How to fight a Lefty

[Blade Enthusiast]

I have some question for all of you especially those seasoned fighter of kali.

1. Have you experience fighting a fast and power hitter left handed in Arnis? (Padded and real Stick)

2. What is the best strategy and Tactics fighting this kind of Fighter?

3. Technique, attributes and other skills need to Develop?

4. Any Drills to counter their Strikes.

This Topics can also serve those Left Handed, same info. the reason why i Asked this, My student a beginner ask me the Question since he fought in school program and beat his 3 opponent easily but when he fought a left handed Arnisador, twice they gave him a very hard time since he is not used to. Just wanna ask you ideas and hopefully share you wisdom and Knowledge here for all of us.


Isagani

[Guard Dog]

Trigg 101 & 102 from Kali Tudo =)  The concepts transfer well to stick.

Gruhn

[bjung]

tell your student to fight left handed also 

although some people advocate training one strong side, there is a lot to be gained from training both sides equally. although i don't fight lefty, i put enough time training lefty that i don't feel uncomfortable should i have to fight as a lefty. i think there is a thread somewhere here about bilateralism, and it's an attribute that is well worth putting the time into. as far as other skills, train footwork.

of course, although a person may have one stick, they also have their off hand which may be hitting and grabbing. sometimes it's useful to view all opponents as having two weapons and not just one; all fights are double stick fights (maybe?) OR becoming a double stick fighter when you fight one stick will give you an advantage. i'm not sure, i'm tired.

but back to the original point, fight left handed. get the experience of fighting left against right, and that may inform your thinking also. or if not, if you start to get beat, you can always utter, the immortal words "i am not left handed" before switching hands and drubbing your opponent.

[bjung]

ok. having slept on it, i thought of a few techniques, i may be a bit vague because i feel that this may border on what would be members only forum material (mods feel free to delete if so!).

1) i think guro crafty uses this technique in some of the staff fighting clips, but it can be adapted to fighting a left handed fighter (if you're fighting as a righty). i remember seeing something similar way back at the dog brothers camp during the Kaboroan escrima section using the single stick. anyways, it involves merging with the oncoming strike to deflect it, and then quickly striking with a slash.

2) a krabi strike, the chamber can block downward strikes, then strike on your follow through

3) bolo strike

on one of the video clips on the main page there is a five second bit or so of a lefty fighting a righty. i think it's the los triques clip. worth watching.

[Blade Enthusiast]

Thanks Bjung, great advice.


Isagani

[Full Thrust]

I was once injured by Grandmaster Cacoy Canete in a seminar with a lock for a disarm with my right hand (plus reinjured it in boxing) so I had to do EVERYTHING left handed. What an experience.(Not just with the lock that GM put on me but the training I had to modify) I tell everyone that I train to start on the left hand first or repeat all drills, blocks, traps, etc on left then right side to build on the foundation of single stick before they learn double.

Just remember, don't always do what a Grandmaster tells you.