Training tools

[creq]

Hello,

I've been wondering about training tools. How many of you use training tools for your regular practice. By training tools, I mean plum flower posts, sand bags, mook jong, etc. Does it increase significantly your art? What are your thoughts on that?

[sean_stonehart]

My sifu has Plum Flower posts for us to build our stances with. It sucks too... not those nice posts with a foot sized piece to stand on. Nope... not his. Straight post in the ground, no standing platform. Try doing a table top level horse stance on a post that's approximately 2 in by 2 in ... or Hok Ma, Diu ma, etc... or any of your horses on them. It blows, but builds good stances!

We don't use a mook yan jong, but a ching jong (Choy Lee Fut) instead. It definately increases striking surface hardness & contact sensitivity. Sand bags are on the ching jong so we don't hit wood.

[Jeff Burger]

Besides the benefits each tool is designed for I find an extra benefit.
Ill like to play with those toys ...I mean tools.

[Jeff Younger]

I often use a polearm, not as a weapon, but as a training tool. By holding the pole on one end in both hands, extending the arms to the front, a kind of resistance is generated by the moment of the pole. It is excellent for practicing shaking power the like. Also, I like to use a light shot for the same purpose.