Handedness in Taekwondo Players: Shifting to Left

Objective: In previous studies, it has been suggested that left-handers have innate neurologic advantage for sport. In the present study, it has been investigated the handedness distributions in taekwondo players and in non-athletes. Methods: 185 non-athletes and 268 taekwondo players were included. Participants were taekwondo players and non-athletes. Handedness was ascertained by using the Edinburgh Handedness Scale. Results: The rate of left-handedness and mixed-handedness were increased and right-handedness was decreased in taekwondo players compared to non-athletes. There was a shifting from right-handedness to mixed-handedness or left-handedness in taekwondo players in especially women. Conclusions: The left-handedness may be advantageous for taekwondo sport, the exercise's positive effect may be on right-brain and left-hand skills, woman brain may be more plastic compared to man brain.