Re:

Heijoshin@... wrote:

> In European Swordsmanship, the right hand is used for the sword because it
> places the heart furthest away from the attacker. Safer place to have it.
> The left hand was used for a shield to protect the heart.
>

Sorry, this is horribly false.

The sword was in the dominant hand. I've fenced with many a lefty.

For the record, sword-and-shield combat is the opposite of fencing. In the
former, the shield side is in FRONT (because the shield is BETWEEN you and
the opponent) and if you're left handed that puts your "heart" closer to the
opponent, and the sword farther back. In fencing, your sword is out in front
because you want the maximum distance between you and the opponent. If you're
a lefty, your left side faces; if a righty, your right side faces.

There have been left-handed rapiers and so on, so it's pretty clear that
there were lefties fighting in Europe.

Tony

No disputing what's been written, but I wonder . . .

In my father's time, in Catholic Ireland, children is school were
still being 'trained out' of being left handed for entirely
superstitious reasons.

I wonder if this practice was common in Medieval Christian Europe?
(left being sinister - bar sinister in heraldry, etc), which would
account for relatively few left-handers.

Thinking about musical instruments, although with modern guitars,
etc. I've seen left handers (Paul McCartney) - I don't recollect
seeing left handers in orchestras. Is allowing for left-handedness
a modern practice?

I am a designer, and being right-handed is a disadvantage! Left
handedness is supposedly a sign of creativity (left brain/right brain
thing). Whilst I am partially ambidextrous the only 'benefit' I know
is an absolutely crap sense of direction!

Tom

On the same OT line my mother was trained out of being left handed and now she is
ambidexterious(sp?). This was in the 40s in new Hampshire.

--- tom.davidson@... wrote:

> No disputing what's been written, but I wonder . . .
>
> In my father's time, in Catholic Ireland, children is school were
> still being 'trained out' of being left handed for entirely
> superstitious reasons.
>
> I wonder if this practice was common in Medieval Christian Europe?
> (left being sinister - bar sinister in heraldry, etc), which would
> account for relatively few left-handers.
>
> Thinking about musical instruments, although with modern guitars,
> etc. I've seen left handers (Paul McCartney) - I don't recollect
> seeing left handers in orchestras. Is allowing for left-handedness
> a modern practice?
>
> I am a designer, and being right-handed is a disadvantage! Left
> handedness is supposedly a sign of creativity (left brain/right brain
> thing). Whilst I am partially ambidextrous the only 'benefit' I know
> is an absolutely crap sense of direction!
>
> Tom
>
>
>

=====
---
Mirumoto Kojiro
The Isawa's Pet Dragon

In my strategy, the training for killing enemies is by way of many contests, fighting for survival, discovering the meaning of life and death, learning the Way of the sword, judging the strength of attacks and understanding the Way of the "edge and ridge" of the sword.

--Miyamoto Musashi

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