The Stick Arm Wrap Trap

by W. Hock Hochheim

Two enemies stand apart about to do violent battle. They wish to pommel and tear each other from limb-to-limb. They crash and clash and, as odd as it may seem, this chaotic scenario plays out.

- often both participants end up extremely close with one or more arms trapped and wrapped by their opponents, in what I call the "Undiscovered Trap"-the arm wrap. From boxers to knife fights to ground fights arms get entangled accidentally and by design.

A lucky catch and a classic arm wrap-trap. Actually very common and reflexive.

The following series is a stick-versus-stick combat scenario involving an arm-wrap trap. It should be practiced to instill the fundamental possibilities.

I am attacked and get lucky enough to deflect the attacking limb with my free hand. As this

deflection is under way, I stab my impact weapon into his neck/face/jaw.

Take note that my stick must also be ready to deal with his left fist.

Instinctively fearing his stick, I wrap his far right arm with my left arm. I try to hit him with the

pommel of my stick, but he is still conscious enough to catch it. In the clutches of each other.

He's got me, and I have him-the classic "in the clutches of" situation.

As soon as he catches my wrist, I duck my head and fan my stick

over my head and into his. This movement should be drilled into

your practice. Caught hand? Fan! Look at my left hand circling around -

My left hand grabs his left hand. This allows me to yank my stick arm free from his capture.

Strike the neck. Apply as needed.

Spend time capturing and wrapping a training partner's arms. it becomes quite natural. Then work on follow-up solutions. We cover a lot of these in my "In the Clutches of " hand, stick, knife and gun modules and in the Training Mission Series of books and dvds. It is a very likely position you will find yourself in.