Make Your Own Wooden Dummy
Mook Yan Jong - literally translates "wood man post", but is generally called a "wooden dummy" in English, or "jong" for short. The dummy consists of a body with two upper arms at shoulder level, a lower arm at stomach height, and one leg, suspended on a framework by two crosspieces.
A wooden dummy is most commonly used in the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun (Bruce Lee's kung fu) as well as other martial arts. The Wing Chun wooden dummy is also the most popular form of a wooden dummy.
Make no mistake, you can make your own wooden dummy. I made my first wooden dummy many years ago with my Wing Chun teacher's guidance. I found a piece of a cut-down wooden light pole and used it.
NOTE: I highly recommend seeking a qualified Wing Chun instructor to show you the subtle details of the wooden dummy. Its not just about the movements. As simple as the movements may look to imitate, you are doing yourself an injustice by not understanding the deeper energies related to training on the wooden dummy.
Images: springtimesong.com
Adam Williss is an Orange County, California-based martial artist / teacher and healing movement practitioner. He is also founder of Wing Chun Magazine. For more info, go to the
Adam Williss Martial Arts & Wellness Institute at http://www.adamwilliss.com.
