When Bruce lee exploded into his opponent in the opening scene of Enter the Dragon with a series of traps and punches, the whole martial arts scene changed worldwide. Kung Fu schools opened everywhere and attempted to emulate the amazing skills Lee demonstrated in his movies. Instructors and schools alike were captivated by a new hero, one performing techniques never before seen in the West.

Today, through the efforts of a few pioneers in the early 70's, Kung Fu techniques are now taught openly. Gone is the mystery of those first magic moments we all shared, as more and more people are introduced to the original art of Bruce Lee, Wing Chun. Lee initially trained under Grandmaster Yip Man in Hong Kong in the 1950's before moving to the United States where he gained international fame .Although his Wing Chun training was never completed, he became the most influential martial artist of the century. His constant pursuit of excellence became an inspiration to generations of martial artists.

Wing Chun is renowned for its trapping skills; no other martial art has taken this element of training to such a high level. The primary purpose of trapping (phon sao) is to immobilise one or more of your opponent's limbs to provide a clear path of attack. Traps are usually executed at close range and are effective in controlling the opponent's balance, timing and ability to strike. The ability to recognise both the strength and direction of an incoming force is essential in performing a trap.

Chi sao, or sticky hands, is a training method that heightens the pressure awareness of the practitioner. While not a pre-requisite for effective trapping, it is a proven method of sensitivity development and is one of the skills most trained by Wing Chun students.

Simple traps may be made in the form of a grab or press to either move the attacking limb towards the opponent's centreline or to destabilise their stance. More complex trapping involves crossing the opponent's arms thus eliminating any possibility of a counterattack. Regardless of the method employed, the result is the same, a clear path through which the Wing Chun practitioner can strike.

When trapping from a cross arm position (both in a left hand lead) it is important not to let the trapping hand cross one's centreline. This action would expose the practitioner to a counter trap. In a parallel arm position (one in a left lead stance, the other in a right lead stance) this is not such a problem as the one who holds the outside position may apply a forward elbow press that negates the chance of the opponent using his other hand.

There are two main methods of achieving success with a trap. The first is to control any incoming strike by grabbing the limb, while the other is to "draw" the opponent into placing his hand in a vulnerable position.

By simply making a sudden move towards the opponent's face with one hand, you will draw a natural reaction of protection on the part of the opponent. When they raise their hand to cover their face, simply grab the defending limb, pull across the body and strike immediately.

To apply a strong trap the correct direction and level of power must be achieved. When executing a cross body trap, the pressure should be forward and slightly downward. Should insufficient pressure be applied, the opponent can step to one side and simply raise his hands; this action alone can destroy the effectiveness of the trap.

All trapping should be done fast and hard. Relentless forward pressure is desirable when the first strikes are initiated however, as the opponent is hit hard at such close range, the need for further trapping is seldom warranted.

Incorrectly applied or weak traps can easily be reversed by a competent opponent skilled in this area and should be avoided at all costs.