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Reality-Based Fighters need not be trained to perfectly execute a technique equally on either side of their body. This is a subject that rarely comes up or is even discussed. The reason for this is that there is a difference between a "martial art" and a "martial science" - and that effectiveness of a technique is much more important to your survival than perfected execution of that technique.

What Is Bi-Lateral Fighting Perfection?

This is a concept that you see very prevalent in your Traditional Martial Arts training much more so than in Reality Based Scenario schools. To be bi-laterally perfect in the execution of a fighting technique means that you can do, for example, a round house kick with the exact same skill, flexibility, height and speed on your left side as you can on your right side. If you have a five-step sequence of a self defense move which involves you right hand, you must strive to be able to do it equally as well with your left hand.

Reality-Based Fighters Train for Efficiency Not Necessarily for Bi-Lateral Perfection and Execution of a Technique

When a RBF learns an offensive or defensive move, it will oftentimes involve the dominant use and/or practice of one side of his or her body. For example, if you were learning, performing and practicing the jab-to-the-eye gouge, you would probably learn it and practice it efficiently to execute only with your right hand as a preemptive first-strike.

RBF Practitioners CAN Fight on Either Side, But Usually Will PREFER To Execute A Technique On One Side of Their Body Over The Other

The distinction that must be made here is the idea that the RBF person may choose to attack and fight from a dominant side of his body over the other, but this does not preclude the fact that he could at any given moment, if he had to, fight just as effectively from either side.

The RBF practitioner is interested in what works best to get the job done of surviving a threat. It is not about looking pretty, and it is not about the picture-perfect execution of any technique. This essentially is the different mindset of studying a martial science (reality-based fighting) versus a martial art (karate, taekwondo, kung fu, etc.).