Great Lion Company- Freestanding Dummy

[tigershorty]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to ask a few questions before purchasing a dummy from the Great lion company. I'm on a budget and my apartment is small, so I thought the GL's Freestanding Dummy looked like a good option. http://www.woodendummy.net/default.asp

Has anyone ever bought from the Great Lion Company and how was your experience?
I found this online and it concerned me: http://www.karateforums.com/beware-of-great-lion-enterprises-wooden-dummies-vt26895.html

Also, any other good suggestions for dummies like this that I may have missed on my search?

Thanks!

[SnowDog]

Looks interesting,

But, I don't know about it being on the wheels, doesn't seem like it would give you much resistance, and you would just end up shoving it around the room. and really wouldn't be able to strike it unless you like chasing your wodden dummy across your basement.

My 2cents anyways.

[Sihing73]

Hello,

Actually, it comes with the option of locking wheels for an extra $45. You can also weight it top and bottom if you wish.

Have not bought one but am considering whether it would be worth it myself. Since I could drive down to ATL and pick it up.

[tigershorty]

if mine doesn't show up, can you head down to ATL for me, too? ;)

[Dale Dugas]

I have one with the larger hung gar arms structure on the locking wheels.

Locking them and having at it. It is very hard to knock it over.

can take a beating.

[tigershorty]

so you ordered from them and didn't have any difficulties receiving your order? how long did it take?

[Dale Dugas]

It took a while, but he is handmaking them and hand turning the arms and other parts.

Have patience.

He kept me updated on the progress with emails periodically.

[Sihing73]

if mine doesn't show up, can you head down to ATL for me, too? ;)

Sure. I have an old student in Smyrna just outside of ATL so I could kill two birds with one stone. Of course you would then need to come to Toccoa to pick it up :D

[Phil Redmond]

I loved the one I used. You can unlock the wheels and chase it around like you would do with a moving person, or you can lock the legs.

[tigershorty]

Update: i purchased one of the freestanding pvc wing chun dummies yesterday and will keep you guys posted on my experience. When it comes I'll post some pictures and video of it so people can see what it's like. I'll try to ignore the other thread asking if muk yan jongs are even useful ;)

[Almost A Ghost]

I bought a traditional Dummy(All Wood) from The Great Lion Company about 8 years ago. In my opinion the best on the market at the time. Mine is still going strong.

Unfortunately he no longer makes all wood dummys :( I was fortunate enough to get one of the last ones.

[tigershorty]

just in case anyone cared/was considering buying a dummy:

Clark says on his website that orders take 7-14 days to complete and then ship. (depending where you are, it could take another week by UPS ground)

He received my order on the 12th of July and said it would take the 7-14 days mentioned on his website. Yesterday on on the 22nd he sent a message saying he would finish it up today and ship it on Monday or Tuesday. So as of now, everything seems to be pretty kosher.

I'll let you know when it gets here and post a review of it if anyone was considering one.
After some deeper researching, it seems to be the bad reviews/experiences from the Great Lion Company were when his son-in-law took over the business briefly for 1-2 years..Clark now runs the company again. (just in case anyone was scared by the link in my first post)

[aelward]

I just replaced my wall-mounted dummy with a Great Lion Free-stander. It does not have as much play as a wall-mounter, but still works nicely. You can unlock the wheels and chase it around, too.

I did get a wood body, not sure about the PVC.

[photo-master]

It's just too bad that Clark Thornton is not an honorable man. He stole the "Freestanding Dummy design" from a Wing Chun collage student back in 1999. He built the kid's prototype and promised to give him credit and royalties. Well he has never seen a nickle of than money... and even says he created the design on his website. The man is a liar.

[SifuLMDII]

Hello!

I personally own three Great Lion mook jongs, and they are awesome! Clark Thornton makes the best mook jongs that I have ever had the pleasure to work with! As for being an honorable man, I have never known him to be anything but honorable! I have known him for many years, and think the world of him!

[tigershorty]

honestly, i don't care if it was his design or not. the design is not complicated and anyone could make the thing if they had the tools. you can't just say someone stole it with no proof, either. that's the same typical kung fu cult **** we hear all the time. the dummy is pretty awesome. it was hard to put together and the screws could have been about a quarter of an inch longer, but all in all, it's an invaluable tool if you're in an apartment. i've loved it so far.

[Wolfgang Kruger]

I have one of his First Oak Wing Chun Jongs and it was very well made. Nice Guy as well!
-Wolfgang

[SifuLMDII]

Hello Everyone!

You guys should check out some of my products!

http://www.DragonBlastMA.com

Hope you like what you see!

[KPM]

Hello Everyone!

You guys should check out some of my products!

http://www.DragonBlastMA.com

Hope you like what you see!

I like the looks of your springarm. I may have to invest in one of those with the wall mount in the future. It reminds me of a similar design that Hawkins Cheung was marketing many years ago.

Also....the new website looks great! I plan to check out your forum!

[SifuLMDII]

Yes, I remember ... the "Magic Arm". The reason I remember it so well is that I sponsored a seminar for Dan Inosanto in 1980. At that time, I had my fist springarm, which I had designed in 1978. Sifu Dan saw it, worked with it and really liked it! He asked if I had a patent on it or if I was planning to patent it. I told him no. Not long after that he was in partnership with Hawkins Cheung. They had a school together. Pretty soon after that Hawkins Cheung came out with the "Magic Arm", which was then and still is, inferior to my springarm! Just a bit of history there! :)

[Eric_H]

SifuLMDII,

Do you have any clips of the spring arms being used in training?

[SifuLMDII]

Hello!

I have not personally filmed anything yet with the Springarms. That is in the plans for the very near future. We are going to film some stuff to put on the website showing how the Springarm works and what all it can be used for. Look for that to show up on my website around the middle to end of January. It will also be put up on my Facebook pages as well.