WCI Review - Todd Taganashi - Wing Chun Wooden Dummy Vol. 1: Drills & Concepts

Starting off this new year and decade, we will be covering a new instructional series from Sifu Todd Taganashi. In this first video, after an introduction and brief testimonial of his personal martial arts history, he acquaints us with the subject of interest, the system's staple training device, the Wooden Dummy. Following up with an explanation of its dimensions, gates and how to approach training with the Wooden Dummy, he moves on to demonstrate the techniques, their terminologies and relative applications.

Firstly, let's remind the audience that Sifu Taganashi's title to this video is "Drills & Concepts", as the opening demonstration of techniques is not the traditional sequence of movements for the first Wooden Dummy set. He adopts another staple Wing Chun training exercise, Lap Sau, to provide a solo training experience that is then reinforced with the assistance of a demonstration partner, to break down fighting concepts and initiatives. "Some (people) may disagree with me; but, that's their prerogative."

With each partner-assisted application breakdown, the demonstrator communicates both the potential efficacy of the highlighted drill action as well as the vulnerabilities that one is subject to when engaging a live opponent, which must be acknowledged to heighten one's awareness going from practice to practical application.

Sifu Taganashi introduces Bong, Tan and Pak into a sequential drill with particular emphasis on activating the, "Turning Horse to generate power and you'll be using your body rather than just your arms for these movements." Transferring, once again, from isolated individual practice to engaging his significantly taller student to emphasise that good training habits yield good results, despite seemingly physical disadvantages.

Gaan Sau now takes the spotlight in bringing attention to the lower gate of engagement, whereas the previous two covered firstly the upper and then middle gates. "By training on the Wing Chun Wooden Dummy and pressing on the arms, the arms are immovable objects so you develop a kind of dynamic strength. So that when you do encounter a live opponent, you'll be able to (handle) him." Again, reinforcing the necessity of engaging one's Turning Horse in combination with forward energies for maximum output.

Sifu Taganashi shows several more drills and concepts, which essentially focus on fundamental movements found in the system's first form with the introduction of kicks to round off this volume, reflecting his unique learning, practice and experiences.

Although his stature may be smaller than the average Western body size, his intensity translates well from screen to hand, which will be sure to get one's hands and feet working, which he employs well with energy, strength and conviction of application. As such, he has a distinct approach to the system that resembles hand-to-hand engagements that would be seen in law enforcement and military training due to the absence of the formal demonstration of the Wooden Dummy set of movements.

Todd Taganashi - Wing Chun Wooden Dummy Vol. 1: Drills & Concepts
Language: English
Running Time: Approx. 60 min.
Availability: This title is no longer available for sale