Dummy Arm Positions

Most wooden dummies have uneven upper arms, meaning that one arm (usually the dummy’s right) is higher than the other. This is due to both the nature of how the holes are cut and that the shaft of the arms are centered. However, other dummies have the arms leveled since the arm shafts are off-centered.

Is there a difference in training, and is one way better than the other?

In my opinion, there is a difference, and I feel that leveled arms are much better. With the first contact, we find that everytime we go to the left side (our left, the dummy’s right), the dummy’s right arm is higher. Because of this, everything we do will be at a different height, which in turn makes training feel encumbered.

Some will say that this is necessary in order to gain attributes of different heights, but that is off from the purpose of the dummy itself. The goal of the dummy is strengthen and refine our own structure so that we can apply ourselves in the strongest, most fluid way. Having off-centered arms does not work that quality like some think it does.

A better way is to have off-centered arms, meaning that the shaft of the arms is closer to the edge. With the shaft of both arms being off-centered, simply turn one up and one down in order to level them out. Doing so will create an even working surface, which in turn creates equal training effects on both sides.

Now, this does not mean that not having off-centered arms will make you a bad practitioner. After all, our ancestors have used this for generations with excellent effects. However, if you have the option of acquiring or creating dummy arms with an off-centered shaft, definitely get them and see how it feels. More than likely you will not want to go back to the “standard” arm configuration.