Wooden Dummy Exercises

The Wooden Dummy is a traditional instructing and practicing tool used for Wing Chun kung fu. It is the perfect sparring partner. You'll never hurt it and there will never be a time when it doesn't want to practice. The dummy is usually made of teak and is relatively the size of a person. It has wooden "arms" and a log-shaped "body" against which to practice striking, blocking, and footwork.

  1. Striking

    • The dummy is solid, so do not strike it as hard as you can. Also, Wing Chun is a form of kung fu that relies on quick punches and low kicks built for precision instead of power. Therefore, you will not want to strike the dummy as hard as you can. You will want to go slow at first to ensure proper punching technique or risk a hand or wrist injury. Palm strikes, low kicks, and vertical punches are the strikes you'll want to focus on when working with the dummy. Always punch or block along the center of your body, called your "centerline." This is an imaginary line that splits your body evenly into right and left sides.

      An example of a beginner striking exercise on the dummy is the Double Palm Strike drill. Stand in front of the dummy with your right foot forward and your hands on guard. Bring your right hand forward and hit the center of the dummy at chest level with the palm of your hand. Turn your palm sideways as you strike. Bring your right hand back to on guard and strike with your left palm. Return your left hand to on guard. Now, repeat at head height but hit the dummy with a vertical palm.

    Blocking

    • There are several different blocks in Wing Chun, though less than in other styles of kung fu. When using the dummy for blocking, be sure to block solidly enough to condition your arms and palms, but not so hard that you hurt yourself. If you are bruised the next day you probably hit too hard. Wing Chun is an in-close fighting style so stand close to the dummy when doing blocking drills. Tan saus, bong saus, and pak saus are just some of the blocks you can practice on the dummy, though in Wing Chun blocks are not really blocks. They are transition points to set up attacks or movements. When executing a block on the dummy try to immediately follow it up with a strike.

    Footwork

    • The dummy is also used a tool to move around to mimic avoiding strikes. Imagine the dummy's arms are punches and you need to avoid getting hit by them. Step to the right of the dummy and throw a right block, like a bong sau, to the outside of its left arm. Look at the dummy's arm. If any part of your body is in line with the arm, you got hit. You want to be sure to move completely to the side of the arm. Practice stepping to the side and the center of the dummy using different blocks and strikes. This is easier on the dummy than working with a live partner because the dummy's arms stay in place, but the benefits will translate into real life sparring as your muscles become used to quick movements. Never step backwards, as Wing Chun teaches only forward and side steps.