’s Short Form Two, it does indeed include the physical left
side in its right side presentation. But, it is still considered, by Ed
Parker’s definition, to be the right side, or what he quietly called
right side brain dominant. However you do not reverse the
synaptic and cerebellar pathway responsibilities for movement
until the mirror image is performed.
This is what Parker meant by left side. The physical left is only
motion or movement, but the true left side is an opposite or
reversal of brain dominance and control. Thus all forms
encompass in some manner right and left side, but to begin from
the opposite side or mirror image reverses all mental functions
and changes muscle response enough to have significant
influence on function.
Whether this is necessary in teaching is dependent on how you
teach or train. Ed Parker created a series of conceptually right-
handed techniques. He himself was not ambidextrous, nor was he
working to become that way. His goal instead was physical
competency in the physical interaction of the activity. And those
who borrow sport concepts like cross training seem to put more
value into ambidexterity than those who concentrate on self-
defense as he did.
Although in his commercial schools he encouraged left & right
training for a variety of reasons, he recognized in self defense,
competence was more important than performing left and right
equally well. He knew that practicing both sides can yield
benefits, but he also knew right & left would never be equal.
Either way the operative phrase is mirror image execution, to
activate both sides of the brain to create balance in any kind of
physical training.
In Ed Parker’s self-defense philosophy however, training should
be based on a curriculum of well thought out systematically
principled and progressive techniques. The mechanisms inherent
in the process are designed to emphasize situational effectiveness
with ambidexterity irrelevant to function. Movements should be
performed on both sides to demonstrate effective basic skills
generated by both sides of the brain with their own unique
synaptic pathways. But, self-defense techniques are about
competence and effectiveness within the sequence first, and
emphasis must be place there as a top priority.
Of course basic skills should be raised to an acceptable level of
effectiveness, but the goal of balance in the execution of self-
defense techniques in their mirror image is unnecessary, time
consuming, and not physically possible when it comes to equity.
The teachers who preach this both sides technique execution
perspective themselves are not equally proficient on both sides.
Most traditional styles and disciplines and even western boxing
have techniques and moves used only from the left or right side.
Most styles promote a left side forward to allow use of the right
(strong) hand and leg from the rear. Even when the techniques
change they still favor the right side. Even in those schools that
promote equal side proficiency it is never, nor is it possible to be
actually achieved.
The reasons it is not possible are physiological involving a mental
interaction with the body’s ability to perform. Each side of the
body is controlled by opposite sides of the brain. For example,
when learning a left kick, a synaptic pathway must be created or
established through the right side of the brain and vice versa. No
matter how you train, the left and right pathways will never be
identical in function. Even though the two sides of the brain
function together, they do not have identical ways of performing
the same function. They may produce identical physical
movement, but how the movements are produced and controlled
from the brain are very different.
Additionally the human body is not mathematically symmetrical in
the true sense of the term. It is normal in human anatomy for
one leg or arm to be longer than the other, and even different in
diameter. Every muscle, tendon, cartilage, and even hair growth
varies from side to side. World-class athletes do not stride, jump,
throw, or move the same on both sides of the body. What is even
more interesting is when an athlete is trained to be exactly
symmetrical in their execution; it has been shown that physical
performance actually declines overall. The body may be visually
aesthetically symmetrical, but not precisely physically or
mathematically.
Most have unreasonable expectations with regard to weak side
performance. If we anticipate we can train the weak side to
perform equally with the strong, we are mistaken. Because of
how the brain works, you cannot attain the exact same degree of
skill on both sides. It would be like attempting to teach yourself
to write equally as well with both hands. You may achieve an
acceptable level on the weak side but the strong will always be
better and dominant.
Human beings have a natural physical preference to have a
dominant side that is predetermined at birth. Even in cases where
a person has activity dedicated dominance, they are always
opposite of each other. I have a student who writes on one side,
throws on the other, and still in baseball, bats opposite his dominant
throwing side. But these activities are still functionally
dedicated. He can’t write, bat, or throw equally with both. This
dominance is so strong in human behavior; it cannot be
overcome by external training.
In the Chinese Martial Science, students are taught opposite most
other later martial art disciplines with the strong side forward for
practicality. In examining the basic idea of most techniques, they
can be executed on the prescribed side or they can be executed
in what Mr. Parker, called Half Mirror Image. That is a technique
may be designed for one side attacking, however just because
the opponent uses the other side or mirror, doesn’t mean you
have to react in kind with a mirror response.
The self-defense techniques Thrusting Salute and Buckling Branch
as kicking defenses are both interchangeable whether the right or
left kick is used in the attack. In Thrusting Salute the attack is a
front kick with the right leg, and you respond with the prescribed
Default Solution to that particular assault. When the attack of a
left front kick is used in Buckling Branch, the attacker is now
using the Mirror Image Assault of Thrusting Salute. However if
you respond with the Default Solution to Thrusting Salute, you
are in a Half Mirror Image Solution response. These attacks,
although mirror opposites of each other, can be responded to
with the same right handed response.
This type of training only requires one side be developed
significantly to be functional. The opposite side can and will also
be developed, but performing a different function. In another
example, in the attack for Delayed Sword (a right hand), you
defend by stepping back with the left foot and executing with
your front (right) hand. Attacking Mace (again an attacking right
hand), does just the opposite, defending by stepping back with
the right foot. Both techniques are developed independent of
each other on opposite sides of the body, but they both function
quite well with either right or left side dominance. Although all of
Parker’s interpretations of his art tend to be right-handed,
students with left-handed dominance can, and do flourish.
But no matter how well you perform in symmetrical forms, the
dominant side will always be more coordinated and controlled.
However, in a fight or confrontation of significant stress, and
given the choice, you will always have a preference for one side
over the other.
In closing, remember all interpretations of Ed Parker’s American
Kenpo should be about self-defense first. Many, specifically in
America, have confused through clever marketing, sport training
with self-defense training. Cross training and symmetrical
performance borrowed from sport training and tradition-laden
disciplines, must take a back seat to practical function and
applications in reality.
For the same reasons of symmetrical dominance, with the
addition of mechanical efficiency, please consider any passive
non-action while opposite body parts are moving, as
dysfunctional in human anatomy. This too violates the balanced
perspective of anatomical movement as well.
The Ed Parker Slap check (or pak sao in Chinese), and all its
many subcategories and functions are always in some manner
active. To achieve certain balanced skills, it is imperative that
both sides of the body be active and functional at all times, and
never ever passive.
True ambidexterity is a myth and although it is worthy of pursuit,
it should not overshadow the quest for practical application first.
They don’t fight in tournaments they compete. On the street,
right or left is irrelevant to survival. You should be capable of
using both sides of your body, but not necessarily the same nor
equal. Ed Parker was right handed, and so are the systems he
created and influenced.
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