Left Handed Sword Fighting

[Chris Spohr]

What, if any, special considerations are there for fighting left handed? Do you simply take what is written or shown and reverse it or is that a flawed assumption?

[Sal Bertucci]

I find that you just have to think ahead more. The techniques still work, but if you don't "flip" them, like you mentioned, it can be awkward.

[Chris Spohr]

Just so long as it still works as intended. Thanks for putting my mind at ease. :)

When it comes to things found in manuals have you tried mirroring the images or any sort of makeshift solutions like that?

[Benjamin Smith]

I train with my left hand regularly, it helps me be able to introduce leftys to the weapons, and keeps me sharp when I face them.

Basically:
A) yes just flip the right and left in the sources and you'll get the correct results if you're sparring with someone else left handed.
B) you'll find that the leverage is somewhat different and that you arrive at different positions than normal when you face someone who uses their right hand (most of the time). I think everyone should train with leftys and/or practice with their off hand to understand these differences.

[Chris Spohr]

What about left handed people fighting right handed? How do you compensate for the awkward positioning that arises from simply mirroring the techniques?

I ask because I'm heavily left handed in most things. The only thing I really do with my right hand that I can't with my left is operating the computer mouse.

[Jaron Bernstein]

What about left handed people fighting right handed? How do you compensate for the awkward positioning that arises from simply mirroring the techniques?

I ask because I'm heavily left handed in most things. The only thing I really do with my right hand that I can't with my left is operating the computer mouse.

I am also a southpaw. I fight longsword right handed, but rapier and S&B are leftie. There is precedent here. Capo Ferro addresses how to fight a leftie, which suggests there were indeed such folks in the bad old days wielding blades. Also, Meyer shows several longsword fencers with a left handed grip. IMO it actually give an initial advantage when fighting right handers who aren't used to seeing southpaws.

[Keith Culbertson]

The Pallas Armata has a section especially concerning left vs.right; practice against those devilishly 'sinister' rascals, like Jaron, is the best teacher though.

cheers