Wing Chun is a very unique martial art known for attention to and control of the centerline, trapping, vertical chain punching, and sticking hands (chi sao). There is a great deal of contraversy regarding different styles of wing chun and the trapping techniques, forms, and training methods used in the majority of wing chun styles. My personal opinion is that much of the controversy regarding wing chun is based on a lack of understanding, as are most controversies. All that aside, there are a number of techniques, training methods, and concepts in wing chun that are valuable for self-defense.

Although simple trapping is not quite as effective in a competition with both participants wearing gloves, it works fairly well in a no gloves environment. Complex trapping, or multiple traps before striking, may work against a completely unskilled and uncoordinated attacker, but not against an athletic person or a good fighter. For self-defense or mixed martial arts it would be wise to stick to simple trapping. Trapping is best used to open up a path to a target, to prevent an opponent from blocking a strike thrown to an already open target, to prevent the opponent from using a limb to attack you, or any combination of the three.

The trapping combinations are all possible to pull off in hard sparring in the right situations, but are more for developing the ability to use the simple traps at the right time, and get used to the idea of trapping. The solo drill is useful for practicing the basic techniques of wing chun when you don't have a partner.