ENTERING INTO TRAPPING
Wing Chun is great for trapping, but I always hear from some that it doesn't work or they can't get into trapping range. I think that there is a couple of issues when looking at trapping, mindset, timing, & distance.
Mindset - If you limit yourself into thinking that there is only one way to trap, then you may be missing many opportunities to trap. Or your understanding of it's use, may also lead to your frustrations. Lets start by defining what a "trap" is.
What
is a trap
- Well, a trap as I define it, is anytime I can limit the movement of
my opponent (either his arm, leg, body, etc). This is a trap. When looking
at a trap, consider them either in two terms "simple" or "complex"
traps. A simple trap is limiting one limb with one limb, a complex trap
is when you use one of your limbs to trap (or limit) two or more of
his limbs.
How a trap can be used - When using a trap, don't think of a trap necessarily as a 'submission' type technique. Think of a trap as part of a solution to bigger problem. If my objective is to strike someone, but their limbs are in the way, by pinning or limiting the movement of a hand out of the way, I can facility my strike. The other thing to consider is that a trap doesn't stay permanently. In the ideal world it would, but reality is you may only have a trap for 1 or 2 seconds at a time.
How
to get punched in the head while doing a trap - There are a
few way to fail at trapping and get yourself punched in the head. Here
are a couple of ways:
Forcing the Trap: You are trying to force a
trap to happen, and as such you are not listening to what is really
going on. This would be the equivilant of having a conversation with
someone, but both of you are talk at the same time, and also talking
about two totally different subjects.
Chasing the Trap: You saw the opportunity but
it came a moment to late so you chase after it. This is much like chasing
an armbar in BJJ or chasing a weapon disarm in Kali. If you focus on
chasing the trap, you will surely miss it, and get a hit at the same
time. In Wing Chun there is a saying, "Chase the center not the
hand." In this case, when you chase the trap, you are chasing the
hands.
Trying to Keep the Trap: This is as bad as chasing the
trap. If you managed to trap the hands, you've placed a few hits in,
but now your opponent has started to find a way out of the trap, and
you now start to either Force the Trap or Chase the Trap. In Wing Chun
there is another saying, "Accept what comes, Follow what goes,
loss of contact strike." So if you're trap starts to fall apart,
accept it, and continue to flow with what is happening. Just be happy
that you were able to get the trap in the first place.
Wrong Distance: So you see the possibility of a trap, but
you are either too close or too far from your opponent. Trapping occurs
at a very specific range. It is located between Boxing and Stand up
grappling, somewhere around the clinch but not quite. If you are too
far, you're using the wrong tool at the moment you should be kicking
or boxing, if you are too close, you should be looking to clinch or
grapple.
When trying to learn trapping, I believe in starting in isolation, so
you can see the trap possibilities, but then move to training the trap
in chi sau with a partner.
Keep Training, Keep Learning!
