i was with you to you mentioned the benefits of fighting a wooden dummy,!
It has been said that in Wing Chun/ JKD techniques when mastered using a Mook Jong is like going through a human body like a knife through butter, so to speak!
The point I was making is adding the ability to transfer energy via your own Qi Gong through the thrust of power and structure.
Read more here -
http://ezinearticles.com/?Benefits-of-Training-With-a-Wing-Chun-Wooden-Dummy&id=2069968
Also discussed here:-
Training Methods Old School vs. New School
Also in the Forum there is a section on this if interested here:-
Chinese Internal Arts : Taijiquan (Tai Chi) and Qi
Its to much to explain in a post but, you can see it clearly here in these videos if you know what to look for..............
More about Master Dong here:-
Kung Fu Training in China丨Dragon Mountain Martial Arts School
He is awesome!
Also if you follow Sifu Harinder Singh he is very much now training in this way understanding Chi or Qi Gong.
How to visualize a Mook Jong in training...................
But it must be noted that its about entering the trapping range and feeling your way through its not a one particular move but a process in finding it, expressing it so on.
This is the point I was addressing that there are tools, processes and methods to drills and exercises and I don't agree with Matt Thorntons views as a whole. That "Aliveness" is in all areas of training skill development as a program to follow.
Although does it have some merit, yes for many other reasons, like defining "Aliveness" in sparring yes but not in learning the art form and principles etc.
But not to rule out what are Drills / Exercises/ Sparring / Full Contact with the view to combine them as one they all have different purposes in the training and skill building method.
Does this make some sense now, its also allot of fun I recommend having one and learning this.
As you get older this becomes a good way to remain fit also.