I'm thinking of getting a free standing pagoda wooden dummy. Does anyone know if they are any good? Particularly the free-standing part. I can't find any reviews for it. http://www.woodendummies.co.uk/products/freestanding-wing-chun-wooden-dummy
Never used one, but used one of these for years when I lived in the UK http://www.immortaluk.com/immortal-dummies.asp Tough as vindaloo'd mutton!
Have you used one of those dummies before? I've only ever used "live" dummies - the ones mounted so there's some play to them when you hit them. My Sifu doesn't particularly like "dead" dummies, but I've never used one. Hannibal, have you used both types? Can you discuss the differences in how they feel when you use them?
The feedback is different, but I have to remephasise I use mine for JKD not WC per se so my structure and requirements are different. The freestanding dummies allow for better zoning and angling, and I will also "take the back" as if wrestling it. The downside is if you give it a "good 'un" there is quite a bit of travel, but I would argue this makes it slighly MORE realistic as a response rather than less.
The Pagoda dummy linked has two hole in the base plate. Seems it is intended to be bolted to the floor. Might want to call the supplier and ask to be sure. Holes in the floor could be an issue for some.
Thanks for the input, Hannibal, and welcome back. I know very little about JKD, so I was curious as to how you used the dummy.
I "freeform" on it a lot. That is a personal thing rather than a JKD thing though...as I rule I just hate forms, even in equipment/pair training! I will move in and out a lot, using kicks to bridge entries, or even "blast in " . As well as the usual pak/lop/jao etc I will also use guntings (from FMA), elbows, knees, locks...anything I would set up from close in My Sifu is actually bringing out a DVD on how to use the dummy, and we have a dummy being made to our association specs in development [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAluGHKGLc4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAluGHKGLc4[/ame] Notice how he "floats" as distance in between actions on the dummy, and there is some Tai Chi/JKD?FMA style moves at the end of the demo
The amount of distance he covers in such few steps is amazing. And it doesn't look like something the average person would do where they'd throw their weight around to get more coverage. Very intriguing to me. Out of curiosity, aren't there wooden dummies where when you strike a peg that section will spin around so you have to block an oncoming "arm"?
Singh is something special alright! There are a few spinning dummies. Warrior dummies make them, but I have never used one. The strike me as a bit "gimmicky", but that might be a bit harsh wthout having gone hands on
I've always been fascinated by them because of Jackie Chan movies I watched while growing up. Are the free standing dummies better than the wall mountings that just have the arms sticking out?
No... go with these guys. http://www.ulti-mate-wooden-dummies.co.uk/ultimateportablefreestanding.html These are by far the best dummy makers in the uk, for quality and sheer variety. You have a host of customisation options from size, dummy type, wood, width, colour etc.. Traditional dummies. I got mine from them and its just a beauty. I shopped around for a long time, and checked all the sites linked in this thread, go with ulti-mate.
I am making my own dummy from a telegraph pole(was being used as a post on a barn i was renovating).i have the plans in an old Randy Williams book i found;mook yan joang and mui fa joang ,vol 3 of a series he did. I plan to have a base plate that can be fixed outside to a post or to a moveable base in my shed
I have the Ip Man free standing portable from ulti-mate, I too searched for a long time until speaking to Steve at ulti-mate, they are with out a doubt superb and worth every penny. Even though it is free standing, it does move from side to side and backwards so you do get feedback instead of striking a solid unmoveable object and the beauty is there is a dummy suitable for every style, build and budget at ulti-mate, gets my vote 100%.
My dummy sits in front of the patio doors and my girlfriend doesnt mind so thats a bonus lol! Mine is the traditional frame which is 650mm wide x 1080mm deep including the leg. They also do a modern frame which looks more compact. The three types of stands are at the bottom of this page http://www.ulti-mate-wooden-dummies.co.uk/ourrange.html
Found a picture of mine from last christmas, excuse the tinsel, it was my girlfriends idea and she also named him "woody".