Ambidextrous/Challenge

Revision as of 11:52, 19 September 2005

I challenge you to become Ambidextrous

I'm going to arbitrarily define three stages of ambidextrousness.

Gross, basic, and fine.

Gross Ambidextrousness

This is the ability to do some things with your secondary hand. And probably some things in this hand by preference to your primary hand. Most people are like this automatically (for example, you might be right handed, but prefer to hold a book lefthanded... )

estimated time to achieve: nill. Unless you suffer from some motor coordination skill disability or other impairment, you should be at this stage naturally.

Basic Ambidextrousness

Basic ambidextrousness is the ability to use your lesser hand for a wider range of tasks than normal, but probably only those involving moderate motor skills. Examples would include

• Brushing teeth
• Chopping wood
• Mixing/stirring food/drink in a bowl or cup
• Using a computer mouse (swapping buttons is optional, since I'm thinking mainly of the 'move-and-aim' aspect of usage
• Throwing and catching a ball
• Dialing a phone number
• Using knife and fork, and chopsticks.

If you can swap your primary and secondary hands for any of these tasks, and perform the task acceptibly well, then consider yourself to have basic ambidextrousness.

estimated time: 12 months

Fine Ambidextrousness

The pinnacle. You have no 'secondary' hand, and can be equally convincing lefthanded as right. Being able to write equally well in both hands is the main test of this skill.

estimated time: three to five years, requiring continual practice at new things. Especially writing!

Now, basic ambidextrousness can be achieved within 12 months, and takes no substantial extra time. It's just a matter of doing what you already do, but trying it in your secondary hand instead of your primary hand. It will feel clumsy at first, but remember to kepe practicing.

Fine ambidextrousness is likely, imho, to require specific time set aside to practice.

I challenge any readers of this page to achieve at least basic ambidextrousness within 12 months.

Will you take up the challenge?