Does Trapping Work?

First of all, it seems to me that, what most people here are asking about, is a sparring situation. Two opponents squaring off with each other from across the classroom/ring/tatami. I guess this simulates that situation when you've agreed to "step outside" with someone for a mutually agreed contest of skill in the parking lot or other open space, having both openly declared your intention to force each other into submission. Sounds more like a sporting event to me. 99% of the 'real' fights I've witnessed were initiated from arms-length or closer. They've been sudden, explosive, and brutal.

Many began as a heated discussion or name-calling. Sometimes the attack came as a total surprise. Most often one person didn't want to fight at all. The vast majority were decided by the first strike: a simple direct attack (SDA) from a shove or finger-in-the-chest reference, with either a straight lead punch, head-butt or a looping cross (bottle?) from a hand held low and behind, then finished with repeated punches or kicks from the rear side. Not at all like the ring. Do most fights end up on the ground? Sure, if you count: one person lying there with another one kicking them in the head. (I've never heard of a mugger that stopped hitting when the victim started 'tapping'!) Now, just how do you define 'trapping'? Do you describe it by its techniques: 'pak sao', 'lop sao', 'jut sao'? Maybe its structures: 'bong sao', 'tan sao', etc. Is it the range or the tools you use, like: elbows, knees, and head-butts? Chi sao? Higot hubud lubud? Push hands? What does 'trapping' mean to you?

To me, trapping is "the ability to momentarily inhibit my opponents movement in a manner which enables me to attack from a position of relative safety".

With this as a definition, we use trapping all the time whether in the gym or on the street. Its true: "fighting is 90% hitting/10% trapping". Because trapping occurs so quickly and so briefly, many people have a tough time recognizing it - even when it happens to them. It may only be a single moment in any given fight or sparring match, but it can be such a decisive moment that it requires much more 'flight time' to master. Let's face it: hitting someone is the easy part...not getting hit back is the hard part!

"A rose by any other name..."

In his classic text 'Go Rin No Sho', Miyamoto Musashi describes methods like the 'Sticky Body', 'Gluing' and 'Holding Down the Pillow' in reference to fencing. Through Kali, also, I've learned ways to interfere with my opponents weapons. In pretty much every stick-sparring session, I can see those 'moments' of 'sumbrada' or 'hubud'. Even in 'largo mano' there are ways to knock or brush the opponent's stick or blade off-line. When we're kicking there are tools like the 'jeet tek', foot stomps and jamming with the knees. But, we are constantly using trapping in boxing range! I don't want to base my chances of winning on who can absorb the most punishment. If you are not somehow obstructing your opponent's strikes (or are much, much more talented) then you are probably trading shots. Ouch - that hurts. I hate trading. Boxers hate it when we slam their own glove against their face or 'jut sao-chun choi'. You can't trap a boxer if you stand like one - it's hard to get a decent reference point with your hands on your cheeks. Squaring up the shoulders and extending the arms a bit makes a reference almost unavoidable. Of course, boxing, trapping, and destruction's work great together. If we're going to 'wu sao' a jab, we might as well elbow it, too, right? There's always some sort of 'cover-and-hit'. And haven't you ever found yourself shoulder to shoulder, crowding someone's arm while you shovel hook the ribs or kidney? It's against a fast, aggressive boxer, in fact, that trapping can be a lifesaver, smothering the attack, making it safer for that moment to head-butt, knee and elbow or take them to the ground if necessary. Speaking of ground-work, anyone who has spent any time on the mat knows the importance of monitoring and controlling your opponent's limbs. Just watch a couple of grapplers stalk each other.

When Guro Dan, Sifu Larry, or Vu' combine the trapping skill of JKD Concepts with arts like Shooto and Brazilian JuJitsu, they create a whole new animal altogether. Verrry scarrry! Enough about trapping in the training environment. Now, what about a 'street-fight' where it really matters? Remember: the first clean shot is most likely the 'turning point' of any fight. Trapping's strength lies in making that first clean shot difficult if not impossible. The big difference in 'real life' is that the punch can come with little warning - no touching gloves, bowing or some guy dressed like a penguin shouting "Let's get it on!" The trapping concept is applied much more subtly in an 'undeclared' confrontation.

Since I hope you folks aren't out there looking for a fight, let's assume, for example, it's a volatile situation that we're trying to defuse but could explode at any moment (our friends in Law Enforcement and Security positions might relate). Whether our foe is a seasoned street-fighter or 'one-punch wonder' he or she will try to pick the optimum moment to strike: that is they'll 'set you up' for the 'sucker' shot. If and when they feel it's safe to attack they will. Understanding the subtleties of trapping (zoning, spatial relationship, closest weapon to target, e.g.) helps to cut off the opponent's simplest, most direct strikes before they're thrown, while maintaining clear paths for my own. Sometimes they won't even throw a punch, because they know you could get there first and they aren't willing to gamble. If they try, just trap and hit. This is extremely important with the potential for a concealed weapon. 'Beat them to the draw.' The rest is up to you. But, wait - by some bizarre twist of fate, there's a PCP crazed monster charging at you from across an empty parking lot? Well it might be all that 'hubud' you practice in class that gives you the timing, sensitivity, and footwork you need to push-salute and barely slip under and outside that big swing.

Of course, a little sprinting practice might come in handy right about now, too. Though, elbows, knees, and head-butts might just have to do.

Here's a little training progression to emphasize my point:

Drill #1
Stand across from your training partner a little closer than arms length apart. Each of you tuck a training knife in your belt. That's right, starting with your hands by your sides, try to beat each other to the draw. The object is obvious: do not get cut. A trade in a knife fight is a loss.

Drill #2
Since after a while you'll probably start cheating anyway, repeat drill #1, this time experiment by starting with your hands in different places - as long as you're not actually touching each other until the actual draw.

Drill #3
Put away the knives and slip on some boxing gloves. Now, repeat exercises #1 and #2 above, this time you'll race each other to the punch instead. Try not to trade. See if you can follow up, too, without getting tagged. It can be difficult, but remember: it's only the first few seconds that usually decide the outcome. Think in terms of 10 seconds instead of 90 (or 3 long minutes). You can see where this might progress to with a couple of helmets and elbow pads.

Drill #4
Next time you find yourself standing talking to a friend, practice setting them up without letting them notice. (If they ask you why you're acting so strange, you need more practice.) No, you don't have to knock them out. In fact, you don't even have to tell them. You can practice on anyone anytime and they never have to know. Simply imagine they might try to 'sucker' you at any moment and make a point of discussing things from the safest place possible. It's sort of a Zen thing, you know, 'trapping without trapping.' Check it out. I think you'll have some fun.

Trapping does take practice. But, once ingrained it's easily maintained, and you can still trap when you can no longer 'float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." Does trapping work? There's no doubt where I stand on this one. Trapping is not only highly functional, it's necessary.

Peace,
Makoto


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