Does learning techniques on your non-dominant side become less time consuming as you drill more? I'm assuming that it does, as your non-dominant side becomes more proficient and "catches up" to your dominant side.
To be honest, I'm not sure. My first (karate) school emphasized learning both sides on every technique, and my "bad side" seemed to depend on the technique. Sometimes it was my non-dominant side, but not always.
I don't have a BJJ-specific answer since I've only been learning for a few weeks, but will be interested to see other people's answers.
I've been encouraged NOT to learn jits techniques on both sides (keep in mind I'm a lowly 1 stripe blue) and to focus on getting the muscle memory down pat for one side. I'm told purple is when you start practicing the technique on the other side. Now, if your game is all about triangles, you prolly do triangles on both sides, likewise collar chokes, etc. But in my experience, I have some things I do on one side, and some on the other. When I try to do one on both, I screw it up.
I agree with Georgette about needing to know collar chokes and triangles on both sides. I would add that you should know escapes on both sides as well. Nothing worse than getting stuck because you can't get your body to escape to the 'wrong' side.
Would also agree about the 'bad' side not always being the non-dominant side.
At our school they make us practice both sides. But I am still retarded on my retarded side. lol. I've only been doing this 6 months, so I have no clue if it gets better!!
I'm ok drilling triangles on both sides, but I can only recognize them on my dominant side. I've tried on the other when sparring and I just end up lying there confused as to what to do next.
What killed it for me was omoplata. I can feel it very cleanly on my dominant side, and while I can do it on my non-dominant side, I have NO clue what happens, I just get through it.
I like the idea of what Georgette said though, of getting comfortable on one side first, which is generally what I've been encouraged to do in class.
I think you will always have a retarded side. I was actually talking to one of our brown belts about this subject. He still has a retarded side, but with him it's not that he can't do it on both sides, but he is much better with his right then left.
He openly tells people where he is weak to encourage people to go to his off side, so it will get less retarded. =)
Allie and I train together, and we drill both sides when we do technique, and like you, I can do some moves with out having to think on my good side, but when I try on my bad side I have to stop and think while I walk myself through it. And sometimes, I just CAN NOT do it with out help... lol And of course as the instructors are making their rounds, they always stop by me and my partner while I am attempting to work my retarded side.
Yes! Murphy's Law.. or in my case, Donald's Law since only when Donald Park is looking at me will I be working the retarded side.
Also, one of my head instructors is a lefty, so I find myself mimicking his setups so much that other people think I'm a lefty. Maybe that's a good thing?
I like to practice on both sides before I feel my dominant side (right) can perform the technique better than my left side. I figure that people who don't practice submissions on both sides don't practice escapes and defenses on both sides either. If I can threaten them with attacks on both sides I imagine I can gain a small advantage.
Although it takes a while, I usually feel comfortable enough to attack from both sides and that has been a plus for me.
To be honest, I'm not sure. My first (karate) school emphasized learning both sides on every technique, and my "bad side" seemed to depend on the technique. Sometimes it was my non-dominant side, but not always.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a BJJ-specific answer since I've only been learning for a few weeks, but will be interested to see other people's answers.
I've been encouraged NOT to learn jits techniques on both sides (keep in mind I'm a lowly 1 stripe blue) and to focus on getting the muscle memory down pat for one side. I'm told purple is when you start practicing the technique on the other side. Now, if your game is all about triangles, you prolly do triangles on both sides, likewise collar chokes, etc. But in my experience, I have some things I do on one side, and some on the other. When I try to do one on both, I screw it up.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Georgette about needing to know collar chokes and triangles on both sides. I would add that you should know escapes on both sides as well. Nothing worse than getting stuck because you can't get your body to escape to the 'wrong' side.
ReplyDeleteWould also agree about the 'bad' side not always being the non-dominant side.
At our school they make us practice both sides. But I am still retarded on my retarded side. lol. I've only been doing this 6 months, so I have no clue if it gets better!!
ReplyDeleteI'm ok drilling triangles on both sides, but I can only recognize them on my dominant side. I've tried on the other when sparring and I just end up lying there confused as to what to do next.
ReplyDeleteWhat killed it for me was omoplata. I can feel it very cleanly on my dominant side, and while I can do it on my non-dominant side, I have NO clue what happens, I just get through it.
I like the idea of what Georgette said though, of getting comfortable on one side first, which is generally what I've been encouraged to do in class.
Thanks!
I think you will always have a retarded side. I was actually talking to one of our brown belts about this subject. He still has a retarded side, but with him it's not that he can't do it on both sides, but he is much better with his right then left.
ReplyDeleteHe openly tells people where he is weak to encourage people to go to his off side, so it will get less retarded. =)
Allie and I train together, and we drill both sides when we do technique, and like you, I can do some moves with out having to think on my good side, but when I try on my bad side I have to stop and think while I walk myself through it. And sometimes, I just CAN NOT do it with out help... lol And of course as the instructors are making their rounds, they always stop by me and my partner while I am attempting to work my retarded side.
@ Stephanie
ReplyDelete"And of course as the instructors are making their rounds, they always stop by me and my partner while I am attempting to work my retarded side."
What is that?! I could be doing a great job on a new move and the second I screw up, there's my instructor standing over me.
I found out Monday though, that my dominant side on omoplata is usually peoples' weak side, so they won't be as quick with a counter. Yays:)
I'm pretty sure that's a subset of Murphy's Law. :-/
ReplyDeleteYes! Murphy's Law.. or in my case, Donald's Law since only when Donald Park is looking at me will I be working the retarded side.
ReplyDeleteAlso, one of my head instructors is a lefty, so I find myself mimicking his setups so much that other people think I'm a lefty. Maybe that's a good thing?
I like to practice on both sides before I feel my dominant side (right) can perform the technique better than my left side. I figure that people who don't practice submissions on both sides don't practice escapes and defenses on both sides either. If I can threaten them with attacks on both sides I imagine I can gain a small advantage.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it takes a while, I usually feel comfortable enough to attack from both sides and that has been a plus for me.