Trapping (diary entry)

06.01.15

Tonight’s lesson took the evolutionary route and was cross-training in nature. We began with some agility cone work, covering stand-up angling for boxing and kickboxing, sprawl/double leg-takedowns for the clinch range and finally rolling exercises for the ground. The cones emphasise progressively explosive movements and coordination, which are excellent for the early part of training.

We then did some boxing focus mitt work. This progressed onto some trapping, which opened up a range of options. We began with a simple parry/trap/cross and then to a parry/trap/drag and push (inspired by Dumog) and parry/trap/arm-drag/rear choke. I was particularly concerned with a reliance on the parry. This is where these drills can get carried away with themselves at the cost of the principle. The parry doesn’t have to be a deflection of the strike, but rather a motion for shifting a referencing hand or even a grab before bringing in the trapping hand. We also utilized the figure-of-eight hammer-fist/forearm striking motion within the same context or in place of the parry. The point of the drill is get the coordinated flurry that immobilizes the attacking limbs or in pre-emption of the attacking limbs. Like a lot of grappling exercises, trapping drills help build a type of tactile sensitivity for in-fight stage of a conflict.

We then went to the ground and drilled the butterfly guard arm-drag. The session was finished with some ground PNF stretching.