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What is trapping in martial arts and what is it for?

Trapping is a type of interaction widely used in Wing Chun (under the name Phon Sao, read The basic Wing Chun techniques [MINI-GUIDE]) and in Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do (read The basic Jeet Kune Do techniques [MINI-GUIDE]):

It consists of “capturing” the adversary through a tactical mobilization of our limbs (not necessarily grabbing with the hands)
It is not only a defensive or evasive action, it can also foreshadow or include attack and counterattack moves
It can allow to block, divert, unbalance, move, dampen, block, strike, put in lever (etc.)
Although it could suggest only a play of arms, it can also include the legs and the rest of the body

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

The basics of trapping in 6 Dragons Kung Fu

The necessary skills

Outside a collaborative training context, trapping is not easy at all, we need:

Spatial intelligence (read The most important skill in combat)
Speed and explosive power (read Speed and quickness)
Tactile sensitivity (see 6 Dragons Kung Fu’s reactive dummy demo)
A reactive muscle memory (read The muscle memory)
Timing (read Timing: the secret of combat effectiveness)
Precision (read Martial arts: why speed and power are not enough)
A good structure and balance (read also Kung Fu rooting: the pyramid concept)
Deception capability (read The deception in combat: the feints)
Adaptability (read 6DKF’s interactions: from the strong blow to the light touch)
Knowledge of the body dynamics (read Martial arts’ body mechanics [MINI-GUIDE])
…

A note by Master Kongling – As anyone can understand, a beginner cannot manage such requirements, only after a long training path, it is possible to start to see the first results. Let’s not be fooled by videos showing sequences where one of the “contenders” is completely passive or worse by cyclical drills, those are more or less guided choreographies that anyone can learn in a short time but which have nothing to do with the ability to apply them in real fighting scenarios (read How to spot a fake martial arts video).

Trapping goals samples

Trapping can allow us to:

Temporarily immobilize the opponent (not necessarily causing damage)
Reach a favorable position to execute a technique (eg. a Chin Na, read A free home study Chin Na course for beginners)
Create / exploit an opening to hit an inaccessible target (eg. eliminating a defensive barrier)
Intercept the opponent’s action (eg. making it useless)
Unbalance the opponent (eg. to execute a throw, read also The 3 phases of a throw)
Avoid being hit (eg. channeling his / her inertia)
Gain space / time to act (eg. counterattacking)
Bring the opponent to the ground (eg. to start a ground fighting phase, read Ground fighting [MINI-GUIDE])
…

Trapping interactions samples

In 6 Dragons Kung Fu, we look at the human body as a set of weapons.

When we talk about trapping there are no limits in relation to what we can implement; for example (beyond the most common) we can even use:

Hands / fingers – To grab, push, channel (etc.)
Forearms / elbows – To divert, control, capture, transfer inertia (etc.)
Shoulders / back – To unbalance, move, block (etc.)
Feet – To anchor, slide, hinder (etc.)
Knees – To deviate, push, capture (etc.)
…

The crucial point is that the “weapon” that we instinctively choose (read Kung Fu: how to react to an attack) to use is the one that, in the specific context, responds better to our need for:

Speed
Economy of effort
Effectiveness

A note by Master Kongling – How can we educate our instinct in implementing the right tool? Through correct development of our muscle memory.

The trapping distances

Trapping exists when there is contact.

The first thing to understand is that in this field exist just 2 distances (read Ideal distance from the opponent during a fight see the others) that we must learn to manage:

Short distance – When we are closer, our guard shrinks to protect our body; in this case, the trapping contact does not provide grabbing as a first action, we should prefer to deviate and control through the forearms (grasping only in a second time, when we are surer of not being exposed to the opposing action)
Middle distance – When we are at a middle distance our guard widens and one of our arms tries to capture the adversary’s limbs; as it happens for Wing Chun (through Man Sao, “searching hand”), in 6 Dragons Kung Fu we use a similar method of catching the opponent’s action (read /// Subscribe (it's free!) or Login to see this content ///), the extended arm is bent at 90-120°, ready to hit and grab

A note by Master Kongling – In both cases, there must be always: a hand (similar to the Wing Chun’s Wu Sao), a leg, a knee and an elbow ready to protect / defend: genitals, chin, liver, ribs, jaw…

In the next articles of this series, we will see how to develop a functional trapping attitude (the exercises) and the basic techniques (read Trapping’s basics: move and hit).

In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu exercises – The core practices to build real martial skills for combat
Advanced speed and reflexes training – How to gain real combat speed and improve our reactivity
Structures for combat: liquid, solid, fluid – How to address the opponent’s action at a high level
Basic free hand fighting techniques – All the basic combat techniques of 6 Dragons Kung Fu
Hand grip strength conditioning – Learn how to improve the capability to firmly hold the opponent
How to use feints in combat – An advanced video course about realt-time deception in combat
Upper limbs training for combat – A specific path toward the development of the upper limbs

In-depth articles

How to acquire the Soft Touch skill – This is one of the best ways to approach the opponent’s action
Introduction to the idea of Precision Control – The skill that connects all the other ones

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

How would you define (in your own words) trapping?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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