Left handed sword?

[rogue2257]

I've been teaching basic Japanese sword techniques in class the last few weeks and came to the realization that one of the students is left handed. I know Japanese sword is taught primarily right handed, and the grip is always right over left.

For now I've been letting the student use a southpaw grip, but I'm not sure if that might result in any problems down the road. Has anyone else run into this?

[Kruczek]

Everything should just be opposite? Twists, blocks, attacks, and which hip it sets on - just reverse everything.

There was a 2006 Samurai movie on hulu I saw a few weeks ago that had one of the characters left handed. I applauded the fact that he did everything left handed, not just the one scene it worked into the plot.

I too am a lefty swordsman (not sure if I would ever call myself that though lol), I have yet to run into any problems except partner work where it is expected that the other person will mirror you.

[isshinryu5toforever]

The katana is two handed, so you're not really learning "right-handed" sword. Yes, you do your drawing with the right hand, but the power of the sword comes from proper technique. You're not learning something like saber or foil where being naturally left or right handed would matter.

This should answer some of the questions about being left handed and handling a katana that way.

http://www.aikiweb.com/weapons/rock4.html

I don't like the wording of the final paragraph, but there's a certain amount of wisdom in the statement.

[sojobo]

Many "engagements" were highly ritualised and to an extent structured.

It was as if there were rules to follow and set procedures. If you were a leftie, the whole structure would collapse. Therefore there were no left handed swordsman in feudal Japan.

That said there are numerous techniques in many Koryu that involve utilising the left hand (and a sword in both hands at the same time some cases) - some schools even specialised in them - like Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu.

Sojobo

[Davisonsensei]

Ive seen where certain styles of ninjutsu taught how to use both hands in case a right side limb was injured and ninja would switch up thegrip to be able to continue to fight. But as for keeping tradition alive, a traditional grip is right hand over left. I am a lefty but have trained the traditional way until it became natural.

[isshinryu5toforever]

I don't know this ninjutsu of which you speak. Fujita Seiko was the last person to have a verifiable koga ryu lineage. He died saying that he didn't pass on his teachings and that he wouldn't. That means, there are no modern ninjas.

[bushido_man96]

Left handed and right handed should use the same concepts. Lefties will see things differently, and have different targets open to them against righties.

[isshinryu5toforever]

It's less about concepts and more about context. The cultural context under which Japanese swordsmanship was taught dictated that all swordsmen be right handed. As sojobo mentioned, there were a few dual sword schools, but they were the exception not the rule. The Japanese have always had very specific social rules that govern everything. That was what made Miyamoto Musashi so successful, he was willing to go against convention.