Wing Chun Forms/Mook Yan Jong

The wooden dummy provides a training partner for when you don't have a live partner. The wooden dummy form shows several new techniques.

Shifting and Stepping 1

1. Begin in Wing Chun basic stance in front of the dummy. Left hand is in Jong Sau and right hand is in Wu Sau. Left hand should be even with the ends of the upper wooden arms.
   • Tip: For purposes of these instructions, you are facing North.
2. Grab the upper left wooden arm with the left hand and perform Spade Hand with the right hand.
3. Shift slightly to the left, sink into your stance, and mime pulling back with the left hand while thrusting forward with the right hand.
   • Tip: If you are using a Jeet Kun Do dummy, wrap the right hand around the "neck".
   • Application: Pull the opponent off his feet after you've struck him.
4. Shift back to North and rise back up to basic stance. Left hand goes to Wu Sau. Right hand goes to inner Bong Sau on the left wooden arm.
5. Step left and shift right so you are still facing the dummy. Right arm pivots under wooden arm into a Tan Sau. Step forward with right foot into the dummy's "stance" while performing left hand Side Palm Strike against the dummy's body.
6. Step right and shift left so you are again in front of the dummy. Right arm performs Gahn Sau against lower wooden arm while left arm performs Jut Sau against the upper left wooden arm.
7. Left arm performs inner Bong Sau against upper right wooden arm. Right hand goes to Wu Sau.
8. Step right and shift left so you are still facing the dummy. Left arm pivots under the wooden arm into a Tan Sau while your left foot steps into the dummy's stance and right arm performs Side Palm Strike against the dummy's body.
9. Step left and shift right so you are again in front of the dummy. Left arm performs Gahn Sau against the lower wooden arm while right arm performs Jut Sau against the upper right wooden arm.
10. Bring up both hands above the upper wooden arms, fingers pointing to the dummy and palms down. Press down on the upper wooden arms. Bring your hands below the wooden arms and press up.
    • Tip: This is the standard closing of each section. Many sections have the closing twice, once after starting left and once after starting right.
11. Repeat the above steps in the opposite direction EXCEPT at the end of step 3, after you've sunk down into your stance, left hand Huen Saus to the inside of the wooden arm and performs a side palm strike to the dummy's body.

Pak and Cover

1. Right hand Pak Sau to left arm. Left hand Pak Sau to right arm. Right hand Pak Sau to left arm.
2. Left arm come up from the outside and cover both wooden arms. Left hand draws back toward you, then does a throat chop at the dummy. Right hand stays in Wu Sau throughout.
3. Left hand pulls back on left wooden arm while right hand performs Spade Hand.
4. Repeat the previous two steps in the opposite direction.
5. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

Get some Distance

Training Tips

Footwork is very important in this section. Make sure you are balanced and centered as you move around.

Steps

1. Right arm Dai Bong Sau to the lower arm, shifting left. Left hand is in Wu Sau.
2. Take a big shuffle step to the left while left hand Pak Saus the upper left arm and right hand chops at the dummy's torso.
3. Lift the right arm into a Bong Sau toward the dummy and the left hand into a rightward Wu Sau while leaning far to the left. Look under the right arm and Side Kick the dummy's torso with your right foot.
4. Plant right foot in front of the dummy, coming upright and shifting right. Dai Bong Sau the lower arm with your left hand. Right hand is in Wu Sau.
5. Take a big shuffle step to the right while right hand Pak Saus the upper right arm and left hand chops at the dummy's torso.
6. Lift the left arm into a Bong Sau toward the dummy and the right hand into a leftward Wu Sau while leaning far to the right. Look under the left arm and Side Kick the dummy's torso with your left foot.
7. Plant the left foot in front of the dummy, shifting left as you do so. Left arm Gahn Saus the lower dummy arm while the right arm Jut Saus the upper right dummy arm.
   • Tip: The arm movement is called High-lo Gahn Sau. This is first shown in Bil Jie.
8. Shuffle step right foot so you are in front of the dummy and turn to face it. Right arm rises so the hand is above and between the upper arms while the left arm circles left and up until it is above and between the upper dummy arms. Pass your hands down between the upper dummy arms then perform a horizontal Po Pai Chun to the dummy's torso.
   • Tip: Palms are near each other but not touching as they pass down between the upper dummy arms.
9. Bring hands up between the upper dummy arms until they are at "eye" level. Turn hands mostly palm down with thumbs out. Jab forward for an eye gouge.
   • Tip: Palms are near each other but not touching as they pass down between the upper dummy arms.
   • Application: With your palms down your elbows will be out. This helps to keep your opponent's arms out and away from blocking your eye strike.
10. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

