Using Wooden Dummy as a Training Partner for Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Chun Kung Fu is all about the fluidity of motion and using your opponent’s force against you.

And there’s only one way to learn that — through practice and training. But what happens to your training when you don’t have a real-life training partner? That means it’s time for the Wing Chun wooden dummy — a reliable and time-tested tool for solo Wing Chun Kung Fu training. In this article, we’ll tell you how to use a dummy to learn and practice the key moves and principles of Wing Chun Kung Fu.

The History of the Wing Chun Wooden Dummy in Kung Fu Training

The Wing Chun wooden dummy has been around for centuries — according to legend, the original Shaolin Temple in China had a corridor devoted to wooden dummies. There were 108 wooden dummies lined up along the corridor, representing 108 different attack techniques. It is said that this corridor was a test of skill, in which practitioners would move down the corridor, performing a single kung fu technique on each dummy. Some say that the dummies were really senior monks in disguise or puppet dummies with movable arms or legs that the monks operated. Whether this is true or not, it’s safe to say that the Wing Chun wooden dummy is a historied and valuable part of the kung fu tradition.

The Application of Wing Chun Techniques on the Wooden Dummy

So, does using a training dummy as a partner for Wing Chun training really work? A training dummy is a static object, while much of Wing Chun Kung Fu practice centres around the fluidity of motion and how you interact with your opponent. It may be hard to believe that a training dummy can replicate that. But you’d be surprised!

Wooden dummies can help you develop the necessary attributes to correctly practice Wing Chun’s force-against-force principle. It allows you to train and hone your balance, accuracy, timing, positioning, speed, flow, and mobility. Training first with a Wing Chun dummy can prepare you for training with or fighting a real-life opponent later on. 

Understanding the Construction and Functionality of a Wing Chun Dummy 

The wooden dummy is designed meticulously for Wing Chun training — and it’s far more than just a block of wood. The Wing Chun dummy has three ‘arms’ and one leg, which juts out at an angle and forces the practitioner to constantly move from one side of the dummy to the other — an important movement to practice, keeping in mind where your opponent’s lead leg is at all times. Meanwhile, the three arms represent the opponent’s strikes to block or redirect. Practitioners can use these four limbs to practice critical movements and techniques.  

The First Modern Wooden Dummy for Wing Chun Techniques Practice

The wooden dummy is a long-used historical tool for Wing Chun Kung Fu training — but in 1951, it was brought into the modern age by none other than legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Yip Man, who is often accredited with saving Wing Chun from being wiped from existence. Yip Man commissioned the modern wooden dummy to be suitable for apartment living. Now, you can buy modern wooden dummies for your home training. Thank you, Yip Man!

How to Use a Dummy for Wing Chun Training

When you use a wooden dummy for training, safety is vital. Start slowly to master your techniques and accuracy before increasing your force and speed. The dummy isn’t a real person, but it can still hurt you if you misuse it or misjudge your strikes. Here are some basic techniques you can practice on the dummy: 

• Tan Sao (Dispersing Hand): This technique deflects incoming strikes. Practice on the dummy to improve wrist strength and precision.
• Bong Sao (Wing Arm): Twist your arm and raise your elbow to guide an incoming strike away.
• Fook Sao (Subduing Hand): Practice controlling an opponent’s hand while preparing for a counterattack.
• Gan Sao (Splitting Hand): Perform a downwards sweeping block to deflect low strikes — use the dummy’s leg as a practice point.
• Pak Sao (Slapping Hand): Slap the dummy’s ‘strike’ away to open up their defence for your next attack.

Practice these techniques individually, in move sets and, finally, in fluid training combat, to master the art of Wing Chun training with a wooden dummy.

So, What’s Next?

Training with a Wing Chun wooden dummy can seem silly at first, but you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about the martial art through this type of practice. If you want to face a real opponent after training with a Wing Chun dummy, come and train with UMF Academy in Townsville, Queensland. UMF has a direct lineage from Yip Man to Grand Master William Cheung and Sifu Pablo Cardenas — when you train with us, you train with the very best Wing Chun masters. Check out our classes and keep practising — we hope to see you soon and help you on your martial arts journey.