by cloudz on Wed Mar 22, 2017 3:31 am
If we are sticking to a striking style with sport combat in mind. I really don't think the strength differential is that meaningful.
But yes there is conventional wisdom and tradition at work in the martial arts.
If we widen that context to include wrestling and sub grappling, I think that staying with a dominant position doesn't serve you very well in the long haul.
Whilst I paid lip service to "both sides" in my earlier training I wasn't good enough with my natural stand up position which was orthodox; power hand to the rear.
It was only when I felt good enough that I could really let it go and go about getting my other side up to scratch.
Regards the dominant side arms/hands, I feel there are 3 factors to consider; power for hitting, strength in various directions and control. Rather than strength I usually find that it's the control part that can make things awkward. Writing with your less dominant side isn't hard or awkward because you aren't strong enough!
It's maybe stating the obvious but the power in your strikes has little to do with arm strength or even isolated arm power, or if it does then for those kind of strikes - if you use them - have other purposes as primary.
Most grappling and wrestling techniques for example use both hands in some way. At least in CIMA work even if you aren't using a hand to contact there should be some force, even if its to balance and or re-enforce what the other hand is up to. Practicing chinna/wrestling techniques both sides is a must for example, and all of us will have noted how some techniques feel better to us one side or other, dependent on what's going on.
As Wayne has pointed out the control factor shows itself a lot more when you come to handling a weapon of some kind. I don't currently do much of that, and haven't for a while, so I'll leave it to others here.
To sum up, I don't think it takes that much training to get similar levels of power in terms of striking, certainly close enough to not be that meaningful. Correct form, mechanics and good accuracy are better considerations. Breaking out of a habit makes things awkward, but the strength factor, or calling it strength I think might be misleading. It's more to do with how we are wired up, the more we stay in that groove the more ingrained and challenging it is to come out of or change, probably..
Having worked this way myself I would only encourage others to do the same and work to acheive a level you're happy with any which way round, as well as to work in the transitions from each and make those a part and parcel of your technique reportpoire/ shadow boxing.
Last edited by
cloudz on Wed Mar 22, 2017 4:50 am, edited 3 times in total.
Regards
George
London UK