Worth it to Compensate?

[Brother John]

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.

The dojang I belonged too in my early teens had two fighters who were truly ambidextrous, and it was one of the most infuriating things to me to face them. I got pretty good at fighting someone when I knew which hand (foot) they favored, but when they could switch at any moment......... SHEEESH!!!

But it made me have to grow too. That's why I'm a big believer in training both sides!

Your Brother
John

 

[jarrod]

I'm still confused as to why you wouldn't want to be at least decent while doing techniques on your less dominant side?

well for instance, i shadowbox southpaw sometimes just in the interest of making my workout symmetrical. but rather then spend a lot of time learning to actually box southpaw, it's simpler to learn how to fight from an orthodox stance, then learn how to fight a southpaw from the same stance rather than try to beat them at their own game. i just very seldom fight with my right foot forward, though i am capable of executing a few techniques from there until i can get my regular stance.

jf