Shifting and Stepping 2

1. Slide arms forward so the inside of your forearms is against the outside of the dummy arms.
2. Shift right and Jum Sau with left hand. Right hand Huen Sau to the inside of the dummy arm. Shift left with right hand Jum Sau and right hand inside Huen Sau. Shift right with left hand Jum Sau and right hand inner Huen Sau.
3. Shift left with right hand Bong Sau to upper left dummy arm. Left hand Wue Sau.
4. Step left and shift right, rolling right hand into Tan Sau. Simultaneously do left Side Palm to dummy body and right Angle Kick to dummy leg.
5. Step right and shift so you're centered in front of the dummy. Return arms to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
6. Briefly Tok Sau with both hands to the upper dummy arms, then slide arms forward as above.
7. Shift left with right Jum Sau and left Heun Sau. Shift right with left Jum Sau and right Heun Sau. Shift left with right Jum Sau and left Heun Sau.
8. Left low Side Palm strike against dummy torso.
9. Shift right with left hand Bong Sau to upper right dummy arm. Right hand Wu Sau.
10. Step right and shift so you're facing the dummy, rolling left hand into Tan Sau. Simultaneously do right Side Palm to dummy body and left Angle Kick to dummy leg.
11. Step left and shift so you're centered in front of the dummy. Return arms to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
12. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

Po Pai Jeung

1. Slide right hand to Jong Sau between dummy arms, near the dummy's torso. Left hand Wu Sau. contract right wrist to left with firm block against left dummy arm. Contract right wrist to right and again to left.
2. Right Huen Sau over and around left dummy arm. Left Side Palm strike against dummy torso.
3. Step right and do a right hand inner Tan Sau to the right dummy arm and left hand Dai Bong Sau to the lower dummy arm.
   • Note: This two-hand block is called Quan Sau.
4. Roll both hands around the dummy arms, ending with palms facing the dummy, right fingers pointing up and left fingers pointing down, wrists near each other.
5. Po Pai Jeung to dummy torso.
6. Step right with left arm Bong Sau to right dummy arm.
7. Left circle step around dummy leg and into the dummy's "stance" and Po Pai Jeung to dummy's side, left hand on top.
8. Left circle step back to center. Return hands to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
9. Step left and do a left hand inner Tan Sau to the left dummy arm and right hand Dai Bong Sau to the lower dummy arm.
10. Roll both hands around the dummy arms, ending with palms facing the dummy, left fingers pointing up and left fingers pointing down, wrists near each other.
11. Po Pai Jeung to dummy torso.
12. Step left with right arm Bong Sau to left dummy arm.
13. Right circle step around dummy leg and into the dummy's "stance" and Po Pai Jeung to dummy's side, right hand on top.
14. Right circle step back to center. Return hands to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
15. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

High-Low Block

1. High-low Gahn Sau moving from right to center. Shift left to NW.
2. High-low Gahn Sau moving from left to center. Shift right to NE.
3. High-low Gahn Sau moving from right to center. Shift left to NW.
4. Shift left with right Bong Sau to upper left dummy arm. Left hand in Wu Sau.
5. Left hand chop at dummy's "throat" as right hand pulls back along dummy's arm.
   • Tip: The back of the right hand presses against the bottom or outside of the dummy arm.
6. Right hand come up between the dummy arms and does Spade Hand to dummy's "throat" as left hand pulls back and down on upper left dummy arm.
7. Shift right with left Bong Sau to upper right dummy arm. Right hand in Wu Sau.
8. Right hand chop at dummy's "throat" as left hand pulls back along dummy's arm.
9. Left hand come up between the dummy arms and does Spade Hand to dummy's "throat" as right hand pulls back and down on upper right dummy arm.
10. Shift left with right Bong Sau to left dummy arm.
11. Side step left and turn to face dummy. Right arm rolls into Tan Sau. Left hand performs Side Palm strike toward dummy body. Left Angle Kick to dummy body.
    • Tip: Step out far enough that the right hand is barely on the dummy arm; contact should be on your fingers rather than your wrist. Left hand will not be able reach the dummy.
12. Step right to the front of the dummy. Left hand Bong Sau to the upper right dummy arm. Shift if needed so you are shifted right.
13. Side step right and turn to face dummy. Left arm rolls into Tan Sau. Right hand performs Side Palm strike toward dummy body. Right Angle Kick to dummy body.
14. Step left and shift so you are centered facing the dummy. Return hands to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
15. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

Kicking

1. Bring hands to ready position, left hand forward. Right Angle Kick to front of dummy torso.
2. Without putting right foot down, shift left. Do right hand Gum Sau on lower dummy arm and low right Side Kick to dummy leg.
3. Shift forward with hands in ready position, right hand forward. Left Angle Kick to dummy torso.
4. Without putting left foot down, shift right. Do left hand Gum Sau on lower dummy arm and low left Side Kick to dummy leg.
5. As you put your left foot down, shift left with right hand Gum Sau to lower dummy arm.
6. Circle step left with right foot to outside of dummy leg. Left hand Wu Sau to upper left dummy arm and right Side Palm strike to dummy torso.
7. Circle step back to in front of the dummy. Shift right and do left hand Gum Sau to lower dummy arm.
8. Circle step right with left foot to outside of dummy leg. Right hand Wu Sau to upper right dummy arm and left Side Palm strike to dummy torso.
9. Circle step back to in front of the dummy. Return hands to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
10. Both hands push down on the wooden arms, then lift up.

