Robot on Dummy

This is one dummy display that IS hard to match ! Maybe it's getting at the idea of simulation and 'aliveness' that Mat Thornton criticizes traditional training for, (no footwork). Ok - no it ISN'T, but ...good work here. I got this off youtube and its by Andy McGrath a 3D animator interested in Wing Chun. Good skills. www.anthonymcgrath.co.uk

Extreme Slam Set Segment

I bought this double-VHS set when I got my dummy in 2003/4. What I liked about this set was the insights and uses of the dummy. It went beyond what the classical instructional tapes had and was better than the JKD dummy tapes I had. JKD dummy use is very fast and hard to see what the practitioner is doing, (ok that's not totally true). Here Simonet had some integrated moves from other arts and does show multiple applications for the same tool. That is worthy.
Here I liked the straight blast that ends in the eye jab / fuk sau shape.

Sticks On The Dummy

Here is Addy Hernandez - Joseph Simonet's co-worker using the dummy, [minus its leg] for stick work. Fair use of the dummy. Lucay Lucay does something similar. If you are worried about splinters, then use rolled up magazine, or just put a tree branch in where the arm was.

Jeet Kune Do TRAPPING 1 Also Applied To Dummy

This is some good teaching and application video from Youtube. It's about the controversial skill of trapping:

Some people debate the value of this skill. Some say its H-a-R-d to implement. Some say it is hard - but you need to practice it - therefore.

I only know about 2 or 3 traps properly. You either excel at this or don't bother, I sometimes think. Complex or compound traps just arn't going to happen in an assault, they are best seen as using energy in different ways.
Interestingly Geoff Thompson said trapping is useful - it's how its applied. A basic pak sau and punch is well worth knowing, I believe as it could be seen in practical situatuations - e.g. finger pointing aggression; grab attempt. Remember you can re-feed your punch - dont bother swimming for another solution. OR just change your angles for a new line of attack.

Some JKD schools like Ted Wong's don't do trapping I understand. Maybe trapping will be reclassified to fit into wrestling and stand-up grappling. I can see chi sau going this way - see Alan Orr's www for ideas there.

Anyway what I liked here was the use of the dummy / other person. This is a clear video. Credit to the teachers.

Useful Quote From Josh Waitskin

Here is a good quote from Josh Waitzkin author of the book The Art of Learning.

From: http://onthemat.com/articles/Josh_Waitzkin_Interview_01_25_2008.html

"But to answer your question—honestly, a very large percentage of Tai Chi practitioners have their heads in the clouds…and they are the ones who make the most noise, stage the silly fake demonstrations, and create a cultish mindset that a practical fighter can just walk right through. I’d write them off too. Plus the system has little groundwork and most teachers are still closed minded about that element of the martial arts. Frankly, I think this problem is rampant in many traditional martial arts—teachers are terrified of looking bad and losing students so they create a world that denies what they don’t know."

What is interesting here is Josh is an uber MMA. He cross-trained Tai Chi, Brazillian JJ and chess !

He has ideas of how they are linked. What I liked in this quote is how he shows learning can take place in a bubble. If you stay in one place you miss out external voices that may want to test and question your premises. I can identify learning in martial arts when people refer to the techniques validity, via a master, in the system.

What has this got to do with the Wing Chun Dummy. Well it can be applied as a reminder to the learning of the form in its own right - rather than applications. You may get a shock if you arn't thinking about applications. Also you look on youtube and the comments people make about diversity of use of the dummy. It shows how people think there is one right way. That is the 'closed' mind set mentioned here in the quote.

It could be BJJ and Vale Tudo develop a closed mindset too if they end up thinking, due to their corrections and criticisms, they have arrived at THE method and stop pressure testing it and examining even old ideas again.

Triangular Footwork

This footwork #is# in the 116 movements if you choose to see it. The leg is in the dummy to make you vector on the 'V' shape. (I had drawn some pictures earlier on in the blog - see archives for these ideas, but now I know how to link to youtube its a good idea to revise this).

Doesn't matter if the 116 movements has the 'exact' footwork, as your drills can just absorb differences).

Psychology-Richard Grannon- Learn To Deal With Verbal Threat

Look at this. Self-defense orientated video. Here the instructor offers models of what pre-fight rituals look like. This is aggressive behavior that men get into before a conflict. This is worth knowing about. (Geoff Thompson started making people aware of this in the mid 90s).

