Steve Schultz - Guide to Wooden Dummy Construction

How to Build a Wooden Dummy.

Have you ever wanted to build a wooden dummy and save hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of buying one from a store?

This book will show you how you can build an authentic wooden dummy (Mook Yan Jong) for a fraction of the price it costs to purchase a dummy from a retail store.

You need a wooden dummy to develop your fighting ability to its full potential. A wooden dummy will allow you to train whenever you want and with as much power as you want. You can train every day without the need for a partner. You can train for as long as you want until your technique is perfect and powerful. Even a small amount of training with the dummy each day will go a long way toward building accurate and dependable power in your technique.

The first thing you will notice is that my wooden dummy is authentic in design. It conforms to tradition, as opposed to many of the dummies you have undoubtedly seen online that hardly even look like dummies. Any proponent of Wing Chun knows that an authentic dummy is necessary to develop proper structure and power.

The Guide to Wooden Dummy Construction will give you complete, step-by-step instructions on:

* How to obtain the materials you need
* Exactly what materials and tools you need
* Exact measurements for each step
* Precise instruction for cutting each hole
* Step-by-step instruction with all parts clearly labeled, with many diagrams and color photos
* Possible variations on the dummy design
* And more!

You will save hundreds of dollars by building your own wooden dummy.

EWC Review Notes:

This is a good manual (17 pages) on building a dummy - one of the better ones out there, but it actually teaches you how to build a PVC dummy, not a wooden one. The concepts are all the same - except the drilling of the holes. Also, it only deals with the dummy body and stand, not the arms and legs, which you'll have to buy. Still, if you want to build a dummy cheaply, this is an excellent reference. Arms, leg and slat holes in a wooden trunk are all very difficult to do, and the equipment to make good arms and legs cost more in equipment than buying a wooden dummy in most cases. Full review available at the blog.

FAQ with Steve Schulz

Why are your instructions better than the others out there?

My book is not just a blueprint. It explains every step you need to take and every measurement you need to make. It will tell you how to obtain all the materials you need, what tools are necessary, and show you the direction in which to make each cut.

My dummy is 100% authentic with regard to size and shape. Many of the other dummy projects found on the net contain one or more of the following shortcomings:

Common limb flaws with other dummies:

* PVC limbs in general. PVC limbs will not work on a wooden dummy because they will bend and possibly break when force is applied. This is especially true if the PVC limbs are not sufficiently thick
* Wooden limbs that are not rounded or tapered. Limbs with square corners cannot be used with proper force
* On many dummies the upper arms are at significantly different heights. Even though the holes must be made at different heights, properly constructed limbs have offset shanks to allow them to rest at almost the same height. On an authentic dummy, the upper limbs will be within 1/2" of the same height. This is essential. The left Bong Sao should be at the same height as a right Bong Sao, for example.

Common body flaws with other dummies:

* Flat Bodies. A dummy with a flat body cannot be effectively used from angles.
* Some dummies on the market do not even have holes for the support slats

Common stand flaws:

* If a dummy's stand is not strong enough to withstand strong forces, the practitioner will be unable to train to his potential

How does a PVC body differ from a wooden body?

The plastic body performs almost exactly like a traditional body, except it doesn't weigh as much. Since it is plastic, harder punches can be delivered without much pain. It is also much easier to cut holes in a plastic body than a wooden one. It is all but impossible to adequately cut holes in a wooden trunk unless you are an experienced woodworker.

What about using PVC limbs?

PVC limbs will bend and possibly break if you apply too much force to them. Also, PVC limbs cannot be set so the top arms rest at the same height. Please see the section above on "Limb flaws."

I do not practice Wing Chun or Jeet Kune Do but I practice ________ art. Will I benefit from a wooden dummy?

While a traditional Wing Chun wooden dummy was designed for Wing Chun techniques, other arts' techniques can still be applied to it. However, it is up to you to decide if you think your practice would benefit from one.

What is the format of your book?

The book is 17 pages (not including the cover) with color photographs and black and white diagrams. It comes with comb binding, a black backing, and a clear cover. This allows the book to lay open at your workspace for you to reference while you work.

What are the key points to look for when comparing wooden dummies?

The following are all essential to an authentic dummy:

* Wooden limbs that are tapered and round, with the top two being almost the same height. The shanks (the part that goes through the dummy) should be square to prevent the arm from spinning.
* A round body of proper diameter, which is 8.5" to 9.5". Any larger or smaller does not allow the arms to be set properly.
* A sturdy frame.

A dummy lacking any of the above characteristics will not allow for proper structure development.