Pressure point

A pressure point in the field of martial arts refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner. Users state that the effectiveness of manipulating pressure points does not rely on brute strength, but rather precise targeting, in order to achieve specific outcomes.

The study of pressure points has a long history, although it has been to a large degree withheld from the general public until recent years. This has resulted in the formation of many misconceptions regarding their use. The effectiveness of manipulation, and even the existence of pressure points, is controversial.

Types

There are several types of pressure points - each is applied differently and each creates a different effect. "Pain points", for example, use tendons, ligaments, and muscles - the goal to temporarily immobilize the target, or at the very least to distract them. Reflex points produce involuntary movements, for example causing the hand to release its grip, the knees to buckle, or the target to gag, or even for the person to be knocked unconscious.

Pain

Some pressure points produce pain when struck, pressed or rubbed (depending on the point itself). While the distraction of pain might offer sufficient advantage in a fight, additionally the body has a Pain withdrawal reflex whereby it reacts to pain by moving away from the source. Martial artists can make use of this through minimal effort. Applying pressure to the collar bone from above will cause the subject to move downwards, whereas poking them upwards in the gap between the ear and neck will make their body want to move upwards. Pressure to the shoulder causes that side of the body to move back. A jab to the abdomen in the middle of the stomach will cause some people to twist around, away from the pain. A rapid impact, say from an elbow or fist, to the lower torso, just below the ribcage, can easily knock all the air straight out of a victim, leaving them gasping for air and unable to move. A rub down the back will cause the body to move forwards. Some points react more violently to pain from changes in the pressure (rubbing) rather than constant pressure. Therefore striking this area can cause unconsciousness using the same mechanism, also relying on the force being transmitted to the reticular activating system.

Break

There are certain areas which are likely to lead to a break if struck properly, such as the "floating ribs", the philtrum, and the side of the knee.

Hyper-extension

There are joints that when struck, can be hyper-extended and even tear. This is a technique which can cause permanent damage to one's opponent. There are two types:

• Brute force: This takes advantage of the vulnerability of the strike point, usually a joint, thereby causing the damage.
• Golgi organs: A relatively gentle strike to the Golgi tendon at the back of the elbow, for example, triggers a reflex which immediately relaxes that tendon allowing the elbow to bend more easily in the wrong direction. If this is immediately followed by a solid strike to the elbow joint, the elbow can be broken with significantly less effort than through brute force.

Concussion

The brain is a sensitive organ which floats in a fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) and balances on a very flexible spine. These safety mechanisms allow the head to take substantial impact without resulting in concussion. However, martial art techniques can be delivered in a way which effectively eliminates such protections, thus causing disorientation or instantaneous knockout. The most commonly taught technique involves a strike just below the occipital ridge, at the correct angle in the correct direction. Another well known point with this effect is the chin or lower jaw, giving rise to the boxing expression: a "glass jaw".

The same effect of knocking somebody unconscious may be achieved by using the edge of the hand (palm-up) to apply a sharp strike to the carotid artery. With enough force, the artery will be compressed, and a mere few seconds of the artery being pinched will starve the brain temporarily of oxygen, rendering the victim unconscious.

Energy

Some believe there are energy channels (acupuncture meridians) which allow Qi to flow through the body. Acupuncture is the best known use of the meridian system. Traditional Chinese medicine theory is largely based on the idea that meridians are specific pathway lines in the human body, along which are found many hundreds of acupressure points. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of chi, acupuncture points or meridians.

According to these theories, attacks will impact the flow of chi ("chi", "ki"-Japanese), and thus the body. Therefore pressing, seizing or striking (dim mak) these points (or combinations of points) with specific intent and at certain angles is believed to cause either a heightening or diminishing of qi circulation in the body. Arts such as Bak Mei and Bok Foo Pai utilize this strategy almost exclusively in combat.

See also

• Marmam

External links

• What are pressure points?
• History of vital point striking
• Pressure point charts
• Diagrams & use of specified points
• When pressure points fail