[Gazeboss]

In kendo there are often discussions about left-handed people coping with chudan kamae conceived for right-handed people (but let's not rehash that here).

I was just wondering whether footedness also has any affect. In board sports I'm "goofy" footed (right foot first, left foot behind and push with my left foot on a skateboard). This would seem to fit in nicely with kendo. Although kendo footwork is still awkward to me in many ways the logic of right foot forward and push with left is very natural.

I'd like to try joudan one day (sometime around after getting yondan probably) and hidari joudan footwork I would think would be easier for a "regular" footed (left foot first) person to pick up. For me it's a bit like "pushing mongo" (pushing off with the front foot while keeping the backfoot on the board) which is completely unnatural to me.

So it would be interesting to hear from regular footed people or mongo pushers how they felt/still feel about the standard chudan kamae when first introduced to kendo (and perhaps to a lesser degree iaido).

I didn't find any previous discussion on this so apologies if this has come up before.

[ARKLqAZ6]

Footedness is kind of arbitrary for board sports. It doesn't matter if you're right or left footed or anything. I am regular footed and chudan footwork seems pretty natural to me. Going left foot forward is just as awkward as right foot forward when I first started kendo.

[paulaglober]

Do you mean arbitrary as in which foot one is on was a random decision (which I would disagree with since switchstance is more difficult than one's normal stance) or do you mean it has no bearing on board sports since regular footed tricks are just mirror images of goofy footed tricks so footedness does not affect one's performance (which I would agree with)?

In kata I find hidari stance not particularly awkward but then in kata we're using ayumi-ashi. But okuri ashi in hidari stance is definitely more awkward. But this wasn't something I thought about until a couple of years after starting kendo so I can't go back in time and compare to how awkward one stance would be compared to the other for a complete beginner. I nevertheless suspect that my footedness does make some kinds of footwork more natural compared to others.

[Morageort]

I am "normal footed" as opposed to goofy, but I didn't find anything particularly trickier about having the left foot back in Kendo. The big distinction I see is between being completely forward facing (kendo) as opposed to sideways or tilted as in some other arts. Since I prefer skiing and rollerblading to snowboarding and skateboarding, the front-facing nature of Kendo was much easier on my balance and I found orienting easier than I did a couple other things where I was supposed to stand sideways or partially sideways.

[ANCETPYNCTEXT]

Do you mean arbitrary as in which foot one is on was a random decision

It's arbitrary in it doesn't seem to be related to anything else. People have tried correlating it to handedness or even which foot you prefer to kick with, and it seems separate.

I'm strongly goofy when I skate or ride. But in kendo I can attack right or left foot, no problem. It's just a matter of training.

[Lebybynctisee]

It's arbitrary in it doesn't seem to be related to anything else. People have tried correlating it to handedness or even which foot you prefer to kick with, and it seems separate.

I'm strongly goofy when I skate or ride. But in kendo I can attack right or left foot, no problem. It's just a matter of training.

What he said, this is what I meant. The most common test for footedness that I've seen is the push test, where someone goes behind you and pushes you forward unexpectedly, and whichever foot you use to brace yourself is your front foot. I'm not sure how accurate that is though, because i tend to brace myself with my right foot and I am regular footed.

[dHXaE2h9]

I think the best test is the "run and slide" test - if you run and slide on ice (or lino in sock feet), which foot ends up forward? An online acquaintance who was technical director for CASI (the Canadian snowboard instructors org) says he prefers to set up kids duck and either they sort it out or preferably become ambidextrous.

[Paiblyelaxy]

I actually started out snowboarding goofy, then after a few trips to the mountain I went regular and it was a whole lot easier. I've always skated regular though. I just tried the slide test in my kitchen, and I ended up being more comfortable right foot forward. Maybe it's all the kendo and fencing, or maybe it's just a mental thing. It could also be that my floor is just difficult to slide on and not very large.

[MartZubok]

I've always skated regular though.

That's the best test. I don't know anybody who skates one way and rides another.