What is trapping and how is it applied?

If there was a way to immobilize your opponents offensive weapons so you could attack with impunity, would you want o learn it? That’s what trapping allows you to do. The trapping range of JKD is a critical element that is left out of most training programs. In a world where schools are teaching Brazilian Jujitsu and Muay Thai Kick Boxing, the art of trapping has faded away. However, trapping is not just a bunch of techniques; it is a range of combat that is largely ignored. We use elements and training methods from a number of different systems including Thai Boxing, Kali, and Wing Chung to develop our attributes in trapping range.

Trapping is a range of fighting. It is the same as clinch range, but without necessarily going into a clinch. Just like boxing has a jab and a cross, and tae kwon do has a roundhouse kick, trapping has a number of techniques such as pak soa and jut soa, as well as head-butts, knees, and elbows. The thought behind trapping is not to grab your opponent as in a grappling art, but to jamb their hands or legs so they can not execute a punch or a kick. The idea is to momentarily disable one or more of your opponent’s weapons so you can effectively execute a kick, punch, knee, or an elbow without the threat of your opponent’s weapons.

Keep in mind that just like a good kicker can execute a kick from kicking, punching, or trapping range, and a good boxer can punch in punching range or clinch range, many trapping techniques can be executed in a the various ranges, not just trapping range.