The hands up can be used when on the dummy - pretend you're fencing off people in each of the forms sections maybe, or in your drills ? Hands up at all times above the dummy arms. Maybe the dummy arms touch you ? - then its elbow range.

Here the video uses talk to diffuse the situation and be vigilant, too, for aggression.

Parts of this video offer very new approaches to 'the fence' - @ 6 mins in he looks at type of talk stance. This is even sideways on like a therapist ! This is interesting - (maybe if you are trying to win the person over to be your friend / be friendly. Get this wrong and your dead).

Words of Wisdom PT 1

Here listen to the 'new paradigm' for learning and training MA by Matt Thornton. See his chess analogy too @ 6.30 onwards. Very apt.

Silat Meets Wing Chun

Here we have Wing Chun mixed with Silat. This could be trained on the dummy - those chopping straight blasts. It wouldn't need padding either, as the blade of the hand can chop hard on the dummy.

The way they talk about Silat's evolution, it is feasible Southern stylists came from China with Wing Chun ideas and they were adapted. Plus the weapons of Kali ....

Wing Chun - Dummy form explained

Here the teacher shows dummy applications from the form. Good stuff. Worth watching all the way through.

Opening Credits -- The Taking of Pelham 123

This can be the tune for the dummy. This is Shire's peice that repretsents the hussle and bussle of diverity in New York.
Well the dummy can represent that in its moves - or the moves you apply to it. Joseph Simonet's work on the Slam Set is very diverse. I dedicated this to him !

CCK TCPM Wooden Dummy Form

Here is another Kung Fu use of the dummy (non-Wing Chun. I can see some similarities in how Randy Williams uses his dummy form and this. Eg. use of elbows and knees in the form here. Leg sweeps too. Some differences - a 360 tiger tail spin in this. High protecting arm in this form too.
If its possible the best camara angle for dummy forms is 3/4 down view. Its hard to see the near side when the practitioner is camera side.

Master Donald Mak demo in Hong Kong

Look this is an 'air dummy' - someone doing the form like an Air Guitar ! There is a Nike advert out there with a woman doing the same thing.
This practitioner has nice crisp movement.

Human Weapon Kung Fu - Chain Punching

Glad to see this topic being addressed. Wish I saw all of this program.

How Many Wing Chun Fighters Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb ?

The above joke title applies to Wing Chun especially as there is so much hair splitting. The answer is : 5. One to screw in the bulb - the other 4 to say they are doing it wrong !

I am prompted to say this because I saw on someone elses' blog they had a youtube.com video on their wooden dummy use. He had to disable comments as he was getting slated. Even if he was perfect in his sub-style of Wing Chun he would STILL get slated I bet (see above joke answer).

You don't get this in MMA, Thai boxing, Judo etc. These arts are very effective. They test their techniques full contact too remember - an acid test.

Steve Sinclair's wooden dummy knowledge

Go here for some good insights:

http://www.ukwingchun.com/Wooden_Dummy.htm

very sensible comments made.

For example he shows the double 'garn sau' hands - that are broad apart onthe dummy but are close in application.











I have his video on wing chun 'Pure and Simple' and its very good indeed. Not many people talk about it, strangley. It's the only one that shows you how to use the hit fall wine - Dit da Jow - to condition your hands after sand bag use. He does this in a circular motion really rubbing hard into the area. I use this and believe it works - but don't know why - it could be just the rubbing itself ?

Josh Waitzkin: The Art of Learning on ABC News - Part 2

Here is part 2. The clips about Martial Arts look more like Ju Jitsu than they do Tai chi. Then at the end he says why ! Hope he succeeds !

Josh Waitzkin: The Art of Learning on ABC News - Part 1

This is the first of 2 videos on a chess master who also is into Martial Arts. He has a book out about the learning processes behind both. I want this.
I know this isnt about the wooden dummy - but I have to make an exception - because I have an interest in chess too and the learning process too. So should you. There is a debate out there about 'transferable skills' / 'sports specific' skills etc. in learning. Search for transferability in what you do. Get a pair of eyes that see ideas in other disciplines. Be a magpie don't be like water - as you fit into someone else cup.

Choy Li Fut's Version Of The Dummy

clips of wooden dummy in cinema