The more I train, the more I become aware of the the two "me" 's; the left handed one and the right handed one.
This shows up as an advantage in some things, and a disadvantage in others. Kata is definitely right-hand oriented for the defender. But when facing a right-handed attacker and you're blocking with your strong left hand it's a bit of an edge, as far as "blocking" is concerned.
But more than that, I am starting to feel a distinct duality in terms of balance, limb movement, coordination, stance, speed and other critical aspects. It feels like two people, with two different skill levels, in the same body.
Is there a way to equalize this imbalance, apart from the obvious "train the bad half more" approach, or is this just an ongoing reality no matter how long you train? NM
The 2 "me"'s
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Bill Glasheen
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I train both sides. It's been going on for so long with me now that I can even switch throwing arms when playing catch with my son, and he doesn't even notice it.
Look...your brain is structured for you to have a dominant side. That's a good thing; don't fight it. Just be sure to train in a balanced fashion, and then let nature take its course. Some people do the ambidexterous thing well, and others really should go with the one side dominance thing. Train well and then go with the "you" that emerges.
- Bill
Look...your brain is structured for you to have a dominant side. That's a good thing; don't fight it. Just be sure to train in a balanced fashion, and then let nature take its course. Some people do the ambidexterous thing well, and others really should go with the one side dominance thing. Train well and then go with the "you" that emerges.
- Bill
Great subject. I have found that doing all the kata from the opposite side is helpful. Selecting particular movements from the kata you are having difficultly with and doing those over and over is helpful. Try doing as many things as you can the opposite way and see what happens. For example, try using your fork in the opposite hand for a week. Play catch the opposite way. Go bowling and alternate hands. Kick a ball around with your weaker leg.
Train hard, have fun, give yourself some time. This feeling of 2 "me"s should have less and less power over you. Then you will become aware of something else. We all recognize our limitations. Without this knowledge we would not improve as well as we do. Karate is not easy for a reason. The greater the challenge the greater the rewards.
Train hard, have fun, give yourself some time. This feeling of 2 "me"s should have less and less power over you. Then you will become aware of something else. We all recognize our limitations. Without this knowledge we would not improve as well as we do. Karate is not easy for a reason. The greater the challenge the greater the rewards.
Vinny Christiano
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Tom Faigle
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- Location: Fairfax, VA, USA
vinny,
I'm fairly ambidexterous, but my right side has always been stronger than my left. I've found that when I work out with weights on a regular basis, I can reduce most of that difference. When I don't it becomes more apperant. Working my Karate also helps. Using my left (secondary) side as much as possible also helps.
Like Glasheens Sensi said, some folks are better able to do this than others. So I'd offer my two cents in and suggest you try a weight program if you're already not doing so. If so, try exercising your secondary side as much as possible and see what happens. Worse case, you'll just have to learn to adapt.
BTW, in my classes, my Sensei lets folks know that I have a very stong right when we do kumite. To me it serves as a reinforcement to me to work my left more. To them, I'm not sure what it does, and I'm not to worried about it.
Tom
I'm fairly ambidexterous, but my right side has always been stronger than my left. I've found that when I work out with weights on a regular basis, I can reduce most of that difference. When I don't it becomes more apperant. Working my Karate also helps. Using my left (secondary) side as much as possible also helps.
Like Glasheens Sensi said, some folks are better able to do this than others. So I'd offer my two cents in and suggest you try a weight program if you're already not doing so. If so, try exercising your secondary side as much as possible and see what happens. Worse case, you'll just have to learn to adapt.
BTW, in my classes, my Sensei lets folks know that I have a very stong right when we do kumite. To me it serves as a reinforcement to me to work my left more. To them, I'm not sure what it does, and I'm not to worried about it.
Tom
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Bill Glasheen
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- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
Tom
You hit the nail on the head about weight training. It indeed will help. We tend to be lazy in life and do things only on one side, only to find later on that the worked side has become much stronger and more coordinated Sooo...
