A wing chun dummy is a martial arts training tool. The tool is a round piece of carved wood with a number of short posts protruding from various heights in order to mimic arms or legs. The dummies are man-sized and are made for varying heights. The arms of the dummies may be stable or spring loaded to mimic human movement.
Technique
Practicing with a wing chun dummy requires patience and stamina. Learning how to hit or kick the dummy and not injure the hands, forearms and feet takes practice. In modern teaching styles, you may find more than 100 drills that increase coordination, flow and teach students how to judge distance, speed and timing. Practice hand positions, foot positions, stance and movement with the wing chun dummy, as well as kicks and defensive positions for the hands, arms and feet.
Siu Lim Tao
This form involves hand movements around the arms of the wing chun dummy. For example, place a punch in the center of the dummy and then instantly make a circle with your right or left hand to envelop your opponent's arm. Using the dummy, you'll learn how to make as small of a circle as possible in order to prevent your opponent from grabbing your arm.
Cheun Sao
Stand on the right side of the dummy in a neutral stance. Using your right arm, perform a right palm block on the dummy's right arm. At the same time, step forward to block the dummy's left arm using a right swinging arm block. Following that, perform a left hand strike, immediately followed by a right hand palm strike.
Lop Sao
Stand on the left side of the dummy in a neutral stance. Start the pattern by blocking the left arm of the dummy with a left wing arm block called a bon sao. Follow that block with a left grabbing block and then make contact with your right elbow. Finish with a palm strike with the heel of the right hand to the head area of the dummy, and follow up with a strike to the center of the body with the heel of your left hand in a left palm strike.
Wooden Dummy Exercises
You can practice on a wooden dummy by yourself or with a partner. The strikes against the arms of the dummy are performed with the inside or the outside of the forearms, hands held in a open striking position for many of the forms. The heels of the hands are used to strike the wing chun dummy post in areas that represent the face, throat and chest of a human being, training competitors or those wishing to learn self-defense in proper placement of hands during strikes and defensive moves. The Wing Chun Kwoon website, located in the Resources section, offers a number of video clips for specific patterns and exercise forms.
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