The Surprising Reason Why Samurai All Had to be Right Handed

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[crashman]

Me as a left-handed person: my people have been oppressed for thousands of years!!

[anaideviveiros]

It is so interesting to see how being left-handed is stigmatized in so many cultures! My father is left-handed and he was beaten by his teacher at school to use the right hand. Today he is ambidextrous, but he suffered a lot at the time 😢

[grammarofficerkrupke]

Fun fact: In Italian, the word for "left" is "sinistra". That's where the English word "sinister" (evil) comes from. They used to believe left handed people were evil.

[TheGoreFist]

Being left-handed would have been useful in duels. A left-handed swordsman would be used to fighting right-handed opponents but not the other way around.

[ChainedThoughts]

I knew about Saitou Hajime being left-handed but I never knew Musashi Miyamoto was left-handed because I was more focused on the fact he's dual-wielding. XD

[elknolasshrineofraja]

🌸😻As a left handed individual, I thoroughly enjoyed this lesson😻🌸

[Taitetsai]

I've always used my left (dominant) hand for most of my martial arts. That last bit of information has me curious to try using my right to see If it is in fact advantageous! Great video!

[bigbrowntau]

As a left hander I found iaido more challenging, but you eventually develop new muscle memory. These days as a naginata player, it's not a problem at all. What I found interesting is that you do techniques on either side of the body, so both left or right hand leading. The hardest workout I ever had though was trying to do calligraphy right handed. Characters just don't come out right doing them left handed with brush and ink!

[edgetowntx]

MIYAMOTO MUSHASHI WAS LEFT HANDED
So am I so it makes me feel good

[chucarnaj]

im left handed and also practiced kendo in the past. it truly felt extrange at the begining

[yahir]

I'm left handed and I practiced for 5 years the Iwama style (aikido). The work with the bokken was easier for me precisely because I am left-handed. I have now changed to another aikido school but still practice bokken occasionally.

[realrealwarpet]

Imagine that etiquette rule as a left handed samurai. Suddenly you have the advantage for a sneak attack. Probably dishonorable, but if you’re a ronin, what do you care?

I always like the ronin archetype more compelling then samurai. There’s more freedom in serving no lord. At least, not long term.

[ERICxXxPlus]

Your absolutely amazing and doing a great service to share the knowledge of Japanese Culture as well as everything surrounding it! I found you randomly 3 days ago and have started watching every episode you have put out to learn so much of what I love....Japanese Culture! So thank you!

[afrikasmith]

As a left handed individual, I realy enjoyed this lesson. I know there's already a similar comment, but I just wanted to let Shogo know that there are more lefties out there enjoying his videos.

[bran]

As a left handed, when I was training kenjutsu, I always learned the katas as a right handed, as a matter of respect to my fellow classmates and to avoid accidents when executing them together. When I was training alone, I reversed the katas in order to execute them in my natural side to perform them better. If training some waza with a partner, I switched again to right dominance, and if It was randori, I used left dominance again. I think it's a fair compromise.

[longhaulpreacher]

Heh. Not just Japanese, but Japanese-American as well. Did not know I was left handed until a dexterity test for a job when I was in my 20’s. The company had me do the test 5 times since it was for the health/workman’s comp insurance. When I asked my Japanese mother about it, she said, “Well, we trained you out of it, didn’t we?” I was furious. It explained ever single problem I had in gym classes growing up. Turned out it also saved the company money on workman’s comp since I could switch to a left-handed mouse. I wonder if there are other Ishiguro’s of the past that were left-handed…

[patriotsedge]

Love your commentary, analysis, and research. Thanks for all you do. Just some American here in the US interested and learning much from the information you provide. Thanks for your hard work.

[CeltKnight]

I've been training in Japanese martial arts for over 20 years. This includes Kenjutsu and Aikiken. I am predominately left-handed (functionally ambidextrous but I "Think" left-handed). I trained with European swords left-handed, carried a gun left-handed, etc. BUT in kenjutsu and aikiken I was told in no uncertain terms "There were NO left-handed samurai!" I have several left-handed students and I grin every time one of them grumbles about having to pretend to be right-handed. :)

[Cruznick]

As a left-handed person this is very interesting. I have learned how to do almost everything with my right hand, aside from writing and very fine-detail work with. It is sometimes easier to be taught if you do things the same way as everyone else.

[Kaidanshi]

I've always admired Saitoh Hajime as the only left handed swordsman. As a left handed person myself, I no longer hesitate to carry a katana (not IRL of course) on my right waist to represent left handed swordsmen.