Really bad left side

[RoyalPython]

The flexibity, control and strengh on my left side is nowhere near as good as my right. I can't perform side/round or back kicks with my left leg without either falling over or it hitting shin rather than stomach.

Does anyone have any tips of increasing ability in my left side? Is it litrally just practice/practice and practice?

[tallgeese]

Without actaully seeing you work it's hard to say. If you're relitively new it's probibly just a matter of repetition. Movement training, or lack of, is usually what will make complex movements like this difficult.

General flexability is always helpful, as is a degree of suppleness and athleticism, but these can be trained and will generally improve with time on the mat. Usually, the increse seen in these areas is consistant with the increase seen with skill training as well.

Remember as well that everyone has a side that is a finess set of weapons and another that is more of a gross-motor power side. For most, the side they typically keep lead instincitvely has a higher degree of fine motor skill. It jabs, blocks and moves a bit better but has less power overall. The side kept back is usually what they are most powerful with while executing a strike. To use a non-ma example, in soccer, a player will usually have one foot they perfer to manipulate the ball with and another that they will be more comfortable blasting the ball with.

If you're fighting opposite of these natual talents then you may be experiencing difficulty because of it. Try swithing stances and see if you performance improves. while using those particular attacks. This may or may not be the case.

I'm a big proponant of an 90/10 scheme for trainnig out of a natural posture for yourself. I'll spend 90 percent of my time training with the side I'm most likley to put forward in a fight actually forward. Of course you should train the other way as well, but it's acutally more important to transition back to your primary stance.

But, I digress. When all else fails...rep, rep, rep.

Good luck.

[bushido_man96]

I have a bit of a different view than tallgeese here. I would say that you should spend more time on your weak side, to develop it more. But don't forget about your strong side. Do 5 reps of something on your strong side, and then swap and do 10 reps on the weak side. As the weak side progresses, balance it out more. Some days, do 7 and 10, or something.

I am right handed, so most would expect me to lead with my left side. However, a long while back, an instructor said something to the effect of "why not put your strong side in front, to make it closer to the attacker?" So, I began training with a right hand lead. Now, it feels natural for me to lead with my right.

Now, if you get to this point, make sure to focus on leading with the left as well, so that you can change as you feel the situation dictates.

Good luck!

[DWx]

I agree with Bushido_man here. I favour my right side way too much and as a result I can do everything 10x better on my right compared to my left. To get anything particularly accurate off of my left requires a lot of concentration. More reps on the weak side help to balance it out.

My own training philosphy has always been that I want to be able to throw a technique from anywhere no matter what side I have forward or how much room there is or whatever. So I much prefer to do my reps so everything equals out.

[tallgeese]

I see the place you guys are coming from, and I don't think that it's a bad idea at all. I know I'm off the mainstream on this particular point.

It's really just two differnt schools of though, again, I don't think you can classify one or the other as the "correct" answer. There is someing to be said for being equally good with either side forward. COnversly, I'd rather practice movemnt to my good side and primarily focus on work with that.

At the end of the day, if it gets you home in one piece, it's probibly working alright. Points well made though.

[bushido_man96]

Good call, tallgeese. Different opinions really, neither a correct answer; but both good answers.

I know that more professional fighters will tend to not try to change their power side, nor will they focus more on their weak side. They work the power side as the power side, and use the other for set up, strategy, etc. Not that they aren't strong on their weak side. They just aren't concerned with balancing them out. Nothing wrong with that, either.

[Fish]

Try doing specific chambering and slow-kicking exercises, working especially on your weak side.

Eg rest your hands against a wall (to keep balance), then slowly lift your leg up into the roundhouse or side kick chamber position. Hold for a count of 5 to 10, then stretch out into the kick to a count of 5 to 10. Hold the kick out to the same count, then withdraw to the chamber position. These exercises are uncomfortable but they do help. You can also work on lifting the leg higher in the chamber position, and then with it extended into the kick. These exercises should help develop strength in your leg muscles.

When you become more confident, you can then try doing these exercises, plus similar ones with front kick, back kick and reverse roundhouse kick, with ankle weights on.

For balance, try putting on your socks or shoes by lifting the foot up to waist height and then putting socks/ shoes on without putting the foot down or holding on to anything.

Bear in mind that for some people there is a natural limit to how high they can competently kick. For me, I can now (after 5 years) execute a controlled kick to head height, but I'm much better and more competent at waist level and below. IRL I doubt whether I would ever kick above waist level anyway.