I ran into the same problem when I first started sharpening knives. Although after a few years of practice, I feel more comfortable when sharpening in the off-hand position now. Still doesn’t feel as natural as the main hand position, but at least I can keep the knife steady while sharpening off-hand.

It takes a long time and a lot of practice to become a master. I know I’m certainly nowhere near and probably will never become a sharpening master. After all, sharpening is just my hobby and my craft lies in carpentry. However, sharpening helped train my patience and focus, which I appreciate very much.