| Most people have probably seen a wooden dummy | | | | with doing so. Over time, as you build your speed and |
| before. There is a famous scene in "Rumble in the | | | | power on the dummy, you will eventually begin to |
| Bronx" where Jackie Chan uses one in the beginning | | | | develop tangible power in your strikes, which leads to |
| of the movie. But even though Jackie Chan's moves | | | | the next point: |
| on the dummy are flashy and impressive, there is | | | | Building confidence: When you are able to strike with |
| much more to using a dummy than just looking cool. | | | | great force, and you know that you are able to strike |
| Wooden dummies ("mook yan jong" in Chinese), while | | | | with great force, your fighting ability will increase |
| primarily found in Wing Chun kung fu, can generally be | | | | exponentially. The difference between being able to |
| adapted to any martial art style. The advantages that | | | | perform a powerful technique in the air and knowing |
| wooden dummies provide are numerous, and are not | | | | that you can perform a powerful technique against |
| limited to: | | | | resistance such as a dummy without getting injured is |
| Developing a powerful structure: When you strike the | | | | extremely empowering. |
| solid dummy you receive instant feedback regarding | | | | If you decide that your training would benefit from a |
| your structure. If your strike was solid and true and | | | | wooden dummy, there are some things you should |
| with good structure, you will feel the power transfer | | | | keep in mind as you shop for a dummy: |
| from your body into the dummy. If, for example, your | | | | The body must be between 8.5 and 9.5 inches in |
| wrist was at the wrong angle, you will receive | | | | diameter. The reason for this is to allow the upper |
| negative feedback from the dummy. | | | | arms to be placed at the correct angle. Any narrower |
| Wooden dummies are available to train 24/7: | | | | than this and they will be too close together; any wider |
| Regardless of if you always train at the same time | | | | and they will be too far apart. |
| every day or if you train at odd times, a dummy is | | | | The arms: The upper arms must be set at the same |
| always available as opposed to doing drills with a | | | | angle. Some dummies have upper limbs where one is |
| partner where you don't have to set up a time that | | | | resting 1 or 2 inches above the other one. This is |
| works for both of you. Another advantage to this is | | | | incorrect as it will develop imbalances in your |
| that wooden dummies can be used throughout the | | | | techniques. On a properly made dummy, the arms will |
| day, too; Perhaps you are going to train a specific | | | | have offset shanks allowing the arms to rest at the |
| technique every time you walk past your dummy, or | | | | same height despite the holes in the body being at |
| every hour for the entire day (to build central nervous | | | | different heights. |
| system efficiency, also known as "muscle memory" or | | | | Training with a wooden dummy is an effective way to |
| "greasing the groove"). It would be difficult to find a | | | | improve your technique, your power, and your |
| training partner who would agree to that regimen! | | | | confidence. Although it is traditionally used by Wing |
| Building power: While a dummy does not necessarily | | | | Chun styles, any style of martial arts can adapt its |
| have to be used with full power, there is nothing wrong | | | | techniques to the dummy. |