Manny Pacquiao
Mothers and fathers often complain to me about their son’s/daughter’s lack of coordination and difficulty being a left-hander or “southpaw” in our classes. I always comfort them by explaining that it is not a disadvantage, and maybe even an advantage. I tell them I am a left-hander as well, which is true. For me, it has been an advantage for the whole of my martial arts career. Is it an
advantage or disadvantage? Let’s explore it from both sides.
Advantages
Right-handers will have a hard time fighting you. Plain and simple, most fighters lack experience against lefties, since they are such a small percentage of the population. You will be coming at them from unusual angles, which they are not used to seeing. You, on the other hand, will be used to fighting right-handers as you spar against them all the time.
You will become ambidextrous fast because you are usually doing the moves right-handed. Left handed people learn to do things with their right hand due to them being in a right handed world so they have almost equal strength in both hands. In most martial arts classes the whole group practices in the right-handed stance. There will be instances when they switch it over to the other side.
Disadvantages
It will take you longer to learn things since in many cases the movements are not as natural. You will develop power and speed in your weak hand though, with repetition.
People often don’t know how to hold pads during training for lefties, and in some gyms they will force you to be a right-hander. I would switch gyms if that is the case.
A suggestion
Train on both sides. This will develop speed, power and coordination in your weak side. But against other fighters favour your left-handed stance as it will give right-handers fits.
Keep in mind, if he is a left-hander fighting in an orthodox stance, his jab and his front leg kicks will usually be better than the right-handers in the class. In fact, Bruce Lee, a natural right-hander, fought in a southpaw stance so he could have his power hand and foot closer to his opponent. This is especially true in point sparring, as your front hand and foot will score the vast majority of your points.
Some great left-handed martial artists
Lastly, the following great boxers/martial artists were left-handed, so that should tell you something:
Marvin Hagler (boxing)
Oscar de la Hoya (boxing)
Manny Pacquiao (boxing)
Chael Sonnen (MMA)
Rich Franklin (MMA)
Nick Diaz (MMA)
Lyoto Machida (MMA)
Vitor Belfort (MMA)
Anderson Silva (MMA)
Yushin Okami (MMA)
Takanori Gomi (MMA)
Mirko Cro Cop (MMA and K1 Kickboxing)
Note, some of these guys were born lefties and some are “deliberate southpaws.” They taught themselves to fight as southpaws because they found it to be an advantage to their fighting careers. Others may fight in a southpaw stance to have better jabs and hooks, which are thrown off the front hand.
Any other lefties out there in the martial arts? What is your experience?
I have never considered it though I feel that they must have quite an advantage.
In my experience it makes the fight more challanging and interesting. I find that your opponant (if in the south paw stance) is open to more of your attacks but in the same way you are also open to the same with your stances mirroring each others. so its a wash, it just makes it more difficult to get your hits in AND not get hit too. especially since your own experience against left handers may be limited yet his or her expeirience against right handers will probably be 10:1 to yours for lefties.
interesting topic – does anyone have any techniques they use against a south paw?
or does any lefties have a killer technique against righties?
thoughts?
So pleased to see you here Zoltan, your insights are always thought-provoking. Yes, it definitely opens up the game when you are against a lefty. 10:1 ratio is about spot on with 90 percent of the population right-handed, so only about one in ten fighters are not much to practice with. Luckily I am left-handed so all my students can practice on me!
Your question is a good one about the best techniques for lefties and righties Zoltan. Without giving my secrets away, hahaha, I will say it is a widely accepted fact in boxing circles that as a lefty you must constantly move to your opponents left, to create difficult angles of attack for them and to open up your own angles. The right-hander must resist this (the best ones always do). Regarding strikes, the lefty is almost always open to a right cross or overhand straight down the middle. The lefty will pepper you with jabs and this will be very hard to stop. And if he gets the angle, watch out for the left cross, it will come out of nowhere. These are all worth workshopping, especially when the kicks come into play, and then throw in takedowns and grappling and the game becomes even more complicated. By the way, almost all wrestlers prefer the “lefty stance” because it keeps their strong arm and leg in front. Thanks for commenting Zoltan.
It was interesting for me to learn that Joe Frazier was a converted south-paw. That explained his viscous left hook!
I’m sure Ali found it interesting also 🙂
Welcome here Dr. J! Enjoyed your blog a lot. I did not know that about Frazier, no wonder he gave Ali fits. That hook put many a heavyweight to sleep.
The bottom line is that you can become a great fighter no matter what foot or hand leads. However, if you do decide to make the switch to southpaw make sure you have trainers who are comfortable with a left-handed fighter. Also, dedicate yourself to developing your weaker hand. Constantly spar with orthodox fighters while you maintain a southpaw stance. Practice your foot movement and constantly circle to your right. Watch and study fights between right-handed and left-handed combatants. Most important, make sure you’re confident of your skills as a southpaw fighter before you book a bout.
Points well made cataract eye drops. Thanks for visiting. I like to watch Pac Man in action against right-handers, it is textbook perfect.