What may make Wing Chun one of the most unique martial arts is the wooden doll that students use. Most other martial arts (and other martial arts such as boxing) use heavy bags (also called boxing bags) as the main training tool to develop power. The heavy bag usually weighs between 50 and 100 pounds and is dense but soft, and the student can throw punches and over time increase the strength of the arms, legs and joints. A wooden doll, on the other hand, is made of wood (although some are made of PVC), measures approximately 5 'tall and is between 8.5 and 9.5 "in diameter and has three 12" arms that stand out to simulate the opponent. arms. This allows the student to practice blocking an opponent's attack while hitting the doll's body.

Wing Chun Kung Fu techniques are specifically suited to the use of a tree dummy. For example, many of the techniques involve blockages and strokes at the same time. One of these techniques is called "tan da" and consists of a "tan sao" (block with forearm extended and palm facing up) with one arm and a vertical punch with the other arm performed at the same time. "So Sao" distracts the opponent's attack while the simultaneous hit hits the opponent.

This type of technique can be trained in a tree dummy. The student faces the doll and delivers a "tan" block to one of the doll's upper arms while performing a blow to the doll's body at the same time. Since the doll is made of wood, "tan tan" is practiced against a hard surface that resembles an opponent's arm. This is better than just practicing blocks in the air, as many other styles do. In this way, the student conditioning both physically and mentally to know what to expect when performing the technique in a real confrontation. In fact, it is not one of the reasons that even trained martial arts are sometimes overwhelmed in real matches. Even if someone has practiced a technique for many years, if he has only performed this technique "in the air" and not really opposed to something that resists him, like a training partner or a tree dummy, when it's time to do it It's true that they do not know what to expect and are likely to be surprised when they encounter resistance. It is comparable to someone learning baseball with a Wiffle Ball and a plastic ball tree, and then when they are going to play their first real baseball game, they have to use a wooden bat and a real baseball. Although they know the technique of balancing a bat and hitting a ball, it will be markedly different for them and will likely distract them enough to lose their focus. For more information visit this website https://www.mykaratestore.com/wing-chun-dummies/