Big Finale

Notes

Steps nn-nn are taught in some schools and not in others.

Steps

1. Dai Bong Sau with right arm to lower dummy arm, then with left arm, then with right arm again. Shift with each block. Non-blocking hand is in Wu Sau.
2. Shift to face dummy. Right hand comes up to the inside of the upper arms near the dummy's body. Slide the back of the right hand back along the inside of the dummy's right arm.
   • Note: The move with the right hand is sometimes called Jeet Sau or Relaxed Tan Sau. The starting position is similar to that of Tan Sau but the motion is backward rather than forward.
3. Right Spade Hand to dummy's neck.
4. Left Dai Bong Sau to the lower dummy arm, shifting right. Shift forward and bring left hand up into Jeet Sau on upper left dummy arm followed by left Spade Hand to dummy's neck.
5. Shift left and do right hand Bong Sau to the upper left dummy arm.
6. Step left and shift right to face the dummy. Grab the end of the dummy arm and pull toward you, similar to a Lop Sau, while left hand does a Palm Strike to the middle of the dummy arm. At the same time do a right Angle Kick to the side of the dummy leg.
   • Application: Elbow break
7. Shift and step so you are in front of the dummy, facing it. Hands are in fighting stance.
8. Shift right and do left hand Bong Sau to the upper right dummy arm.
9. Step right and shift left to face the dummy. Grab the end of the dummy arm with your left hand and pull toward you, similar to a Lop Sau, while right hand does a Palm Strike to the middle of the dummy arm. At the same time do a left foot Angle Kick to the side of the dummy leg.
10. Shift and step so you are in front of the dummy, facing it. Hands are in fighting stance.
11. Shift left and do right hand Bong Sau to the upper left dummy arm. Trap the dummy arm between your arms by doing a left hand Wu Sau. Right foot scrapes down the left side of the dummy leg.
12. Shift right and do left hand Bong Sau to the upper right dummy arm. Trap the dummy arm between your arms by doing a right hand Wu Sau. Left foot scrapes down the right side of the dummy leg.
13. Shift left to face forward, returning arms to center with High-low Gahn Sau.
14. Sweep left arm upward and over upper left dummy arm. Sweep right arm up and over right dummy arm. Sweep left arm up and over left dummy arm.
    • Tip: Shifting a little is ok, but don't shift too far. You should always be facing the dummy for this step.
    • Tip: Maintain contact between your forearm and the dummy arm.
    • Application: Trap and cover opponent's arm.
15. Shift left with a right hand Gum Sau to lower dummy arm. Step left and shift right, bringing right hand up to Wu Sau. Left Side Palm Strike to upper left dummy arm and simultaneous right Angle Kick to dummy leg.
16. Step right and shift left so you are in front of and facing the dummy, arms in ready position.
17. Shift right with a left hand Gum Sau to lower dummy arm. Step right and shift left, bringing left hand up to Wu Sau. Right Side Palm Strike to upper right dummy arm and simultaneous left Angle Kick to dummy leg.
18. Step left and shift right so you are in front of the dummy. Arms do High-low Gahn Sau to upper right and lower dummy arms.
19. High-low Gahn Sau from the left with simultaneous low left leg sweep kick to dummy leg.
20. High-low Gahn Sau from the right with simultaneous low right leg sweep kick to dummy leg.
21. Both hands Tok Sau the upper dummy arms. At the same time do a left Front Kick to dummy body.
22. Step back from dummy with hands in ready position, then move to a relaxed position of attention.

Training Tips

• If possible, adjust the dummy's height so the upper arms are slightly below your shoulders when you are in stance.
• Once you have learned to work the dummy you can practice with it at different heights. This is good for making you think about what you are doing.
• You can use the dummy to toughen your hands and forearms. This can supplement or replace sandbag training.

Key Points

• The Wooden Dummy form doesn't introduce new principles. The Wing Chun concepts are covered in the three empty hand forms. The dummy form does introduce plenty of new techniques and applications of techniques you've already learned.
• Precision is very important when doing the Wooden Dummy form for an audience. When you do a form in the air, your hand can be a little out of position but the motion can still look crisp. When you work the dummy, a couple of inches is the difference between a solid block against an arm and sliding off the end. This also applies to footwork. If your feet are not properly placed, your distance to the dummy will be off and you will have to adjust your arms. If your feet are too far out of proper placement, your torso will have to make up the difference and this will be obvious against the dummy.
• Move around the arms as you move from one technique to the next. When blocking a person's punch and, for instance, rolling from Bong Sau to Tan Sau, your opponent's arm would move a fair amount. The dummy's arm doesn't move, so you have to move around it as you flow. This is not a bad thing, because it trains you for fighting someone stronger than you, whose arm won't move when you soft-block it.
• Make sure to free practice, not just do the Wooden Dummy form. One danger of chaining techniques in a realistic manner, as in the dummy form, is that you will automatically do them in a fight. If the dummy is your only practice partner, work on it in unchoreographed ways as well as practice the form.