I have indeed noticed a return to balance with regular weight training. but I want to take this one step farther. Get off the machine weight training, or modify it so you can't have a lazy side. I actually force myself once in a while to do dumbbell work - one step farther than free weights - to further keep myself from "cheating" when doing the pressing motions. When you are doing dumbbell bench presses, there's no way you can have your strong side work harder than your weak. And if you've never done this type of training before, be prepared for a shock. If your body is at all out of balance, you won't be able to do this well. The freeweight and dumbbell work also help you work many secondary muscles that never get a fair workout in the restrictive machine exercises. And the more total number of muscles you work in an exercise, the greater the coordination benefit and the greater the training "shock" to the body. You'll actually end up doing more with less.
Even with the machine weights you can get creative. This past week I spent 5 days at a hotel in Phoenix. There was a pitiful workout room at the hotel, and it would have cost me $45 in fees to get to and from a decent gym. The "universal gym" they had was somewhat anemic, and I noticed that even "the whole stack" wasn't enough for my lat pulldown exercises (either overgrip or undergrip). So... I did ONE-ARMED lat pulldowns (both over and undergrip). Very revealing, quite taxing, and a refreshing change from my normal routine.
One other thing... I actually stumbled on the throwing thing by accident. I train a lot, and am sometimes on the edge of overtraining. Then my son wants me to go throw a football with him (as he should...). I found that if I DON'T use both arms, I’d end up with a sore shoulder. Using my left arm every other throw actually gave my right arm a break. Pretty neat, and I learned that I CAN throw left-handed.
- Bill
You hit the nail on the head about weight training. It indeed will help. We tend to be lazy in life and do things only on one side, only to find later on that the worked side has become much stronger and more coordinated Sooo...
I have indeed noticed a return to balance with regular weight training. but I want to take this one step farther. Get off the machine weight training, or modify it so you can't have a lazy side. I actually force myself once in a while to do dumbbell work - one step farther than free weights - to further keep myself from "cheating" when doing the pressing motions. When you are doing dumbbell bench presses, there's no way you can have your strong side work harder than your weak. And if you've never done this type of training before, be prepared for a shock. If your body is at all out of balance, you won't be able to do this well. The freeweight and dumbbell work also help you work many secondary muscles that never get a fair workout in the restrictive machine exercises. And the more total number of muscles you work in an exercise, the greater the coordination benefit and the greater the training "shock" to the body. You'll actually end up doing more with less.
Even with the machine weights you can get creative. This past week I spent 5 days at a hotel in Phoenix. There was a pitiful workout room at the hotel, and it would have cost me $45 in fees to get to and from a decent gym. The "universal gym" they had was somewhat anemic, and I noticed that even "the whole stack" wasn't enough for my lat pulldown exercises (either overgrip or undergrip). So... I did ONE-ARMED lat pulldowns (both over and undergrip). Very revealing, quite taxing, and a refreshing change from my normal routine.
One other thing... I actually stumbled on the throwing thing by accident. I train a lot, and am sometimes on the edge of overtraining. Then my son wants me to go throw a football with him (as he should...). I found that if I DON'T use both arms, I’d end up with a sore shoulder. Using my left arm every other throw actually gave my right arm a break. Pretty neat, and I learned that I CAN throw left-handed.
- Bill
Last edited by Bill Glasheen on Fri Nov 22, 2002 11:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Tom Faigle
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 6:01 am
- Location: Fairfax, VA, USA
Glasheen Sensei,
So right. I should have made it clearer. I forgot that not everyone uses dumbells and free wieghts. I used to be big on machines when I belonged to a club. Setting up my own gym in my basement I went mostly to hex dumbells, so I foget that folks usually use machines. Given the choice, I'd use a combination. But if I had only one, I'd go with dumbells.
Tom
So right. I should have made it clearer. I forgot that not everyone uses dumbells and free wieghts. I used to be big on machines when I belonged to a club. Setting up my own gym in my basement I went mostly to hex dumbells, so I foget that folks usually use machines. Given the choice, I'd use a combination. But if I had only one, I'd go with dumbells.
Tom
