Wing Chun Academy of Thailand

PRODUCTS

Muk Yan Jong, translated literally, means Wood Man (Tree) Trunk. It was originally known as Mui Fah Jong, meaning Plum Blossom Trunk, as characteristic of Chinese names ... poetic; or perhaps it was the type of tree trunk they first used for training. However, for convenience or for the lack of other descriptions, it is widely known today as Muk Yan Jong in Cantonese, or Woodman, Wooden Man, Wooden Dummy, or just Dummy, in English.

There are 108 or 116 techniques applicable on the dummy, depending on how they are counted. They are usually taught to the most loyal and senior students. The dummy itself is one of the most valuable Wing Chun training equipment. The following are some of the benefits of dummy training:

1. It trains you when you don't have a live partner.
2. It conditions you to correctly position your limbs for optimum defense and attack.
3. It conditions your posture for optimum defense and attack.
5. It trains you to defend against attacks.
6. It trains you to neutralize an opponent.
7. It trains you to counter an attack.
8. It trains you to attack.
9. It trains you to employ two limbs simultaneously.
10. It trains you to employ three limbs simultaneously.
11. It trains you to employ four limbs simultaneously.
12. It trains your footwork.
13. It trains you to shifts in the most positive manner.
14. It trains you to kick
15. It trains you to deal with unusual circumstances.
16. It trains you to apply all techniques learned in the three forms.
17. It trains you to apply techniques not available in the three forms.
18. It conditions your balance.
19. It trains you for speed.
20. And for the hard-core trainee, it conditions your limbs.

One can continue training Wing Chun to a ripeful age, as proven by our Great Grand Master, Yip Man. It does not require movements beyond the natural. With a dummy setup at home, you can sharpen your techniques and practice at will. In fact, most of the sifus (teachers) got better when they left their school training and practicing on their own. In school, you learn many things but are unable to absorb them all. There are many distractions in a school environment. You are under the mercy of the classroom schedule. There isn't really time to analyse or dissect a movement. However, when you are on your own, you can meditate on any subject of your choice. You may suddenly be enlightened on a subject that your sifu had been hammering for years but was unable to absorb. Like a doctor who goes to a medical school, he studies a lot but comes out knowing a little of everything. It's only when he goes into practice that he becomes an expert on something.

Wooden Dummies are difficult to come by these days because of the shortage of good hardwood and the control most countries have placed on foresty. For the last while, teak had been the popular timber to use for the dummy because of its hardness and endurance. However, it is more scarce than any other wood these days. Apart from the scarcity of good timber, there are many obstacles to overcome before one can get a dummies made and exported. The following are some: (1) Find legally cut timbers (2) Find craftsman (3) Assure quality workmanship (4) Acquire license to export. That's just the beginning. Then one has to arrange for the packing, shipping, and custom clearance.

I've gone through all that trouble and made a batch of dummies, which are now in Toronto, Canada. I don't believe there are any dummies in the market that can top mine. They're all 9 inches or more in diameter, unlike wthe 7" diameter sold in the market these days. That's a big difference when the two inches is all around. It's like comparing yourself with someone 2 inches thicker all around. The weight difference would be considerable. One of the purposes for training on the dummy is to prepare you to confront someone larger in stature and mass. Using a smaller and lighter dummy defeats the purpose.

To see details about Wcats' dummies, click the Wcats Dummy link.