Well, that is a bit of an overstatement. I have a common problem with green fighters and that is I find the right side is naturally easier to employ and use it more than my left side…
Besides training the left side of the body more, is there any other advice I can be offered ? Visualizations, etc ?
‘If we do not go within, we go without’.
One of my goals in taking up kungfu was ambidexterity and I was pleased to find a style which ‘believes in both sides’
The forms often work in a right stance, then repeat in a left stance and then repeat in the right stance again. So we get 2 practises on the right for every 1 on the left - a ratio of 2:1. The reason it’s not a ratio of 1:1 is that we want to attack the opponents left side in preference so train our right side more.
I like to spar both sides but if it got serious and I had a choice, I’d go for the thing most trained - the right.
The powers of Kung Fu never fail!
– Hong Kong Phooey
The way I’ve found so far is to practice my left side double what I do my right side. In doing this, my left side has actually become a bit better at some things. Though I still rely on my right side, unconsciously.
I think all martial arts work both side evenly. I know the forms in TKD for whatever you do on one side, you do equally to the other side. In my kung fu, it’s not so even, but both sides get worked.
Robin
Surrender yourself to nature and be all that you are.
HHhhmm
surely one is elling oneself short if all your goal is , is ambidexitory skills. There is so much more than that, and besides there are arts Tai Chi being just one which (and before you say it yes I know some schools teach both sides) but if the art is good enough and manages to expound the applications to the methodology well enough then being one-sided WILL (believe me!) be more than enough.
Ba Gua does both…
All of the styles of Ba Gua Zhang that I have been exposed to emphasize equal training on both sides of the body. Ba Gua was designed for bodygaurds who had to deal with multiple attackers. You never know where the next attack is coming from when you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being surrounded. You must be flexible.
Of course it’s also a good health practice to give your bodyparts equal time… you wouldn’t only lift wieghts on the right side of your body in a gym, why do it in the Guan?
ambidexterity
why wouldn’t you work both sides evenly? Though we might not ever be as proficient on both sides,i try to be.I won’t be the world’s fastest or strongest man either,but that doesn’t mean i’m going to quit working on both.People that think they don’t need to train both halves are short-changing themselves i think.The fit right in there with the crowd that thinks they don’t need to get stronger,work on their stamina,or perfect technique to be a better,more well rounded athlete.Of course as we age we lose some of the tools we had in the toolbox when we were younger and may have to shift into a different gear.When i get to that point i’m sure i’ll have to internalize a few things and change my personal style up a bit,but i’ll still work on both sides:)
-Devildog
I was pondering the same question as I have just started stick training. I asked my instructor if I should focus on my left side more, so it could catch up with my right in terms of power, accuracy, etc. He said that to do so would only take practice time away from my strong side. If I was disarmed or disabled by somebody while using my strong side, then how do I figure I could beat him with my weak side?
Made sense. I just practice both evenly.
RepMonkey, “a goal” not “the goal”. I have hundreds of goals. Better to wish for ambidexterity than wither like tennis a player.
The powers of Kung Fu never fail!
– Hong Kong Phooey