By Datu Kelly Worden
The wooden dummy, or Mook Jong, was developed centuries ago. It was used to condition the hands and bones of the ancient warrior. The wooden man replaced the need to trust someone, who might someday take your life (or in today's world, your livelihood) with the very skills and techniques that you once shared openly. No partner was needed for self-development. Essential skills of shifting, striking and blocking would come alive as images of demons, battle gods and defeated warriors of days gone by reached out to control and crush your spirit!
Have you ever wanted to train but couldn't find a partner? Possibly you should consider a training dummy---wooden or otherwise. The word "dummy", however, doesn't quite fit the bill in relation to the skills that this inanimate object can assist you in honing.
The novice who is inexperienced in apparatus training, might view the individual who is slamming and striking a small telephone pole with arms as the real "dummy". Nonetheless, even the novice practitioner, after being properly introduced to the "Silent Fighter," will achieve a deeper understanding of combative movement. Feedback just from introductory techniques including bridging, entering, proper striking surface, deflection, adhesion and several other attributes that are rarely experienced during basic martial training.
Yours or Mine?
What is a "Silent Fighter?" The mind can conjure up just about any opponent you may fear! Realistically, though, the Silent Fighter is a training dummy, originally designed for Kuntao/Kali weapon and empty-hand concepts.
The first questions some may ask are, "Why is this dummy different?" or, "Is a Kuntao/Kali dummy just for pounding on with sticks?" Both are viable questions and easily explained. The dummy is different because you are different! Will the same 108 or 116 movements that were formulated for the Wing Chun system adapt to your body, attitude and personal fighting style? No. The techniques and sets are very resourceful training aids-no question about that. When you present these set techniques, the trained eye will acknowledge the link, and your natural body movements will have been altered to express the characteristics of that style.
That's not the goal or end result of training in Filipino martial arts, however. A distinct blend of natural mobility might best describe the neutralizing footwork, platforms, ranges and levels that are contained in Kuntao/Kali curriculums.
Now I'M not choosing sides, just giving options. I believe the player is still the deciding factor of what or who becomes the superior fighter. Keep in mind, Wing Chun is for close-range slamming, primarily empty-handed and very serious stuff. But, nobody is playing fair anymore! Statistics clearly reflect an increase in edged-weapon assaults, so bottom line, if we're going be prepared,we need to develop the person not the style! Straight-line blasts and traps can be just as important as mobility. If you haven't developed stopping power, all your mobility won't mean squat. You need both! Enter Natural Spirit Silent Fighter dummy training. The primary 18 empty hand sets reflect explosive forward-pressure, yet contain circular ricochet-hitting on multiple levels, including base-disruptions and sweeps.
Author padded, pivotal wooden trunk features adjustable length padded steel arms. Adjustment will modify hand positions, creating a lead-arm distance and a guard-arm position, or long- and short-arm on top! The shoulder-joint width is adjustable; the wider the arm positions, the more the practitioner must rely on footwork to control centerline and exterior positions.
The shoulder- and arm pivots allow for upward or downward pressure of the arm positions. Another arm protrudes from the center of the padding, and is also adjustable in length or removable. The appendage addresses mid-line, close-quarter combat, perhaps warning the unassuming individual that "too close is too deadly." This forces you to note the constant need to monitor the center arm. Nothing will dampen a fighting spirit quicker than a knee spike to the solar plexus!
On the low-line and trunk base rests a swinging metal leg, also padded. This is a very neglected region of application. The "leg" is typically utilized for the development of leg or foot trapping and sticking skills. In hand techniques, deflection and scooping of the swinging leg transcends into base-disruptions or body levers against the main trunk base. As contact is made on entry lines, constant shifting, with changes in levels and ranges, brings forth a barrage of attack strategies and progressive scenarios!
One interesting note in the development of this martial arts training apparatus is that the dummy is said to have been in use for hundreds or years, yet without much change! The average person, looking for realistic results, shouldn't have to (and won't) break bricks or chop wood to learn self-defense.
The Pain Club
Think about the pain involved while training on a Mook Jong. One could easily see why those principles are introduced after a student has achieved intermediate or advanced status. Body conditioning, patience and a higher tolerance for pain are just a few benefits, if the student can hang on through the beginning stages of training on the Mook Jong.
The arm- and hand-conditioning that is needed to really rock 'n' roll on a solid Mook Jong with no pads is hard earned---it could take years! Boxers are tough. Nobody would call the boxer a sissy just because they're hitting heavy bags! Try visualizing "trunks of trees" hanging from a rope! Sounds a little crude now, huh? Slow results? Injuries? It may be time for an evolution!
