How to Build a Wing Chun Dummy

Wing Chun dummies are used for practitioners of Wing Chun and to a lesser extent anyone concerned with hand techniques and striking. You can find them for sale on a variety of websites starting at around $800 to $1,000. Other web sites offer detailed instructions for the proper construction of a dummy. An unmounted dummy is much easier to construct than one with a base and mount.

Things You'll Need

  • Cylinder of hardwood material (preferably teak), 5 feet tall by 9 inches in diameter
  • 4 pieces of rounded wood (same wood as body), 22 inches long
  • Sander
  • Power Saw
  • Lathe
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Instructions

  1. Body

    • 1

      Drill three circular holes in the wood body piece and then square them with a flat edge for the arms. The top two arms are cross-sectional through the center of the body. The upper arms should correspond to the user's shoulders.

    • 2

      Put the hole for the left arm 9 inches from the top of the body and slightly higher than where you will drill the hole for the right arm.

    • 3

      Center the lower arm 8 1/2 inches below the top two arms.

    • 4

      Drill the a hole for the leg 8 1/2 to 9 inches from the bottom.

    Arms

    • 5

      Use the lathe to round the three arms for contact.

    • 6

      Insert the arms, making sure they are tight. The arms should pass through the dummy leaving two inches in the back.

    • 7

      Secure the wooden arms with a wedge.

    Leg

    • 8

      Use the lathe to round the wood for contact.

    • 9

      Insert the rounded, wooden leg at either a bent angle or straight. Make sure to pass the leg through the body, leaving wood emerging from the back.

    • 10

      Secure the wooden leg with a wedge.