The bag comes UNFILLED to save on shipping costs. You will fill it up yourself with sand, beans, rice, or etc (see "Recommended Fillings" below or our
These descriptions cover both wall bags and iron palm bags. Some features may not apply to the product you are reviewing, but that is noted in the product type/description.
Quality Components and Construction
Base Layers and Stitching: This refers to the main construction of the bag. Our canvas is over twice as thick as the typical wall/iron palm bag. This helps ensure that the bags have an extra-long life and hold up well under all conditions. This is especially important for schools. Some bags even have an extra nylon layer over the canvas (adds toughness, helps increase your ability to penetrate with your punches, reduces dust particles even more). Thicker canvas, thicker thread, double stitching, and reinforced seams using quality components make this a "heavy duty" bag that will last a lifetime.
Reinforced seams: The seams on each side of the bag are reinforced on the inside with a nylon covering and double stitching. This guarantees that the bag will not bust or leak - and we've tried to break it! We even overfilled the bag and slammed it repeatedly on the ground as hard as we could, and the seams and zipper held perfectly! the thickness of the thread used is also a critical component here. Most vendors use thin thread, even when they reinforce the seams. We use the best.
High-quality zipper: This bag has a high-quality zipper to ensure that it does not break, rip or leak sand out of the bag. No other bag on the market uses quality zippers. Most vendors use very cheap zippers that break or pull apart.
Heavy-Duty D-rings: The D-rings ensure that the bag does not tear off the wall no matter what you fill it with. We choose to use D-rings instead of grommets because they allow the bag to lay flat against the wall and can never tear the bag like grommets can. There are varying qualities of D-Ring. We only use the best. Typically, if another vendor uses D-Rings they are thin and cheap, and they typically only use two. But, if two D-rings are used on a heavier bag without a weight distribution bar, then the bag can sag in the middle putting stress on the D-Rings, straps, and canvas - plus a saggy bag does not look as nice. Our 3-section wall-bags have 3 D-Rings and a weight distribution bar. Call it overkill.
Weight distribution bar (3-section wall bags): An Everything Wing Chun original concept - this is a new invention and another first. There is a metal bar at the top of the bag (hidden in the canvas) that runs between the D-Rings. This bar allows the bag's weight to be evenly distributed. This prevents bags from sagging in the middle (which looks bad and puts stress on the bag).
Quality Design
Double layered striking surface: An Everything Wing Chun original concept - the striking area of this bag is double layered to make sure the bag lasts you an extra long time! Even after 15 years of jow-soaked hands hitting these daily, we haven't had to replace a single bag (okay, actually we had to replace one)... They just don't wear through! Most other bags use thin canvas and 1 layer - this results in bags breaking only after a few months of use.
Double sided (iron palm and 1-section wall bags): An Everything Wing Chun original concept - this bag can be used on both sides. If one side ever wore through (highly unlikely) or was damaged you could simply flip the bag over and use the other side. This is also great for people that want leather and canvas - one bag has both. We make the only double sided bag on the market.
Double layered striking surface on rear (iron palm and 1-section wall bags): An extra layer of material is on the reverse side of the bag as well as the front. Typically this is canvas. This feature makes the bag so tough we don't think you can ever wear it out. Again, this is great for people that want leather and canvas - one bag has both.
Zipper at the top of the compartment: Putting our zipper at the top of the bag (again, another EWC original concept) means that there is no chance of the bag leaking sand after it is hung and that the zipper cannot be damaged in training as it when it is on the back of the bag. You will never have to duct tape this bag closed! For one-section bags, the zipper is at the top seam. For 2 and 3 section bags the zipper is at the top rear. This allows you to fill the compartment fully, and it also keeps the zipper off the wall so it is not damaged. Believe it or not, most wall bags put the zipper in the dead center of the back of the bag - the worst possible place.
[A note on Iron Palm use with wall bags: Because the zipper is at the top of the bag, if you remove the bag from the wall and lay it flat for Iron Palm training the zipper could start to open a bit. To prevent this all you have to do is tie a piece of string from the eyelet in the zipper to the nearest D-Ring. This will prevent the zipper from opening during Iron Palm training... Of course, our Iron Palm bags are the best option for Iron Palm training...]
Protective zipper flap (iron palm and 3-section wall bags): If the zipper is on the back side of a bag (as it is with the 3 section bags) then it should have a protective flap to make sure the zipper is not damaged against the wall. This protects your wall and the zipper. The is another EWC original concept.
One piece bottom (1-section wall bags): The bottom of our one-section wall bag is one piece so that there is never a chance of a seem breaking and sand spilling out into your practice area.
Traditional "Wing Chun" text (wall bags) - On the front on the bag the Chinese text reads "Wing Chun". Western style reads from left to right. Chinese style reads right to left.
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This bag is shipped empty to reduce shipping costs. We are commonly asked what to fill the bags with, so here are some current recommendations from the Wing Chun community at large. Please check with your teacher for his or her recommendation on filling your bag for your particular training. The list comes from our our
blog post on the topic, so look there for more info.
- Plastic beads (as used in BB guns) or glue pellets.
- Tossed sand grains (like those used in aquarium tanks)
- Beans (soy, mung, or etc)
- Rice
- Sand (typically washed pool filter sand)
- Pebbles (for intermediate iron palm)
- BBs or Ball Bearings (iron or steel - for advanced iron palm)
The first two are recommended as fillings because they help maintain a long life for the bag. Traditionally bags are filled with beans (soy or mung), rice and/or sand. If you live in a humid region you must make sure any organic material does not get moldy, so plastic beads are your best bet. Sand is the most common filling and tossed sand (or washed sand) is the best if it is available in your area.
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