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Over the years there have been significant misconceptions regarding
the efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal of
discussion exists relative to whether forms performances, and
self-defense techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in
teaching and training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor himself.
Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking into the concept
and reached some rather interesting conclusions in our own research and
discussions.
As an example in the execution of "forms," in most versions of Ed
Parker’s Short Form Two, it does indeed include the physical left side
in its right side presentation. But, it is still considered, by
Ed Parker’s definition, to be the right side, or what he quietly called
right side brain dominant. However you do not reverse the
synaptic and cerebellar pathway responsibilities for movement until the
mirror image is performed.
This is what Parker meant by left side. The physical left is only
motion or movement, but the true left side is an opposite or reversal
of brain dominance and control. Thus all forms encompass in some
manner right and left side, but to begin from the opposite side or
mirror image reverses all mental functions and changes muscle
response enough to have significant influence on function.
Whether this is necessary in teaching is dependent on how you teach or
train. Ed Parker created a series of conceptually right-handed
techniques. He himself was not ambidextrous, nor what he working to
become that way. His goal instead was physical competency
in the physical interaction of the activity. And those who borrow
sport concepts like cross training seem to put more value into
ambidexterity than those who concentrate on self-defense as he did.
Although in his commercial schools he encouraged left & right
training for a variety of reasons, he recognized in self defense,
competence was more important than performing left and right equally
well. He knew that practicing both sides can yield benefits, but he
also knew right & left would never be equal. Either way the
operative phrase is mirror image execution, to activate both
sides of the brain to create balance in any kind of physical training.
In Ed Parker’s self-defense philosophy however, training should be
based on a curriculum of well thought out systematically principled and
progressive techniques. The mechanisms inherent in the process are
designed to emphasize situational effectiveness with ambidexterity
irrelevant to function. Movements should be performed on both sides to
demonstrate effective basic skills generated by both sides of the brain
with their own unique synaptic pathways. But, self-defense techniques
are about competence and effectiveness within the sequence first, and
emphasis must be place there as a top priority.
Of course basic skills should be raised to an acceptable level of
effectiveness, but the goal of balance in the execution of self-defense
techniques in their mirror image is unnecessary, time consuming, and
not physically possible when it comes to equity.
The teachers who preach this both sides technique execution
perspective themselves are not equally proficient on both sides.
Most traditional styles and disciplines and even western boxing have
techniques and moves used only from the left or right side. Most styles
promote a left side forward to allow use of the right (strong) hand and
leg from the rear. Even when the techniques change they still favor the
right side. Even in those schools that promote equal side proficiency
it is never, nor is it possible to be actually achieved.
The reasons it is not possible are physiological involving a mental
interaction with the body’s ability to perform. Each side of the body
is controlled by opposite sides of the brain. For example, when
learning a left kick, a synaptic pathway must be created or established
through the right side of the brain and vice versa. No matter how you
train, the left and right pathways will never be identical in function.
Even though the two sides of the brain function together, they do not
have identical ways of performing the same function. They may produce
identical physical movement, but how the movements are produced and
controlled from the brain are very different.
Additionally the human body is not mathematically symmetrical in the
true sense of the term. It is normal in human anatomy for one leg or
arm to be longer than the other, and even different in diameter. Every
muscle, tendon, cartilage, and even hair growth varies from side to
side. World-class athletes do not stride, jump, throw, or move the same
on both sides of the body. What is even more interesting is when an
athlete is trained to be exactly symmetrical in their execution; it has
been shown that physical performance actually declines overall. The
body may be visually aesthetically symmetrical, but not precisely
physically or mathematically.
Most have unreasonable expectations with regard to weak side
performance. If we anticipate we can train the weak side to
perform equally with the strong, we are mistaken. Because of how the
brain works, you cannot attain the exact same degree of skill on both
sides. It would be like attempting to teach yourself to write equally
as well with both hands. You may achieve an acceptable level on the
weak side but the strong will always be better and dominant.
Human beings have a natural physical preference to have a dominant side
that is predetermined at birth. Even in cases where a person has
activity dedicated dominance, they are always opposite of each
other. I have a student who writes on one side, throws on the other,
and still in baseball, bats opposite his dominant throwing side. But
these activities are still functionally dedicated. He can’t write, bat,
or throw equally with both. This dominance is so strong in human
behavior; it cannot be overcome by external training.
In the Chinese Martial Science, students are taught opposite most other
later martial art disciplines with the strong side forward for
practicality. In examining the basic idea of most techniques, they can
be executed on the prescribed side or they can be executed in what Mr.
Parker, called Half Mirror Image. That is a technique may be
designed for one side attacking, however just because the opponent uses
the other side or mirror, doesn’t mean you have to react in kind
with a mirror response.
The self-defense techniques Thrusting Salute and Buckling Branch as
kicking defenses are both interchangeable whether the right or left
kick is used in the attack. In Thrusting Salute the attack is a front
kick with the right leg, and you respond with the prescribed Default
Solution to that particular assault. When the attack of a left front
kick is used in Buckling Branch, the attacker is now using the Mirror
Image Assault of Thrusting Salute. However if you respond with the
Default Solution to Thrusting Salute, you are in a Half Mirror Image
Solution response. These attacks, although mirror opposites of
each other, can be responded to with the same right handed
response.
This type of training only requires one side be developed significantly
to be functional. The opposite side can and will also be developed, but
performing a different function. In another example, in the attack for
Delayed Sword (a right hand), you defend by stepping back with
the left foot and executing with your front (right) hand.
Attacking Mace (again an attacking right hand), does just
the opposite, defending by stepping back with the right foot. Both
techniques are developed independent of each other on opposite sides of
the body, but they both function quite well with either right or left
side dominance. Although all of Parker’s interpretations of his art
tend to be right-handed, students with left-handed dominance can,
and do flourish.
But no matter how well you perform in symmetrical forms, the dominant
side will always be more coordinated and controlled. However, in a
fight or confrontation of significant stress, and given the choice, you
will always have a preference for one side over the other.
In closing, remember all interpretations of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo
should be about self-defense first. Many, specifically in America, have
confused through clever marketing, sport training with
self-defense training. Cross training and symmetrical performance
borrowed from sport training and tradition-laden disciplines, must take
a back seat to practical function and applications in reality.
For the same reasons of symmetrical dominance, with the addition of
mechanical efficiency, please consider any passive non-action while
opposite body parts are moving, as dysfunctional in human anatomy. This
too violates the balanced perspective of anatomical movement as
well.
The Ed Parker Slap check (or pak sao in Chinese), and all its
many subcategories and functions are always in some manner active. To
achieve certain balanced skills, it is imperative that both sides
of the body be active and functional at all times, and never ever
passive.
True ambidexterity is a myth and although it is worthy of pursuit, it
should not overshadow the quest for practical application first. They
don’t fight in tournaments they compete. On the street,
right or left is irrelevant to survival. You should be capable of using
both sides of your body, but not necessarily the same nor equal. Ed
Parker was right handed, and so are the systems he created and
influenced.
Over the years there have been significant misconceptions regarding the
efficacy of right and left side training. A great deal of discussion
exists relative to whether forms performances, and self-defense
techniques are or should be right, left, or balanced in teaching and
training execution.
The simple truth is all are correct in certain respects, and the
confusion like many other topics, comes from the progenitor himself.
Mr. Parker spent a considerable amount of time looking into the concept
and reached some rather interesting conclusions in our own research and
discussions.