The 8 Best Wing Chun Dummies

Editor's Notes

July 29, 2020:

While there wasn’t a lot of major movement in this category since our last update, we did decide to remove the ProForce Strong-Arm II, AugustaPro Half Sized and WingChunMind Adjustable due to availability issues. Some of our new additions include the Ace Martial Arts Supply Freestanding — a plastic model with two sets of arms and legs, the Adam-Lucy Learning Models Real Wood — which features a 6-1/2-inch trunk and compact base that’s secured to the ground via a dozen suction cups, and the Flex HQ Mook Yan Jong — a wooden model with a metal base that comes with padded striking sleeves and a training video.

A few things to think about for this category:

Materials: While Wing Chun dummies have traditionally featured wood constructions, some new models like the Ace Martial Arts Supply Freestanding are made of plastic, which can present an affordable alternative to a wooden unit, but will also typically be less durable. So, if you’re budget allows for it, we recommend a hardwood option like the AugustaPro Iron Body.

We did notice several options on the market – like the Dummymaker Walnut – that are made out of softwoods like pine and spruce, but avoided ranking many of these, as we noted some reports of these installations beginning to split with use, whereas a quality hardwood choice might last a lifetime. That being said, softwood options are also more affordable, and may present one avenue for users on a budget to procure a wooden dummy. If its arms give out first, you can always invest in hardwood replacements, which might help increase longevity.

Design: Recognizing that space comes at a premium in most homes and training centers, we endeavored to include freestanding selections on our rankings with relatively small footprints, for convenience. The biggest exception to this rule is the Dummymaker Walnut — which has a base that’s three feet deep and more than four feet wide. The Flex HQ Mook Yan Jong also features a metal base plate that’s fairly large, with a footprint of 11 square feet, but other models like Adam-Lucy Learning Models Real Wood and AugustaPro Iron Body feature compact bases that garner extra grip via suction cups attached underneath their baseplates, which will appeal to users trying to squeeze this unit into a tight space.

While the Ace Martial Arts Supply Freestanding has two sets of appendages, one on either side of its trunk, allowing students of varying heights to use the same dummy, the Dummymaker Walnut boasts a trunk that can be permanently mounted according to its user’s height, and the Warrior Martial Art Supply Recoil – which is designed for martial artists who are five-foot-10-inches tall– can be custom ordered for taller or shorter users.

Another noteworthy attribute of the Warrior Martial Art Supply Recoil is its reaction stand, which allows the dummy to rotate slightly as you work it, applying counterforce to your blows and always finding its way back to center, which is supposed to simulate the reaction of a worthy opponent, creating a more interactive experience.

Alternatives: These devices are bulky, expensive and difficult to store, but if you’re a dedicated Wing Chun student, then you likely see is as an essential part of your skill’s growth, and you’ll probably just need to bite the bullet and make the purchase. However, if you just binge watched the Ip Man series on Netflix and you’re now fiending to get some at-home martial arts training in, then perhaps you’d like to consider some of the other types of gear out there, like heavy bags, speed bags, strike shields and focus pads.

If you’re dead set on working the dummy, but your budget’s getting in the way, you might want to consider a model like the Attach-Mate Trainer, which hooks onto your existing punching bag to create a makeshift dummy of sorts. However, although I can’t say that I’ve trained with an option like this, I’d be concerned about the bag swaying too much for dummy work. So, if you are considering a selection like this, try to make sure that you’re combining it with a heavy bag that’s securely anchored to the ground.

Or, another option that I suspect would be a superior choice for many users is a simple wall-mounted unit like the Dummymaker Plane, which is both affordable and easy to install. You won’t be able to do as much with it as you can with a true dummy, but you’ll still be able to do quite a lot — hopefully enough to keep you busy until your skills and bank account are ready for you to upgrade to the real thing.

November 19, 2018:

Ideally we would have liked to only include extremely sturdy, all-wooden dummies that could stand up to thousands and thousands of strikes without ever cracking, but we realize not everybody has the budget to afford such a model. Because of this we also included some budget-friendly options that, while not as durable, are still effective training aids.