MOOK JOANG (Wooden Dummy)
Why is it so important that a JKD practitioner should learn this form?
Benefits of the Wooden Dummy: It teaches the practitioner to strike, block, pivot, step, sweep, and hand-trap, as well as how to handle simultaneous attacks. It also toughens the hands, wrists, forearms, shins, knees, and bones. It also acts to mold your form, as it teaches you to place your hands precisely on the target. Because the Dummy is stationary, it forces the practitioner to move around it by pivoting, stepping side to the side, stepping and sliding, and stepping and facing. It's a great partner because it's there whenever you need to practice, and it doesn't bruise or complain. Bruce Lee practiced the Wooden Dummy form and like I said previously, to be like Bruce Lee you have to follow in his footsteps.
The Wooden Dummy that I train on is a replica of the original Dummy that Bruce Lee trained on. The difference between the traditional Wooden Dummy and the JKD Wooden Dummy is that the traditional Dummy has a rounded trunk, and is approximately 9 inches in diameter and about 4½ to 5 feet in height. It consists of three wooden poles that represent the arms. The part that is sticking out of the trunk is a rounded, smooth shape. The part that is in the trunk is square-shaped, and it fits into a small square in the trunk somewhat bigger than the square on the "arms". This will allow the "arms" to move slightly in the hole in four different directions. It can go left, right, up or down very slightly, and one Wooden, leg-shaped piece is somewhat moveable.
The Jeet Kune Do Dummy has almost the same exact measurements, except it has shaping within the trunk that represents the head, neck and body. Also, the leg-shaped areas are made of steel instead of Wood and are much longer from the knee section down, and it mounts higher than the traditional leg. Additionally, it has two leg-shaped parts that pass through the bottom sides of the trunk. They, too, are Made of steel, stationary and approximately 2½ inches in diameter. Bruce and James Lee, who was one of Bruce Lee's Oakland school students and one of the only three students that were certified by Bruce Lee, designed the extra features on the Dummy. When using this Dummy, it feels like you are practicing on a person, and you can strike more than one leg. The Wooden Dummy that I train on converts into two: one is JKD and the other is Wing Chun. This way, when I need to sharpen my form, I like to use the traditional wing Chun leg, but I also like the shape of the neck and the side legs. This allows me get the best of both worlds. When practicing the form, the side legs cannot be used because they are not part of the form but when I practice freestyle JKD Wooden Dummy techniques, I use the side legs for low kicking and sweeping. I find them very useful.
The Wooden Dummy is the third form in Wing Chun. It's taught after the second form chum q (searching for the bridge). The Wooden Dummy techniques are divided into two Major sections or 18 SETS (Number of sets may vary among practitioners). Repetition is very important, as one must Master the first 60 motions before he can proceed on to the next 48 motions. Grandmaster yip Man, who is Bruce Lee's only known wing Chun instructor, felt that the original 140 movements were quite overwhelming, so he rearranged them into 108 movements. The number 108 is also preferred by the Chinese people, having significance in Chinese lunar mathematics, superstitions and religion. After years of experience, he felt that 108 movements were overly repeated and did not address the most important parts of the Dummy, so he change them to 116 total movements, left and right. However, by using the way that I have learned the Dummy, I will demonstrate the original 108 motions as practiced on the right side and the left side. Repeating these motions will enable the practitioner to become fluid in pivoting, stepping, sweeping, and the blocking of different angles. The more the practitioner performs these movements the faster he will become; the movements will become second nature, and they will be executed without even thinking.
The first 60 motions in the section are based on applications and techniques from Siu Leem Tau (little idea) and Chum -Q (searching for the bridge) form. These techniques are used to teach you hand-and-legs flow in JKD. Principles of simultaneous blocking and attacking, and theory concerning the alternating of hands in the centerline, are incorporated into the motions. Each technique should be completed, and the power released on contact with the Dummy, before the next motion has begun. This will develop the correct power for the motion. Moving around the Dummy with the correct stance, and completing the motion by the time the next stance stops, will develop body unity. By using natural power, not strength, when striking the Dummy and by releasing power at the correct time, you develop stronger hands, forearms, and legs by bone-packing. All of these skills, developed on Mook John, will build a better Jeet Kune Do foundation.
The second half of the Dummy form is based on applications of emergency techniques from the Biu Jee form (shooting fingers), which is the fourth form in Wing Chun Gung Fu. You are shown Biu-Jee only if you can first demonstrate the 60 motions fluidly. The Wooden Dummy will help develop more JKD hand-and-leg combinations. In addition, Biu Jee emergency techniques are designed to recover or regain the line when you have lost it during a close fighting situation. In the second half of the Dummy form, there are many kinds of hand-and-leg combination techniques to regain lost position. There are also ginger fist and phoenix punches, which are considered more advanced because, to be effective, they require more body unity and coordination. The very last set with the Dummy combines a series of leg attacks and blocks, coordinating with hand control to develop leg flow. Practicing the Mook Joang will improve your overall ability in JKD, and develop many valuable skills in fighting. You will also find it very useful in tight fighting, as it helps deliver much more power from a very short distance (like the 1" PINCH). What it will also help you with is developing your simultaneous blocking/striking, with added footwork. Through the years, I have found it to be one of the most practical forms that I have ever practiced. This is not to knock the other forms down, as I think they are very important; but as for me, I have gained from always having a partner, 24 7, and whenever I needed to practice, it was always there. Furthermore, it did improve my speed, coordination, and complex motions like block punch, and block punch kick, etc. That is why I am demonstrating this form: hopefully you will find it very useful, and will help improve your training.
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