Southpaw fencer

[JeanryChandler]

I have a friend from the old days who has finally become seriously interested in learning WMA. He is a natural fighter, one of the best I've ever seen, he rarely lost a brawl in many years. He's in good physical shape, with excellent coordination, strength and stamina. Furthermore, he seems to understand the principles of WMA and was pretty good at stickfighting back in the day when we did it for fun. In short a promising candidate.. There is only one problem,

He's left handed.

This has been surprisingly confusing for me just trying to show him some basic things like twitching and countercutting. I'm not even sure if he should use the normal grip with the right hand leading or use his left.

I believe there are some rapier fencing manuals which deal with left handed fencers, but is there anything in the longsword / sword and buckler treatises which advise on how to train left handed fencers, and also, what experiences have y'all had with this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Jr

[Mike Chidester]

I just learned to fight right-handed. It was easier, all things considered.

[Brian Hunt]

With the long sword have him use his left hand on top and reverse all your techniques. A Zornhau descends from left to right for a sinister fighter. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

Working with and training a lefty means you have to learn how to do things left handed in order to help work with him, and to understand his particular needs. I have worked with a few lefties over the years, and these are the basic things that help make it work. After awhile, you will reach a point where it doesn't matter if your opponent is left or right handed, you are just fencing.

hope this helps.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[James Sterrett]

Corinne and I, both lefties, have done the same.

We do occasionally switch the grip (left on top), but not often.

That said, I do recall something I was told years ago about "Why Kendo is easier for Lefties" - the right hand, on top, is for power, while the left hand, on the bottom, is for control - and therefore, lefties are better off.

I don't put any real stock in that, but it's fun. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Jaron Bernstein]

I am southpaw. For whatever reason, I am more comfortable fighting longsword right handed. OTOH, I fight S&amp;B left handed (sword in left, buckler in right). Go figure.

[JeanryChandler]

Interesting responses guys, thanks.

Jr

[Anthony Boyd]

"That said, I do recall something I was told years ago about "Why Kendo is easier for Lefties" - the right hand, on top, is for power, while the left hand, on the bottom, is for control - and therefore, lefties are better off."

Actually, this is not accurate. The lower hand, at the end of the grip, is for power. The upper hand, near the guard, is for control.

This should hold true for all two-handed blades should it not?

Anyway - I have followed both suggestions over the years. I gave up arguing with my Asian instructors and learned everything right-handed. I have also undertaken to practice through reversing hand positioning and technique regularly.

I'm ambidextrous, but prefer to use my left when I have a choice. [stupid scissors...] I personally see no disadvantage to training to use both hands.

[JeanryChandler]

Just FYI you quoted me but I never said that...

JR

[s_taillebois]

M. Chandler...Strange question, but as you spar with your sinister associate (sorry couldn't resist that one)...has there been any advantage to his being left handed insofar as being able to exploit unexpected openings in the hanging guard?
In general, one of the more projection based guards is usually more appropriate. But am wondering if one of the reasons that some disapproved so strongly of the hanging guard...might be due to left handers? And the problem of rotating out of a hanging guard to cover for a attack from angles easily exploited by a left handed agent. (Have tested the idea a bit, the motions involved seem unwieldy) Obviously some of the disapproval was based on the tendancy for the hanging and bastard guard to be defensively oriented. But am curious, and am a bit short of left handed fencers here in oblivion's boundary to really test the idea...(actually there's a dearth of any fencers* here in the hinterlands...will have to mend that methinks)

*Fencers, here to mean Renn., not foils, epees, car antennas and what have you....although not many of them here either...

[William Savage]

I dont recall seeing any artwork from early/high middle ages of lefthanded fighters. I asumed they tought all people to fight with sword in right hand and shield in left. half a century or so ago left handed kids were tought to write with theyr right hand too.

[s_taillebois]

M. Savage,
Very possible your observation is correct. But, the artistic conventions of the Gothic, and Early Renn. may have also played a role in those images. In the art of the period, they tended to hold to a fairly rigid set of conventions. In some terms, very different from us. They were concerned with portraying the symbolic meanings as much as literal information. (For example battle scenes often are allegorical as much as showing a specific event).
So the literalism in imagery, which we use in our visual information, was perceived very differently in the early modern era. Which presents problems in looking at their images of battles and etc.
For example, the illustrations in fechtbuchs, become more literally accurate...about the same time as Polluaillo and co. were emphasizing human anatomy in art. And even then, allegory was involved...for example Antonio Polluaillo's "Battle of 10 Men". c. 1465
You may be right but have to be careful about reading too literally into Gothic, Early Renn. images.
We see a dagger or knife, while looking at the same object, they often saw in such things a tontine...

[Brian Hunt]

No,

no images that I am aware of off the top of my head, but we do have text from Liechtenauer and Ringeck that essentially tells us if you are right handed and believe you can hit your opponent to let your 1st strike be from the right and not from the left, if left handed then from the left and not from the right (paraphrased).

Laters.

Brian Hunt
GFS

[James Sterrett]

"Actually, this is not accurate. The lower hand, at the end of the grip, is for power. The upper hand, near the guard, is for control.

This should hold true for all two-handed blades should it not? "

Thanks for the correction. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />


At least as I understand use of a longsword, neither hand is really for power - power comes from the arms and the back, while the hands provide the fine control.

I'm easily subject to correction there, too. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[TimJentoft]

Hi there. I think I might have some advice that could help. You see, I use the left hand when writing or painting, all such activities. However, I use the right when practicing fencing and swordplay. I am even able to switch hands and use a southpaw stance, though I am markedly clumsier in my moves when doing this. My advice is to train your friend to use the traditional stance, wielding the sword in the right hand. As he learns, he should be able to switch to his left hand, basically mirroring the "proper" stance. After a while, he should be able to practice with his left arm, as he will know the moves. It all comes down to a little mind work. I hope my ramblings were clear, and not too comfusing. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />