No worries Shadow. I don’t run a martial arts program. You will need to find a dojo in your area. 🙂

And there is nothing wrong with being slow in learning. Make sure that you find a suitable dojo/dojang with instructors that are patient. Inform them about your sensitivity to sound and sights so that they can better guide you.

How old are you by the way?

Thanks for that because I was wondering if I would fit in with the other’s because I am a slow learner do to my intellectual disability and I am autistic too so please be patient with me and I may need some help understanding some times especially to change the subject i may miss understand some things sometimes a lot so please be understanding if I do and don’t get mad at me if I do I may seem different from you are even weird and strange but I am just trying to fit in to your world this I sometimes get my p, and 9, b and d ,m,and w mixed up with each other my senses are so sensitive to much sounds sights smells and certain textures can be so painful I sometimes start to cry and go into what is called sensory overlord

I have a theory about directional dyslexia that you might find interesting. When I started training in kung fu (only about 2 and a half years ago) I realized that I didn’t understand which hand or leg was my dominant one. I’m right handed for everything, else, but kung fu was different. I felt equally comfortable, or maybe equally uncomfortable, in a right or left fighting stance. My legs were the same, no real dominance. LIke you all and some others I know, I struggle with left and right. I have to focus very hard on it, and sometimes I still get it wrong. It’s very frustrating.

My theory provides a bit of hope though, that this mild learning disability could be turned into an advantage. I’m no scientist or doctor, and I’m new to martial arts, but here it is: if you suffer from directional dyslexia, a term I had never heard of until reading these comments btw, perhaps you simply don’t have a natural bias to one limb or another and that makes it more difficult for you to translate to right and left, whether when dealing with words or visual cues. I’m not saying that makes you ambidextrous, but I am saying that you could have the potential to be a great “switch hitter” in the martial arts, equally competent with both sides of your body..

While I wouldn’t call it “research”, when googling “directional dyslexia ambidextrous” I was startled to see multiple hits that confirmed links between dyslexia and ambidexterity. For instance: http://www.dyslexiavictoriaonline.com/inofdy.html#.VICfnzHF-C0 states ” Dyslexics tend to be ambidextrous more than the general population.”

Numerous other sites touch on this link as well.

Now that I’ve practiced so many right handed forms for so long (Our style of kung fu like many tends to teach right handed for many things), I tend to be more right handed when I fight. I’ve made a conscious effort in the past few weeks though to adopt a left handed fighting stance more often, and make my left side more active. It has paid off, because I feel more like i used to, equal with both sides, not off balance or awkward.

Someday, I plan to do the same with those right hand forms and practice them mirrored to work my left side more, but for now I’m too pressed for time, and just need to practice them as I learned them.

I believe that while left-right confusion will always make learning forms and techniques challenging for me, it also is an advantage, particularly in a sparring or other non-choreographed formats of training, There may be more advantages than disadvantages in the long term in having a learning process where you are forced to consciously think about right and left.

You’re welcome, glad I could help. I look forward to your next blog, and Happy Halloween to you too!

Thanks Andrea. I need more work on “acceptance”. 🙂

Anyway, seeing you write often has inspired (and ‘pressured’) me to write more. Haha. So, thanks for the push, my friend! We will “Hangout” soon.

Thanks Aubrey, for your kind words. Had to dig deep to write this one. 🙂

Thanks for the advice Joelle. And it was a pleasure reading your blog. I nearly forgot the fact that are different kinds of learners until you mentioned it, especially when many people I encounter learn by memorising.

Anyway, it was great to connect with you. I will likely mention you and add the gist of our discussion in part 2. Will give you a shoutout on Google+ when that happens. 🙂

Happy Halloween in advance!

Wow, I’m glad I was able to help! Thanks for reading the blog and for your complements!

You might not have a learning challenge like I do – you might prefer to learn by doing. As a home school mom, I learned that some people prefer to learn by hearing, some by watching, some by doing, and I’m sure there are some people who can happily adapt to whatever is presented. So being a kinesthetic learner isn’t a learning challenge, it’s just a preference. Kinesthetic learners need to ask, “Sensei, may I try it now?” or “Sensei, may I please show you what I think you’re teaching me?”

Gosh, I hadn’t thought of directional dyslexia being a strength for teaching. I’ll have to dig around in my memories and see if I remember the things I did for teaching people who came in for their free lesson. I’ll bet you’re right! So I guess that means martial arts instructors do need to be aware that different people are wired for different modes of learning. Great point!

Group learning does necessitate that each individual adapt, but practice time and receiving individual instruction can be tailored beautifully. You’re right, we do have to structure our own learning process because every single one of us has different preferences, challenges, and needs. Practicing on your own and taking advantage of time before and/or after class to grab your instructor for a minute or two pays off big time – that’s taking charge of your learning process. Remembering something you’ve overcome is a great thing to do when the gloom of self doubt sets in.

Keep on trucking, and again, thanks for stopping by my blog!