Basic Wing Chun training equipment can include a wall bag, wooden dummy, pole and set of knives. However, there’s other tools which are useful to a Wing Chunner too.
Here’s a couple of cheap ideas anyone can use to benefit their training regimen.
Wing Chun Training Equipment
A mirror is one of the first bits of kit any Wing Chun student should use. A mirror is used to check the centreline when performing Siu Lim Tao. It can also be used for other forms too and for turning techniques to check positions are correct.
Paper & Blu Tack
In addition to a mirror, you can use a sheet of A4 paper, a piece of string and some blue tack! (See video above). These are inexpensive and easy to use.
Stick the piece of paper to a wall using four large blobs of blu tack. Start with the paper a good distance from the wall. Practice punching the paper without hitting the wall. Slowly push the paper closer to the wall as your control improves.
String & Weight
A piece of string can be used either alone or in conjunction with a mirror. Hang your string in front of a mirror to give you a centre line. Then use this line to train your forms and punches. Or use the string and hang from the ceiling; practice turning punches and techniques to help with maintaining the centreline. (See video)
Wing Chun Training Equipment – Pole
The pole form teaches you how to sit and send energy down the length of the pole. The pole form is usually the very last thing you’ll learn from a Wing Chun teacher. Training with the pole gives you power and strength in the wrists, arms and legs.
Wing Chun Knives
Bat Jam Dao – (Eight cutting blades) is usually the last form you’ll learn as a student prior to the pole form. The knife form gives you a weapon to extend the arm positions you’ve previously learned in the Wing Chun system. You’ll also learn stepping movements in conjunction with the arms. The added weight of the traditional metal knives allows you to develop your positions and build strength in the arms.
It’s more difficult to obtain the heavy metal knives used for Wing Chun training, but well worth it since they will give you much more in the way of your training and development than the lighter wooden or plastic knives. However, you can learn the pattern more easily with the lighter knives and these are easier to purchase.
Wooden Dummy – Muk Yang Jong
The wooden dummy is probably the best piece of Wing Chun training equipment you can own. It can be used in a number of ways to train the dummy form, stepping and kicking techniques. If you’re learning wing chun online, it’s a good idea to have a dummy to train with. Even though a dummy can’t give you the hands on experience of a proper instructor or class of experienced practitioners, you can still develop some skill by using the dummy; even if by only learning the basic patterns.
Wing Chun Training Equipment – Wall Bag
One of the best and least expensive bits of kit a Wing Chun student can purchase is the wall bag. Wing Chun uses explosive energy to generate power from short distances. Bruce Lee made this famous with his one inch punch. To train this punch properly requires some work. The wall bag allows you to learn how to hit an object and switch off energy (tension) just after the punch. Doing so correctly means the full energy is delivered into the object and none reverberates back up the punching arm.
By relaxing the punching arm on the travel, you can generate more speed and power than if you were using tension where it isn’t needed. Only at the end of the punch do you use explosive power. (See Wing Chun first form step by step).
Using a wall bag regularly can help condition the hands and arms, but also help you learn how to use explosive energy correctly.
