A unique piece of training equipment used by Wing Chun practitioners is called the "mook yan jong" in Cantonese.  In English this translates to "wooden man".  Although wooden training dummies are used in other systems of Chinese martial arts Choy Lay Fut is a notable example), it is students of Wing Chun who have used it most extensively and developed its practice to the most sophisticated level.  It was one of the most essential pieces of which Bruce Lee used in his quest for technical perfection.

The wooden dummy has a wooden trunk approximately six feet tall and approximately twelve inches in diameter.  Two arms project from the trunk just below neck level.  A third arm projects from the trunk and at waist level.  A leg extends forward from the lower portion of the trunk.  Bruce made several modifications to the traditional dummy to make it more realistic.  One of these was to have a channel beneath the head to simulate a neck.  He also experimented with spring loaded arms and legs in various configurations.

Although the dummy does not replace a live sparring partner, it serves as a valuable substitute when a partner is not available.  In addition, you can apply full force techniques against the dummy without damaging it.  The same techniques against a live opponent would result in serious injury.  Bruce felt that the mook jong was one of the best pieces of apparatus to aid in cultivating blocks, simultaneous parrying and hitting, pulling techniques, trapping, and striking.  He believed that training on the dummy honed his skills elevating them to a razor sharp level, improving his speed and explosiveness to an even higher level.

One of the key elements to using the dummy to its maximum effect is to focus on the angle of the demonstrator's body relative to the mook jong and to shifts in the body position during the transition from one technique to another.

Traditionally, the mook yan jong set was considered to have 108 techniques. although the exact number could vary among practitioners.  This complete set was broken down into several series of movements.  The student would advance to the next series only after having mastered the previous series.

Training on the mook jong is such a complicated and intricate subject that an entire book could be devoted to it alone.  In fact, there have been books written (and videotapes made) on this topic alone.  I am not therefore going to try to cover the entire set.  Instead, I am going to present the first 50 movements contained the most basic and essential movements.  As the student progressed to the more advanced movements, he was allowed a degree of lead way for individual expression.  However, the first 50 movements are performed virtually identically by all Wing Chun students.  

In as much as the following series is as Bruce taught to us, I have added an entry to bridge the gap before beginning the first series.

When you are working the mook jong you should always imagine that you are executing the techniques against a live opponent.  Your practice should always be alive and dynamic.  You should never be stiff and mechanical.  To help you understand this concept, I demonstrated the techniques from the first five series applied against a live opponent.

Bruce would free lance on the dummy. He would intuitively mix techniques using this own creativity and imagination.  You should do the same and make your own path.

Although it is useful to master the set as presented, it is important not to be bound by it.  Your imagination is the most important training tool you have at your disposal.  Experimentation was the cornerstone to Bruce's approach to training.

You should practice individual techniques on the dummy.  You can punch, block, kick, trap, and practice entry to throws.  As your proficiency improves, you can begin to incorporate more combinations into your training.  The JKD four corner defense, simultaneous strike and defense, shin kick entry, etc., should all be part of your training regimen.

It's impossible to prescribe a "one size fits all" approach to mook jong training.  How much any given person should train depends on what skills that person already has and what his or her strengths and weaknesses are.

If you have never trained on the dummy before I recommend that you train on it for at least 20 minutes per session, and at least three days per week.  Once you have become familiar with the mook jong, you can adjust your training appropriately.

Copyright © 2002 [Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do Grappling Association - Larry Hartsell Seminars].
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