Today, every instructor I know shakes his/her head back and forth about the DDR (dreaded dropout rate). We can call them losers, cry babies, weak---and maybe it's true. But, hey, pay attention. Who needs our instruction more than a crybaby or someone who is weak and scared? Now you "honest" tough guys think back to a time when you were scared, maybe it was only once. It wasn't fun but you worked through it, and in many cases the work continues. How would you like to be scared all of the time? Many people are! For whatever reason, exposure to the Silent Fighter dummy helps the shy or fearful individual to bridge the barrier of fear! No facial expression, no teeth, no eyes and no social standards or personalities to deal with makes this silent fellow kind of nice to hang out with.
Slam and Jam
The Silent Fighter dummy is designed to be very versatile, mainly because Kuntao/Kali players work double sticks, solo baton, knife, staff and empty-hand, as well as with projectiles and flexible weapons. Thus, comes the need for something strong enough to endure punishment. The main trunk is padded from top to bottom, with increased density and thickness in the areas of the face, head, rib cage and groin. The extra padding will enable hard strikes with most of your striking tools (i.e. punch, knees, kicks). Added benefits include not damaging your training weapons or live blades by hacking or crashing on a wooden post. Most importantly, the individual who is striking the center mass will be able to increase the speed and power ratio of their attacks without fear of injury. There is a catch, however: You can be injured!
If you punch an elbow, or bone in general, it hurts? Well , it will hurt on the dummy also. There's no sense of "false security" established while training on the Silent Fighter because that area contains very little padding, just like real bone! Whether a jab, cross or hook combination is applied to properly targeted areas, or a front kick, reverse punch or elbow smash is the battle plan, a considerable amount of force can be applied without injury to yourself or to the apparatus. The safety of padding, combined with naturally enhanced flow, allows progressive ballistic attacks to become increasingly personalized!
Less Pain----More Gain
Above, we briefly described the shoulder and arm area. Now let's go a little deeper and touch on the subject of upper-body development. Can we link the wooden man to advanced level theory? Yes, I believe that element is time-proves through many systems, primarily Chinese. In addition, the fact still remains that "wood" objects that are used for blocking or striking are not very beneficial to retaining beginner-level students. I know that sounds like a cop-out: Let's ease the pain and keep that cash rolling in! Sad? Maybe true? Perhaps, but in this area all you are doing is modernizing an ancient training device. You haven't lowered your standards. If more cash rolls in it's because greater results have been achieved by your students and they know it. One benefit of a padded dummy, in relation to the upper-arm region, is the adjustable width; The closer you position the arms to the main trunk, the tighter your centerline becomes. The fact that the arms are mounted on the exterior lines of the trunk helps relate the dummy closer to the realistic body components. The width of the shoulder-arm region will create different sized opponents, with longer reaches, as well. The shoulder and joint area is not padded, the arms are! This exciting addition offers new life to the very idea of attribute development through sensitivity, adhesion, resistance and more, with immediate feedback for all level players.
One area of domination that Kuntao/Kali focuses on is the multiple-hit nerve disruptions and/or "guntings" (finger picks). The visually apparent, indirect line of attack to the interior arm meridians are sometimes referred to as "double taps" and are delivered with a tempo that is similar to an eighth note followed by a sixteenth note--fast and precise. In the de Candena, or chain hand, a series of these strikes is executed in succession. The primary strike to the interior wrist area activates the nerve meridian; the secondary strike disrupts the current or natural rhythm energy flow; and the final strike, timed in succession, momentarily immobilizes the central nervous system.
Is this the magical death touch? I don't know. You might be able to play that line if you are 70 or 80 years old and have lived a life that was untainted by today's society and believe that energies other than physical exist. Joe Average? Well, he would be reaching a little deep. Let's explain it like this: The first strike would be similar in effect to a charley horse to your arm; followed by a second shot to your "crazy bone" at the elbow. For the final blow, there are multiple options of: Back fist to the face; hammer fist to the temple, or knife hand to carotid. Effects would include, but not be limited to, a knockout or anatomical facial destruction and the spear hand or finger thrust to the nerve meridian that is located in the neck region. They are nasty, and who really knows the effect that will have? You certainly won't be smiling.If any or all of that scores or lands, that's great. If it doesn't, the onslaught of attacks will continue. Knees and elbows come into play off the hand-bridging lines of de Candena. Whether the mindset of attack is offensive or defensive, the attacking weapon creates endless options once engagement is made.
