Wooden Dummy

[sanjuro_ronin]

I know we have had a few threads about this but, if YOU could design your very own Wooden dummy, what would it look like and what would it do?

[k gledhill]

Form/design follows function....

adjustable height so it can easily be changed to allow the practitioner to keep their elbows low when training the techniques. Many do SLT etc...only to face a high dummy and reach up creating levers with the arms rather than elbow position maintenance in rotation while moving around ...

There are 2 imaginary dummys either side of the main body , we point the tan / low bong combo aka kwan at these imaginary 'body's as if we are attacking in a converging line to enter into them , instead we step or turn back into facing the 1 body , tending to mislead some to think we would turn ourselves from their positions and do things then while they wait we re-face and do a move ....:D

I would have 2 1/2 dummys either side for the idea to work , not turning into, but keep going after the side dummy's for variation in training with it . like attacking a person continuously in one parallel/converging line along a wall...as chum kil . It would make the chi-sao not seem like we did this on an opponent , turn away then reface , re-directing energy by sticking t arms etc...

heavy /dense plastic built into the dummy so it was 'flush' with the wood , in a seamless plastic/wood surface to allow bare handed strikes anywhere I decided without putting on fingerless gloves like ufc type . wood for density to develop ging shock force and plastic/dense foam for striking with knuckles.

arm attachments to simulate blades for training cuts, stabs, etc..., using the dense plastic/foam for stabbing choppping...and not splintering the arms while doing so .... holes for making the dummy a pole training dummy by swapping out short arms for certain areas to parry and thrust, rather than another one 'just for that'

As technology moves forwards perhaps it could be a free standing programed attack robot that er.... ok losing it :D

[sanjuro_ronin]

As technology moves forwards perhaps it could be a free standing programed attack robot that er.... ok losing it

I too am waiting for "holodeck" training :)

Till then...

[sanjuro_ronin]

adjustable height so it can easily be changed to allow the practitioner to keep their elbows low when training the techniques. Many do SLT etc...only to face a high dummy and reach up creating levers with the arms rather than elbow position maintenance in rotation while moving around ...

Wouldn't a "taller" dummy allow us to drill VS a "taller opponent" ?

[Toby]

I've got a wooden one but I'm not happy with it any more. I built it with measurements off my favourite dummy at the time, but we got some new dummies and I prefer a higher one these days. We also got some arms on springs on one dummy and I really like that.

Now I want to replace the wooden one with a steel one. I've got some ideas and materials together. I want to have removable steel spring arms and leg and the body mounted on rollers with old moped shock absorbers and bearings on tracks controlling the horizontal movement. I want to have dense foam covers on the arms and maybe the leg so I can hit them hard enough (I find bare steel too harsh). Also padding on the body and head because some of the strikes in my dummy form hurt without padding. The springs I've got in mind are very stiff. It was hard to find springs burly enough but I went to an industrial spring supplier and the heaviest ones they've got should do. They seem to work well in prototype arms I rig up. I don't think the project will be easy, but if I can create the dummy I've got in my mind I'll be pretty happy.

[sanjuro_ronin]

I've got a wooden one but I'm not happy with it any more. I built it with measurements off my favourite dummy at the time, but we got some new dummies and I prefer a higher one these days. We also got some arms on springs on one dummy and I really like that.

Now I want to replace the wooden one with a steel one. I've got some ideas and materials together. I want to have removable steel spring arms and leg and the body mounted on rollers with old moped shock absorbers and bearings on tracks controlling the horizontal movement. I want to have dense foam covers on the arms and maybe the leg so I can hit them hard enough (I find bare steel too harsh). Also padding on the body and head because some of the strikes in my dummy form hurt without padding. The springs I've got in mind are very stiff. It was hard to find springs burly enough but I went to an industrial spring supplier and the heaviest ones they've got should do. They seem to work well in prototype arms I rig up. I don't think the project will be easy, but if I can create the dummy I've got in my mind I'll be pretty happy.

Springs like this?

[CFT]

Wouldn't a "taller" dummy allow us to drill VS a "taller opponent" ?I think Kevin means a non-personalised dummy so that anyone can approach it, adjust for height and then train with the dummy.

[sanjuro_ronin]

Question:

Spring loaded arms - good or bad?
Spring loaded base VS rotating base?

[sihing]

Question:

Spring loaded arms - good or bad?
Spring loaded base VS rotating base?

I think the spring loaded arms would make you chase hands alot. If you don't chase hands allot you would always be going thru them to the center of the dummy, so you might as well not have the arms there if that was the case. Sifu Lam has a pair of these sticking out of one of his trees in his backyard, the seemed pretty useless to me.

A spring loaded base would be the way to go, it would force pressure back onto your structure, thereby making it stronger and more able to handle it. There's a company out there that makes spring loaded dummies, where the springs are behind the dummy, support by a solid base. No mounting required.

