Of course what you really hate Dan is WTF people with hands down. I know you have to like the power of the kicking and striking. Just don't like the bad habits some people develope, especially when they are NOT in the elite levels.

well, yes. unfortunately, that is all i see whenever i catch something on WTF sparring. I saw a vid recently of a guy knocking someone out with a spinning heel kick. I was not impressed as he knocked himself down in the process.

Anyway it was because of WTF sparring that I truly learned the lesson of working both sides. In 1989 at the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships in Orlando, Florida I received an axe kick right on the Brachial Plexus Tie-in and my entire left arm went down. I was a right leg fighter with left side forward.

The habit was not available for fighting both sides yet, I did so well without it I didn't need it - so I thought.

Well my limp left are is still in front and of course the kicks keep a comeing. My mind says block but the left arm of course says "WHAT?" and my head says "This is going to hurt"

I have since then tried really hard to be able to work both legs for any kick I do.

I know I'm only a rookie but maybe it's down to how you are taught. I am right-handed but mainly seem to kick with the left leg.

My right-leg has more flexibility and much more co-ordination, but I score points with my left than my right.

I used to be a back-leg kicker but my instructor did a load of work on front-leg leading, and it revolutionised my fighting style.

I feel more comfortable with right leg back, and my left leg is good at instinctive kicks... with my right I try too hard and the placing goes wrong.

However, I work on both sides a lot and at the last competition I managed to string kick after kick together - and even managed to score with a back leg turning kick with my right leg.

I know much of this will change when I come up against more advanced fighters- and that's why I make myself work on both sides.

Interesting though.

well, i have sparred against people like you that can only cofortably stnd with right foot forward. I however have trained myself to be completly ambidexterous. I switch stances during the fight so i can get them on their weaker side.

you sure you aren't exaggerating at all there? "completely" ambidexterous. I know that I have a good degree of ambidexterity. I started off life as a lefty, and then changed to using my right hand for some odd reason. I can do many things with both at almost the same level, but I would not call myself completely ambidexterous.

i would love to learn how to do those kicks that they do in tae kwon do. they seem really powerful

they can be. they also can be worthless unless you apply them correctly. that's one of the biggest problems with tkd.