I have considered about acquiring a wooden dummy to improve my punching and total hand-eye-coordination. Now I was wondering if it is worth the money or should I go for something like a punching bag for example. Also it would be nice to hear about the training experiences if you have any.

Oh, and greetings to all artists!
:cheers:

Well, as far as I know, a wooden dummy isn't really used for developing punching power. If that's what you want to do, I think a heavy bag would be better - and cheaper!

Cthulhu

I would just go with a bag to improve your punches. Hitting a wooden dummy can be a little hard on the knuckles.

Most accounts I've read say that the wooden dummy is not meant to be used as a punching surface, but to work on specific techniques. Of course, it can be used as a punching surface, but like we've already said, there are far better ways to work on your punch. Even a makiwara post is better.

Cthulhu

Ok, I've decided to postpone the buying of a dummy but if I at some point would get the money for it, would it be any good for anything? Could I learn to use it without a teacher (from books and such) since I don't do Wing Chun/Tsun.

Btw, I thought that you could get some paddings to the dummy (at least Jackie Chan had some padding on his dummy in the movie Rumble In The Bronx :) ).

I've seen Jaybacca teach some cool drills for the wooden man, using a partner instead. If you've got a partner and the motivation, he'd probably give you some insight, and you could start now. Even a little brother will work!
:D

Padding on the dummy depends on where you get the dummy and the type of dummy. For example, some dummies are not wooden, but PVC with some sort of foam padding. Also, you could always just duct tape padding on a wooden dummy yourself.

I've heard of lots of non-Wing Chun people using a wooden dummy. One book I've seen recommended is called 'Slam Set' or something to that effect. I don't train in WC myself, but I would love a wooden dummy, or a Warrior Phase I (:p to you, Gou). Just...too...damn...expensive...

If you've got the money to spare, by all means, get one! If you're creative enough, you'll find a way of incorporating it into your training.

:cheers:

Cthulhu

Originally posted by Icepick
I've seen Jaybacca teach some cool drills for the wooden man, using a partner instead. If you've got a partner and the motivation, he'd probably give you some insight, and you could start now. Even a little brother will work!
:D

No little brother (only sister and last time tried to train with her I got my a$$ kicked :D ) but I have a partner to train with. Who is this Jaybacca and how can I contact him?

Jaybacca is a Kenpo/JKD instructor in London, ONT, but he frequents this board a lot. You can probably find him by posting a thread to his attention here or on the Kenpo board, or emailing him through the members list.

Originally posted by Cthulhu
If you've got the money to spare, by all means, get one! If you're creative enough, you'll find a way of incorporating it into your training.

Money to spare - no, but I have dreamed of owning one of those for a long time, so maybe I sell some furniture and get (the space and) money for it that way :shrug:.

the only benefits i have seen from training with a wooden dummy are improved hand eye corodination, speed, and it will for sure toughen up your forearms lol as far as striking it you can but i would not recomend it you would be better off going with a punching bag for that if your wanting to toughen up your hands perhaps a kim bag or a makawara board or try some other chinese iron hand training

If you don't practice WC and use a wooden dummy you'll go to hell:D

lol naaa you wont go to hell.... Yip Man will rise from the grave and beat your ass though lol

WC is one of the arts I ave not studed but I sometimes train on the woodn man. I have two of them, my students made both for me. The first was a tree that was cut to size the had the "arm" attached. The 2nd is newer and made from steel. Hurts like hell if i miss a technique. I am going to put some padding in the middle of it them wrap with rope, for fist conditioning.
Remember their are different types of dummies. some move soe slide some rotate.
Shadow

Originally posted by Aoshi
Who is this Jaybacca and how can I contact him?

Jaybacca can be found at the following website:

http://members.tripod.com/~kenpo_ronin/jaks-home.html