Engagement, nerve-tapping or guntings on the Mook Jong would prove a little self-destructive with knuckle hits. Open hand slaps are okay but they are a far cry from the vast variety of destruction's that are possible by utilizing knuckle, finger and elbow guntings.
For the novice, the padded arms allow striking surfaces to be experimented with; carefully conditioning hand, forearm and elbow impact areas. Progressively, target awareness, weight displacement, sectoring and platforms are all addressed. The Silent Fighter curriculum places emphasis on maintaining adhesion while monitoring pressure and resistance. Although it seems like a lot to expect from a stationary apparatus, the mobile base and footwork create the life of the Silent Fighter, and you begin to discover self-progression and natural flow.
In order to systematize the Silent Fighter curriculum, entry lines are introduced as jurus and anyos (forms). The Natural Spirit Silent Fighter anyos consist of 18 basic and 24 advanced empty-hand sets. Each set concentrates on a different attribute or blends into specific combinations, creating spontaneous-flow striking patterns. These short sets employ the essential foundation for advancement into free-form. The preliminary level introduces a series of hand and arm-clinging positions that are designed for engagement into interior and exterior entry sectors.
Stick With Me
The Silent Fighter helps the individual develop unity while learning how to simultaneously move, deflect and strike--mentally creating physical scenario drills.
The initial arm-clinging entries command constant monitoring of body position and target alignment. To switch or shift from interior to exterior line, several principles must interact during the transition from position to position. As mentioned, bridging is essential to establish explosive power upon entry. All entries provide, first and foremost, "positional control," with decisive pressure and precise target striking.
The fact that the padding on the arms and trunk is similar to muscle mass gives you confidence in your ability to simultaneously deflect, evade and attack body vitals. Shifting and sectoring is focused on while maintaining arm or leg adhesion. The eight angles of mobility are utilized to help visualize footwork platforms, guiding the practitioner into forward pressure or dissipating power sectors.
Several levels of power will initially be drawn into play---from soft line, fast rotation pivots, to bridging, slamming and literally breaking the support slats or tearing the damn thing off the wall. Bottom line? Kick some butt and fix what you break---no sweat. On a "saner" note, that's what we call personal expression! If you can't or won't "cross over" with direct, explosive power right now, you might as well jump into dance class or read a Hollywood martial arts journal for the latest hot, new tips on the jumping, spinning, double back-flip with a twist, toe kick for knife and gun disarming.
So what you hear is true. A beginning student can effectively tap in on natural, reactionary movements through resistance training, both defensively and offensively, and achieve a much higher degree of initial understanding than one would by punching air in a horse-stance or destroying natural mobility by isolating footwork doing the "robot shuffle!" Yeah, yeah. I know. Well, I'm a hell of a karate man, too, and I can still rip "Bassai" kata out after 25 years. I just did! That's not it. Too much time is put into "restructuring the person." Don't just say it, think about it! How about the first baseball you threw? Were you a catcher, shortstop, left field? Or maybe a basketball player as a center, a guard, a forward? These are just generalized sports; gymnastics, wrestling, judo and boxing all focus on individual, restructuring the curriculum and essential techniques for the betterment of each specific person! What's more personal than martial concepts?Now is the time to provide the public with the essential skills to defend themselves!
I teach stance or displacement stepping and have no problem with that. This is excellent for balance, strength, transitional weight displacement and countless other benefits. What's the beef? There is a loss of natural mobility and over-structured body mechanics. With the way an attack occurs, stance work should emphasize regaining your footing---in a cluttered alley with loose gravel, pot holes, three guys on you and nowhere to run. Remember! Remember what? You're just moving!
HUNGRYYYYYYYY
To those of you who have a "martial conscience:" Don't be offended by my comments. The majority of my "food for thought" statements won't pertain to your training regimentation. Hopefully, it may have "shock value" for those who have been mislead, are too loyal to question or those who just don't care. Please pass the "cash"---Oh, I mean "da bread!" Hummmmm????
Taky Kimura trains with the Silent Fighter. Recently, after extensive use, Taky reported, "The Silent Fighter is a revolutionary personal training aid. The best partner I've ever had!"
"The Silent Fighter improved my footwork
and mobility in no time at all! I'm a believer!!"
S.F. SSG Kevin Hankins
Wing Chun Practitioner
