Left hander new to fencing 2 days.

[Megaclaw2]

I recently joined my schools fencing team.
Skip to the next paragraph if you want to see my question.
( I have to add a little bit of my personal history for you to understand what im coming from) I have done martial arts for my whole life. For many reasons I stoped, with kung- fu its very improvised based Except for which hand you'r wep is in for bows and entrances and as you can assume I just after a while started using my right arm for holding a chinese broad sword. Last winter I had a very bad snowboarding injury where my rotator cuff was torn and a few tendons torn in a shoulder dislocation.( it subplexed which is rare and very truamatic) ( with a torn ligiment and muscle tissue you can reduce it and not form a complete heal but a degree of recovery) I had a very huge reduction and recovery of my right arm now. with PT unfortunatly I can not exstend that arm fully outstretched now due to losening and continue fear of having it dislocate agian. So i was holding the french grip foil in my right hand and it felt very comfertable with swinging around and manueverability and accuracy ( yes I know swinging isnt the best for foil but im just saying it felt comfertable)

So I'm natrualy left handed, but Iv delt with swords in my right hand for 12 years of my life. Is there any exercises to build up speed and strength that I can do in my left arm and reduce the awkward feeling and just increase overall performance? Any feed back would be greatly welcomed.

[erooMynohtnA]

http://www.dynaflexstore.com/product....php?pID=13691

[jrgunn]

The only thing you can do is stretch properly, take lessons, and practice with your left hand. Your martial arts background gives you a good foundation of physical fitness, but you'll find that fencing foil is a completely different ball of wax.
So....the answer is: Maybe. There are certainly various exercises to strengthen one limb, but you want to get rid of that "awkward" feeling, and that only comes through practice.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

I'm VERY confused as to which arm you're currently planning on using to fence, and which shoulder's rotator cuff was torn.

My father and grandmother tore their rotator cuffs, I kind of live with an irrational fear of tearing my rotator cuff....... But with experience with my dad, it's probably best to use the arm without the rotator cuff tear, or wait until you can fully extend your (healing) arm. I'd also ask your PT person for advice on how to strengthen both arms......

[Go? Fencing?]

I'm a natural righty who due to an (right arm) injury picked up fencing lefty as well (I still fence righty on occaision, but fencing lefty helps balance the muscles for me). It does take a little time to adjust, but since you're a lefty anyway, you should already have a lot of the fine motor control (that I'm still trying to develop). Just practice, and the comfort will come.