Introduction
Mannequins that imitate the human body or its individual fragments are required in many fields of activity. Sports were no exception. For wrestling fans, a dummy is necessary as a sports equipment with which you can professionally practice strikes.
Of course, in every gym where wrestling is practiced, such dummies are available. But, if training takes place exclusively at home, then you can not spend money on expensive equipment, but try to make it yourself.
There are a lot of manufacturing options, it all depends on the materials at hand. We use cling film, tape, plaster bandages and much more.
Manufacturing stages
For the master class you will need to prepare the following “tool kit”: about four packages of adhesive tape, scissors, glue, foam rubber, padding polyester, tape, paper, a metal frame and, of course, an old T-shirt. Approximate production time is about two to three hours.
- Wear a T-shirt for ourselves or the model.In this case, exposed areas of the arms and neck can usually be protected with cling film so that adhesive tape does not stick to them during work.
- The surface of the T-shirt must be wrapped with several layers of tape. This should be done carefully and carefully, without much pressure, so as not to accidentally tighten the body. It is recommended to start at the waistline, moving down to the bottom level, and then return to the neck.
- Then you need to cut and glue the tape into small pieces. At the same time, carefully work out every line and curve of the body. To outline the chest line, cut the tape into pieces as small as possible.
- After forming the cocoon, we measure the midline of the back along the spine; it is recommended to use some kind of plumb line.
- Cut the cocoon along the marked line.
- Then transverse lines are marked along which the cocoon will subsequently be assembled.
- The bottom line is leveled and carefully trimmed. After this procedure, the cocoon should have a stable position on a flat surface.
- After this, the cocoon is glued together with all the marked lines aligned and re-glued with tape in several layers.
- The resulting mannequin is tightly stuffed with foam rubber and/or padding polyester. You can also use polyurethane foam to fill the housing. This should be done with extreme caution, taking into account the expansion properties of foam. Otherwise, you can ruin all the work done.
- Cardboard is placed under the lower part and the bottom line is outlined. The resulting pattern is glued to the bottom of the cocoon in any way.
- Then a hole is made in the mannequin into which a wooden or metal frame (stick) should be inserted and secured to a tripod for stability of the structure.
- If any shortcomings are revealed in the cocoon during the drying process, they can be easily corrected with the help of plaster.
- The final finishing for the structure can be ordinary papier-mâché. You should buy several rolls of toilet paper. Unwind each and soak the paper in water. After it swells, drain the water, add PVA glue and begin gluing.
Sewing process
The ideal material for sewing a wrestling dummy is the material that is used for sewing wrestling mats, car awnings, and so on. You can use an old punching bag as a base. A sandbag is suitable as an additional weighting agent. The weight is selected and adjusted in advance. You can use rags.
The body is sewn together in the form of an oblong cylinder. The arms are sewn separately, then turned inside out. The head is sewn on. There, on the body, holes are made for the hands. Hands are sewn on. Then the entire structure must be turned out so that all the seams remain inside. Thanks to this, working with the dummy does not cause discomfort, the seams do not interfere with throwing and grabbing, and this only makes the dummy stronger.
We make blanks for hands in the form of semicircles. The length of the arms should be slightly longer than that of the athlete. It is necessary to pay attention to their thickness. If they are too thick, it will be difficult to grasp them. Hands that are too thin will not give the desired training effect. The sewn mannequin is stuffed from underneath. The more and more densely you fill the rags, the heavier it will be. Since the case itself is a solid structure, there should be no problems with it after turning it inside out. But before you sew on your hands, it’s worth remembering the golden rule “measure seven times.”Otherwise, you can confuse the sides, or make other annoying mistakes that will have to be corrected.
There is another way, easier, but it is not durable. You can buy a ski suit or, if you have one, use your old one. If you need a one-legged partner for wrestling, you can stuff your jacket with rags, sew up all open holes and practice. To make a two-legged mannequin, sew it to the jacket pants included in the set, we also stuff and sew. Some people use it as a filler. peas and periodically add it, as it tends to compact. Despite all the strength of ski suits, they are not intended for such use, since the seams are not strong enough. This option is suitable for beginners and children.
Conclusion
Today, there is rarely a wrestling training session without the use of a wrestling dummy. Working with it significantly increases a wrestler’s performance, since it can be used to practice dozens of throws and techniques at full strength, bringing them to the point of automaticity, without fear of causing damage to the health of your partner. In addition, the sparring partner may be tired, sick or not come to training, but the wrestling dummy is always here, always at your service.
Each athlete must choose his own wrestling dummy for himself or with the help of a coach. The choice depends on the weight category of the athlete and the nature of the tasks. They also exist with one and two legs, and usually have two arms. With two legs, they are used when practicing passes, sweeps, holds, and working in low stances. Wrestling dummies with one leg are considered more traditional. It’s convenient to practice throws and power techniques while wearing them.
There are recommendations for choosing the size and weight of the figure, regardless of its type, be it bipedal or one-legged.He should be 15 cm shorter than the athlete and twice his weight. The fact is that when thrown, a wrestling dummy does not fold in half like a human, and this doubles its weight. Accordingly, the athlete receives a conditional opponent approximately equal to himself in mass.
Unfortunately, with all the advantages of such a mannequin, it has one significant drawback - the price. Not every wrestling fan can afford to purchase it for personal use. But with enough desire, if you try, you can learn how to make a wrestling dummy with your own hands.
Making a mannequin at home is quite difficult. This is a painstaking task that requires considerable endurance and patience.
0
