Choose a simple fighting pose from a reference photo. Make sure to choose a pose with a wide and stable center of balance so the doll will not fall over easily.
Form a ball of clay for the head, a bean or box shape for the body and four cylinders for the arms and legs. Proportions should be similar to a toddler, with the finished figure about four heads tall.
Assemble the doll according to the desired pose but leave the head unattached. For balance, add a clay base for the figure to stand on, if desired. Place the fighting doll on a solid, pancake-shaped island of clay.
With small balls of clay, sculpt simple hands and feet. Hands do not require fingers.
Use clay sculpting tools and small pieces of clay to add details such as basic toes for bare feet, and to shape the head and face. Make the eyes very large to further add to the child-like appearance. A mandarin collar can be made out of a thin flat ribbon of clay fused around the doll's neck. "Ox horns" are two traditional buns of hair worn by girls, placed near the top of the head over the temples.
Cure the clay according to the directions provided with the clay and allow to rest overnight.
Paint or glaze the fighting doll. If using a glaze, decorate and re-fire according to the directions for the glaze. Paint the doll with wispy black hair and rosy cheeks. Decorate the clothing with any bold pattern or bright color. The doll's exposed skin should be painted with a flesh covered pigment or bright white. Generally, glazes will give a figure a glossy appearance while paint appears to be matte unless a varnish is applied after the paint dries.