Az Wing Chun has been designing wooden dummies for almost 10 years.  Prior to starting this venture, the design philosophy of the traditional Wing Chun wooden dummy was researched in depth.

Traditional Wing Chun wooden dummies were designed to reflect the physical dimensions of the user.  Az Wing Chun respects this design philosophy and therefore will not mass-produce one-size-fits-all dummies.  Production of every dummy begins with the dimensions of the client to ensure customization through the proper placement of the body, arms and leg.

Another characteristic of the traditional wooden dummy is the use of a single piece of wood for the body.  Unfortunately, the wood traditionally used (teak from China) for producing a single-piece body is now considered endangered and is very difficult, if not cost prohibitive, to acquire.  Unlike traditional teak, wood used today for single-piece bodies may retain moisture that can eventually escape producing cracks.  The same is also true for wood used in making the arms, leg and slats.  To reduce potential cracking, wood used by Az Wing Chun is kiln dried.  The body is produced using many pieces of wood.  The laminated body is then turned resulting in a structure lower in moisture than one made from a single piece of wood.  The arms are either laminated or produced from a single piece of wood depending on availability of the preferred wood type or client preference.  The leg is also laminated to ensure strength and durability.  Once completed, the entire dummy is finished with natural wood oil.

Although the wood used is kiln dried, it may still develop cracks as ambient moisture levels change over time.  To reduce potiential cracking, a dummy must be kept where temperature and humidity remain relatively constant.  Oiling a dummy periodically (every six to nine months) is also recommended to help prevent cracking.