Does Trapping Work?

Does trapping work? I have heard this question many times.

I would like to offer my view on Trapping : how it works, when it doesn't and what is needed to reach a higher level of skill where it will always work. We will look at what most people think is trapping in Wing Chun and other arts and I will introduce the view of Trapping in Wing Chun. Like most aspects of Wing Chun. Trapping will work if the practitioner understands it.

What is Trapping?
Trapping is immobilization. You can use trapping of the hand, arm, body, leg, foot, mind and so on. A simple example would be pinning the opponents arm so they cannot return a strike or use there power. But this is the basic starting point only. A common mistake is that trapping is just immobilization of the hands. Often trapping in Wing Chun and JKD is thought of as Pak Sao (Slapping Hand) and Lap Sao (Grabbing Hand). Then just add a few variations some combinations, and you have trapping skill. This is not the case!

Problems encountered.
Trapping arm against arm can work. You may strike your opponent, but also this can be easily defended and recovered from. So this method is used less in application and more in teaching beginners to safely train their hand skill correctly.

I think when people talk about trapping not working and being to 'set up' they are only looking at this level. This is like telling someone in BJJ the arm bars from the mount don't work because the opponent is not just going to give you his arm. But, in reality I have seen this happen to top fighters. Its not about the technique is down to timing, setting up your opponent and so on. By the way an arm bar is a trap! Correct timing and knowing when to apply a move come from drilling moves (like we do in trapping drills) and feeling the possible variations and counter and so on. (as we do in Chi Sao training).

So what are we saying? Trapping is only part of how we develop the overall skill we require to be functional in martial arts. Single moves become combinations, combination become variations, variations become a free flow of ones skill.Therefore the problems encountered are either due to the level of the practitioner or the lack of understanding between what is training tools and what is applying the skill.

The Value of Trapping
When we do trap we have more control of the opponent. Which is extremely valuable in preventing the opponent from striking back or trying to retake control. We have contact therefore we can feel the energy of that person and react quicker than if we had no contact.

Many people seem to believe that Wing Chun practitioners do nothing but trapping . This is not the case. Trapping is only part of the whole. If an opening exists for a strike we do of course go for it directly. If, however, you are in close range and your opponent is effectively covering his openings, you need a way to interrupt his flow and control him.

In Wing Chun we believe that this level of control is achieved through the complete understanding of structure. A vital aspect of structure is the dynamic control of the center of gravity and balance. When in close contact you can use your own structure to uproot, unbalance and then control the opponents structure. Trapping this way will allow you to finish your opponent where arms alone will not.

Training the hands in trapping is often only what is taught. I can see why someone would say that would not work in a real fight and so on. To that I agree if you trap only with the hands then the trap is less likely to work. As I said before, this is for beginners. To train basic hand skill or a long range attack which will stun your opponent.

First, I must have a strong body structure. Second, I must intercept the opponent and break his structure and up root him. To do this, I must use my stance to break his balance as I apply a controlling movement. This will make it very hard for him to counter attack or defend as he is trying to regain his balance. I then chase the opponent to keep him on his back foot. I have totally destroyed my opponents structure and will pin him to finish. This is real trapping... pressing your opponent keeping him off balance destroying his use of tools and controlling the fight. It is not about which technique I use.

NOTE: This as an excerpt of an article by Alan Orr (alanorr.com)

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Does trapping work? I have heard this question many times. I would like to offer my view on Trapping : how it works, when it doesn't and what is needed to reach a higher level of skill where it will always work. We will look at what most people think is trapping in Wing Chun and other arts and I will introduce the view of Trapping in Wing Chun. Like most aspects of Wing Chun. Trapping will work if the practitioner understands it. What is Trapping? Trapping is immobilization. You can use trapping of the hand, arm, body, leg, foot, mind and so on. A simple example would be pinning the opponents arm so they cannot return a strike or use there power. But this is the basic starting point only. A common mistake is that trapping is just immobilization of the hands. Often trapping in Wing Chun and JKD is thought of as Pak Sao (Slapping Hand) and Lap Sao (Grabbing Hand). Then just add a few variations some combinations, and you have trapping skill. This is not the case! Problems encountered. Trapping arm against arm can work. You may strike your opponent, but also this can be easily defended and recovered from. So this method is used less in application and more in teaching beginners to safely train their hand skill correctly. I think when people talk about trapping not working and being to 'set up' they are only looking at this level. This is like telling someone in BJJ the arm bars from the mount don't work because the opponent is not just going to give you his arm. But, in reality I have seen this happen to top fighters. Its not about the technique is down to timing, setting up your opponent and so on. By the way an arm bar is a trap! Correct timing and knowing when to apply a move come from drilling moves (like we do in trapping drills) and feeling the possible variations and counter and so on. (as we do in Chi Sao training). So what are we saying? Trapping is only part of how we develop the overall skill we require to be functional in martial arts. Single moves become combinations, combination become variations, variations become a free flow of ones skill.Therefore the problems encountered are either due to the level of the practitioner or the lack of understanding between what is training tools and what is applying the skill. The Value of Trapping When we do trap we have more control of the opponent. Which is extremely valuable in preventing the opponent from striking back or trying to retake control. We have contact therefore we can feel the energy of that person and react quicker than if we had no contact. Many people seem to believe that Wing Chun practitioners do nothing but trapping . This is not the case. Trapping is only part of the whole. If an opening exists for a strike we do of course go for it directly. If, however, you are in close range and your opponent is effectively covering his openings, you need a way to interrupt his flow and control him. In Wing Chun we believe that this level of control is achieved through the complete understanding of structure. A vital aspect of structure is the dynamic control of the center of gravity and balance. When in close contact you can use your own structure to uproot, unbalance and then control the opponents structure. Trapping this way will allow you to finish your opponent where arms alone will not. Training the hands in trapping is often only what is taught. I can see why someone would say that would not work in a real fight and so on. To that I agree if you trap only with the hands then the trap is less likely to work. As I said before, this is for beginners. To train basic hand skill or a long range attack which will stun your opponent. First, I must have a strong body structure. Second, I must intercept the opponent and break his structure and up root him. To do this, I must use my stance to break his balance as I apply a controlling movement. This will make it very hard for him to counter attack or defend as he is trying to regain his balance. I then chase the opponent to keep him on his back foot. I have totally destroyed my opponents structure and will pin him to finish. This is real trapping... pressing your opponent keeping him off balance destroying his use of tools and controlling the fight. It is not about which technique I use. NOTE: This as an excerpt of an article by Alan Orr (alanorr.com)