[obfuscator]

So many left-handers here that feel disadvantaged in our right-handed society. If you ever want to do one thing where you feel you left-handedness gives you an advantage, pick up Kendo (the Japanese swordfighting). You have to wield your sword like everybody else but the aiming is done with your left while the right just provides the power for the stroke (the katana is a two-handed weapon). Since you are not supposed to fully power your slashes anyway, I felt being left-handed is a slight advantage in Kendo.

[kendoka111]

This is completely wrong btw.

No power ever comes from the right.

That is why there are warm up exercises using katate (single left hand warm up) to loosen and focus on your left.

It makes no sense for power to come from the right as fumikomi (the leaping motion at the time of the strike) is done using your left hips and legs.

[withinboredom]

~~Uh, did you read the comment?~~

Ah, I think that is a typo, otherwise the whole comment doesn't make sense and my brain corrected it.

[vanderZwan]

Doesn't left-handedness give an advantage in most sword fighting and fencing sports? As demonstrated by the percentage of left-handed players at the top level is higher than the population average? I heard the same thing is true with boxing, presumably other martial arts, and tennis (and who knows what else).

The explanation I've heard is that in any sport, on average one would train more with right-handed opponents. So when facing a left-handed opponent you are significantly less experienced, which results in left-handedness having a slight advantage.

That is a bit different than what you describe (since you're not allowed to use your katana in a left-handed fashion), but still.

[chupasaurus]

Can talk about foil fencing perspective: lefties get a competitive advantage only in junior years because training exercises are done against same-handed opponent (be it a coach or dummy) while they spar and compete mostly against righties. It diminishes with time.

[yencabulator]

> left-handers [..] feel disadvantaged in our right-handed society

> You have to wield your sword like everybody else

This right here is why.