The live dummy refers to the two people dummy application set. This rare set is not generally taught. Even today those who know it hesitate to reveal it. Many Wing Chun practitioners have heard the term "Live Dummy", but falsely assumed that it refers to the suspended wooden dummy as opposed to the dummy which is implanted in the ground. The purpose of the live dummy is to illustrate the application of each of the movements contained in the classical 108 version of the wooden dummy. These movements represent a useful method to start drilling the non-contact application of Wing Chun. In all, there are 10 sections to the live dummy application set. Even within the first section, there are many variations and other applications possible.
![]() 2: Left Tan sau, right neck hit |
![]() 3: Right Pak sau, left Wu sau |
![]() 4: Right Bong sau, left Wu sau |
![]() 5: Right Pak sau, left neck hit |
![]() 6: Gan sau |
![]() 7: Left Bong sau, right Wu sau |
![]() 8: Right Pak sau, left neck hit |
![]() 9: Gan sau |
![]() 10: Right Huen sau, Left Tan sau |
![]() 11: Right vertical palm hit |
![]() 12: Left Gum sau |
![]() 13: Double Tok sau |
Note: July 1995
Each Wing Chun club has some special training methods that they are proud of and that may not be known to other clubs. Other clubs likely know the ideas and applications as well but just train it in a different way. There are no real secret movements in Wing Chun. Secrets are just special insights into the art that come from years and years of careful practice, study and thought. Some people learn the above movements and learn just 13 new movements. When master Wang Kiu presented these movements, the insights into the meaning of these movements ended up being a whole course in the art of Wing Chun. Lots of depth. This aspect can just be obtained from a qualified sifu. When I met Kenneth Chung, I heard things that I was told by Dr. G.K. Khoe and by master Wang Kiu. I thought I knew what they meant but I really didn't. For example I heard the concept "Receive What Comes" before. So I thought OK, a force comes in and I apply a Pak sau or a Biu (Bil) sau or something. Ken said you're not receiving what comes, you are keeping it out. You are trying to keep the force away. Of course this clicked in an instant when I got shown the difference. Ken still used Tan sau, Bong sau and Fook sau but how and when he applied these and the energies involved were at a higher level than my usage. I learn over and over again that there are many levels of understanding in the Wing Chun art. It sometimes takes 30 years to understand something you were told on day one.