James

[sanjuro_ronin]

I think the spring loaded arms would make you chase hands alot. If you don't chase hands allot you would always be going thru them to the center of the dummy, so you might as well not have the arms there if that was the case. Sifu Lam has a pair of these sticking out of one of his trees in his backyard, the seemed pretty useless to me.

A spring loaded base would be the way to go, it would force pressure back onto your structure, thereby making it stronger and more able to handle it. There's a company out there that makes spring loaded dummies, where the springs are behind the dummy, support by a solid base. No mounting required.

James

Link please?

[k gledhill]

the height is for personal development ...if you fight a guy taller than you then your not offering levers you may use bilgee more rather than climb the bridge ...if you know the levels of elbows then you can do what you like ..if you simply train higher always for everyone ...then you ruin yourself. SLT would be elbows high up for fighting tall people only .
The arms are solid to develop SHOCK force sudden impact that removes but does not chase ...O---->OOO>---O executive desk play toy idea, energy transfers to another object, while remaining still after impact [ from elbow control not wrist hand chasing]...
we hold our defensive centerline doing this while clearing our way to strike in...from pole , ballisitic removal while staying to stab the pole inline with were the previous position was held by the other pole ..if it wasn't there to remove ..your stabbing in anyway.

dummy should be personal, not one size fits all ....taall guys should be the opposite and striving to lower themselves for the idea too. stance low elbows low...loooow.:D once you know the idea you are no longer a slave to it and just get on with the fun of mortal combat :D

[sanjuro_ronin]

the height is for personal development ...if you fight a guy taller than you then your not offering levers you may use bilgee more rather than climb the bridge ...if you know the levels of elbows then you can do what you like ..if you simply train higher always for everyone ...then you ruin yourself. SLT would be elbows high up for fighting tall people only .
The arms are solid to develop SHOCK force sudden impact that removes but does not chase ...O---->OOO>---O executive desk play toy idea, energy transfers to another object, while remaining still after impact [ from elbow control not wrist hand chasing]...
we hold our defensive centerline doing this while clearing our way to strike in...from pole , ballisitic removal while staying to stab the pole inline with were the previous position was held by the other pole ..if it wasn't there to remove ..your stabbing in anyway.

dummy should be personal, not one size fits all ....taall guys should be the opposite and striving to lower themselves for the idea too. stance low elbows low...loooow.:D once you know the idea you are no longer a slave to it and just get on with the fun of mortal combat :D

Thank you.

[Grilo]

I think if I was to build my own dummy there are several things I would add or take away from the original design.

I would want it height adjustable so that I could train against shorter, my own, or taller individuals. I would design a leg that could randomly kick out. PVC body that has the ability to take on water through a tube in the bottom adding weight. The body would be able to move around by a track on the top and able to rotate. Having the arms able to shoot out like punches would be handy. Portable would be handy so that it could be taken outside for nice days.

I think that is all that I would need. Maybe some speakers in the top to play music while I train.

Patrick.

[Toby]

Springs like this?Essentially yes, although with the springs as close to the body as possible.

Question:

Spring loaded arms - good or bad?
Spring loaded base VS rotating base?I personally like the spring loaded arms. I don't think they make you chase hands. Even the ones at my school, which are looser than I think I'd prefer, are fun to use. The ones I've found are significantly stiffer. You can still do the forms, but I definitely prefer free-form dummy work with the sprung arms. Takes a minute or two to get used to it.

As I mentioned I want the body sprung as well. I thought about putting the whole dummy on a car spring as I've seen pictures of before. In the end I decided to go with the idea I've got. Probably 4 tracks with inner and outer RHS steel and very heavy duty bearings so the dummy runs in and out on tracks. 2 of the tracks with moped coilover shocks to control how it runs. If you hit the dummy body straight on it'll obviously have optimal performance. If you hit it side on, it won't move at all, but I never hit my current one side on (because it's mounted on rails, which precludes that). If you hit it at 45°, hopefully it'll still move.

[sanjuro_ronin]

I think if I was to build my own dummy there are several things I would add or take away from the original design.

I would want it height adjustable so that I could train against shorter, my own, or taller individuals. I would design a leg that could randomly kick out. PVC body that has the ability to take on water through a tube in the bottom adding weight. The body would be able to move around by a track on the top and able to rotate. Having the arms able to shoot out like punches would be handy. Portable would be handy so that it could be taken outside for nice days.

I think that is all that I would need. Maybe some speakers in the top to play music while I train.

Patrick.

Maybe all wheel drive too ?
;)

[couch]

Link please?

http://www.woodendummy.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=22_134&products_id=60

[sanjuro_ronin]

http://www.woodendummy.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=22_134&products_id=60

Ah, thank you.