Due to my current right shoulder issues, I delve into the basics of left-hand training in this post. For the past few months, I’ve had severe tendonitis in my right shoulder and am going through physical therapy to address this issue. I have restricted Arnis training strictly to my left hand during this period. The good news is that many of my private clients are embracing this. THEY LOVE THE CHALLENGE!

Side note: I apologize for the audio quality in the below video. I’ve determined that my iPhone’s charging port (where the mic receiver is plugged in) needs to be repaired. So, I had to record the video without the mic system I usually use.

Anyway, I highly recommend you start training your non-dominant hand with the basic 12 angles of attack. I offer several variations in the video above. The goal is to achieve a basic level of physical literacy with the non-dominant hand. Just get comfortable.

Do several reps of the above exercises EVERY DAY. I guarantee you, the more reps you do, the more comfortable you will get.

A realistic goal is to achieve basic competency with your non-dominant hand.

On the other hand, the ideal is for the non-dominant hand to be as good as the dominant hand. As many of you know, the late Professor Presas was phenomenal with both hands.

I’ve been training in Modern Arnis since 1998 and have trained with the left hand since then. Even today, I am not as comfortable with the left hand as I am with the right hand. Nevertheless, I will keep training the left hand as much as possible to reach the elusive ideal goal.

From a neurological perspective, I need to mention the benefits of training with the non-dominant hand. I believe it promotes neurological growth by creating new neural pathways, which can improve brain function and cognitive abilities. Given the family (on both sides) history of Alzheimer’s, I have to give this training a long-term shot!

I can also say that the more you train with the non-dominant hand, the more possibilities you will see when doing free-style tapi tapi with a training partner. As noted above, training with the non-dominant hand may create new neural pathways. This may explain why I see more possibilities when training intensively with the left hand.

How much do you train with your non-dominant hand? I’d like to hear from you!

Other Stuff I’ve Written

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