Hello Everyone!
One of the most common misconceptions about trapping is that you go into a conflict planning to trap the opponent! And yes, while that is possible, trapping, or immobilization, is a skill that is most often applied when the line you are attacking is obstructed by a defensive or offensive movement from the opponent. While interception is the desired goal of the JKD practitioner, it is not always possible to intercept. The trap is used to remove or go around the obstruction on your line of attack.
First of all, I won't trap unless there is a need to! Second, my traps ARE blindingly fast attacks! They HURT, and are very damaging to the limbs in concern! Three, the strike used in conjunction with the trap goes out actually BEFORE the trap is completed, therefore you are being attacked compoundly in one beat! Four, I can insert sliding leverage strikes on the "half beat" during trapping, which puts me hitting two or three times to my opponent's one hit. Five, trapping is about controlling and doing EXTREME DAMAGE to the opponent, not making some retarded move that leaves you wide open. Six, trapping uses applied centerline pressure. When you are standing on the train track, you can't just hold out your hand and stop the train! Can we say "SPLAT"?
In the case where your first trap fails or the strike is parried, you might find it necessary to trap again. When two or more traps are combined in a sequence, it becomes what is referred to as compound trapping. Compound trapping is very misunderstood! Always remember that you should attempt to strike before and after every trap, and never trap just to be trapping! Your primary goal is to hit the opponent!
Energy/sensitivity training teaches you to “feel” what to do in a situation when a trap fails, or the strike is parried. The energy of the opponent’s parry or block will determine whether you can simply strike again or if another trap will be necessary to shut the opponent down to land a strike. The opponent can either parry/block with the energy of your attack or they can parry/block against the energy of your attack. The trained fighter will usually parry/block with the energy of the attack rather than resist it’s force. Untrained fighters will often surprise you and do something so ridiculous that you would have never thought of it! Although seemingly quite humorous, this happens often. Either way, it is best to be prepared for anything that might happen.
To be successful with these compound trapping drills, it is necessary for your training partner to cooperate and give you the correct defensive energy that coincides with the movements of the drill. An uncooperative training partner is totally unacceptable for these drills. Some might say, “Well, they aren’t going to cooperate with you on the street!” That is true, which is why we have so many compound trapping drills! I have a saying, which goes like this: If you’ve been there before, you can go there again. If you’ve never been there, how can you know the way? Does this make sense to you?
Repetition of these trapping drills ingrains the movements into your neuromuscular system, and when the time comes, you will react with the proper movements. The more you practice the drills, the more ingrained they become, and the more successful you stand to be in the street when forced to use these tactics. Although cooperation will be necessary during the drills, after lots of training, the cooperation of an opponent in the street will not be necessary, as you will simply react to whatever may come!
In a compound trapping situation, the trap selected to follow the first will be based on the structure of the opponent’s defensive action. Some fighters are very economical with their defense. These are usually those who are well trained. Others are not so economical. The energy in the defensive action will determine the action taken, and that action should be executed immediately without hesitation.
There are way too many variables that can effect the outcome of a trapping situation, so it is really hard to discuss everything here! Remember though, the most important thing is to hit! Jeet Kune Do practitioners should always think hit. I am constantly telling my students to think hit, hit, hit, then hit some more! It is all about striking the opponent, not trapping them! A trap simply occurs if necessary when your line of attack is obstructed. There should be an attempted strike before and after every trap. Always remember this!
Keep Blasting!
Sifu Lamar M. Davis II
Senior Instructor
Hardcore Jeet Kune Do
Sifu@HardcoreJKD.com
http://www.HardcoreJKD.com
Kwoon (205) 274-9011
"Hit Hard, Hit Fast, Hit First - ALWAYS!"
"What is Jeet Kune Do (JKD)? Chinese martial art, definitely! It is a kind of Chinese martial art that does away with the distinction of branches, an art that rejects formality, an art that is liberated from tradition." __Bruce Lee
