Pressure point
Encyclopedia
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. Techniques of attacks on pressure points are called Hyol Do Bup
in Korean martial arts
, such as Hapkido
, Sin Moo Hapkido
, and Han Mu Do
, and in various styles of Japanese martial arts
, such as Jujutsu
, Aikido
, Tenjin Shinyō-ryū
, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, Kotō-ryū, Gōjū-ryū, Sekiguchi-ryū, Yōshin-ryū, Kuma-ryū
, Kōga-ryū
, Attsuuten-ryu kempo-jutsu, and Karate
.
The concept of pressure points is present in old school
(17th century) Japanese martial arts and is claimed to have an even earlier history; in a 1942 article in the Shin Budo magazine, Takuma Hisa
Sensei asserted the existence of a tradition attributing the first development of pressure-point attacks to Shinra Saburō Minamoto no Yoshimitsu (1045–1127).
Hancock and Higashi (1905) published a book which pointed out a number of vital points in Japanese martial arts.
Exaggerated accounts of pressure-point fighting appeared in Chinese Wuxia
fiction and became known by the name of Dim Mak, or "Death Touch", in western popular culture in the 1960s. One of the best-known uses of pressure-point fighting is known to Trekkie
s as the "Vulcan nerve pinch
."
While it is undisputed that there are sensitive points on the human body where even comparatively weak pressure may induce significant pain or serious injury, the association of kyūsho with esotericist notions of qi
, acupuncture
, or reflexology
is controversial.
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 is 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, the target to gag, or even for the person to be knocked unconscious. Most pressure points are located on pathways on the nervous system.
, whereby it reacts to pain by moving away from the source. Martial artists can make use of this reflex with minimal effort.
are pressure-sensitive, supplying the brain with information to control systemic blood pressure. Pressure against this region will send signals that indicate that blood pressure is too high, leading to a lowering of blood pressure.
s", the philtrum
, and the side of the knee
.
which floats in a fluid (cerebrospinal fluid
). The fluid itself is a safety mechanism that allows the head to take substantial impact without resulting in concussion, although such an impact could still cause permanent brain damage. However, it is possible to deliver a blow using artful techniques in such a way that even these protections can be effectively eliminated, 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".
meridians
) which allow Qi
, or "life-force", to flow through the body. Acupuncture, for example, is well-known among the practices that use the meridian system. Traditional Chinese medicine
practices in general are largely based on the belief that meridians are specific pathway lines in the human body, along which are found many hundreds of acupressure points. According to this belief, attacks can be used to impact the flow of Qi, and, thus, the body. Therefore, pressing, seizing
, or striking these points with specific intent and at certain angles is believed to cause either a heightening or a diminishing of Qi circulation in the body.
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner. Techniques of attacks on pressure points are called Hyol Do Bup
Hyol Do Bup
Hyol Do Bup is a the name of the nervepoint system in the Korean martial arts like Sin Moo Hapkido and Hanmudo.Learning these techniques has multiple purposes like healing, preventing various aches over the body and attacking....
in Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts
Korean martial arts are the martial arts that originated from Korea. Some well known Korean martial arts are hapkido, kuk sool won, and taekwondo. There has also been a revival of Korean sword arts as well as knife fighting and archery...
, such as Hapkido
Hapkido
Hapkido is a dynamic and also eclectic Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, techniques of other martial arts, as well as kicks, punches, and other striking attacks...
, Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido
Sin Moo Hapkido is a martial art that combines "hard" and "soft" techniques. It is closely related to its parent art, Hapkido, though it places more emphasis on meditative, philosophical, and Ki development training. Hapkido is often translated as “the way of coordinating power,” which places...
, and Han Mu Do
Han Mu Do
Han Mu Do, founded by He-Young Kimm, is a martial arts system consisting of the study of empty hand techniques, the study of weapons, the study of ki, and the study of martial arts philosophy.- Origin :...
, and in various styles of Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts
Japanese martial arts refers to the enormous variety of martial arts native to Japan. At least three Japanese terms are often used interchangeably with the English phrase "Japanese martial arts": , literally meaning "martial way", , which has no perfect translation but means something like science,...
, such as Jujutsu
Jujutsu
Jujutsu , also known as jujitsu, ju-jitsu, or Japanese jiu-jitsu, is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed and armored opponent in which one uses no weapon, or only a short weapon....
, Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, Tenjin Shinyō-ryū
Tenjin Shinyo-ryu
, literally meaning "Divine True Willow School", can be classified as a traditional school of jujutsu. It was founded by Iso Mataemon Minamoto no Masatari in the 1830s...
, Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, Kotō-ryū, Gōjū-ryū, Sekiguchi-ryū, Yōshin-ryū, Kuma-ryū
Kuma-Ryu
Kuma-Ryu is an Okinawan-based system of karate using upright stances, fast closing of space, and short-distance close-fighting techniques. Officially known as Kuma-Ryu Karate-Jutsu, the style incorporates joint locks, control and immobilization techniques, and meridian-point strikes...
, Kōga-ryū
Koga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
, Attsuuten-ryu kempo-jutsu, and Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
.
The concept of pressure points is present in old school
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
(17th century) Japanese martial arts and is claimed to have an even earlier history; in a 1942 article in the Shin Budo magazine, Takuma Hisa
Takuma Hisa
Takuma Hisa was a prominent Japanese martial artist, early student in Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu of both Sokaku Takeda and aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba....
Sensei asserted the existence of a tradition attributing the first development of pressure-point attacks to Shinra Saburō Minamoto no Yoshimitsu (1045–1127).
Hancock and Higashi (1905) published a book which pointed out a number of vital points in Japanese martial arts.
Exaggerated accounts of pressure-point fighting appeared in Chinese Wuxia
Wuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
fiction and became known by the name of Dim Mak, or "Death Touch", in western popular culture in the 1960s. One of the best-known uses of pressure-point fighting is known to Trekkie
Trekkie
A Trekkie or Trekker is a fan of the Star Trek franchise, or of specific television series or films within that franchise.-History:In 1967, science fiction editor Arthur W...
s as the "Vulcan nerve pinch
Vulcan nerve pinch
In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Vulcan nerve pinch is a technique used mainly by Vulcans to render unconsciousness by pinching a pressure point at the base of the victim’s neck...
."
While it is undisputed that there are sensitive points on the human body where even comparatively weak pressure may induce significant pain or serious injury, the association of kyūsho with esotericist notions of qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
, acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
, or reflexology
Reflexology
Reflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion...
is controversial.
Types
Pain
Some pressure points produce pain when struck, pressed, or rubbed, depending on the point itself. These points are also referred to as nerve centers. While the distraction of pain might offer sufficient advantage in a fight or escape, the body also has a pain withdrawal reflexPain withdrawal reflex
The pain withdrawal reflex is an involuntary action in which the body reacts to pain by trying to move itself away from the source of the pain, to reduce or even eliminate that pain....
, whereby it reacts to pain by moving away from the source. Martial artists can make use of this reflex with minimal effort.
Blood and blood pressure
The baroreceptors in the carotid arteryCarotid artery
Carotid artery can refer to:* Common carotid artery* External carotid artery* Internal carotid artery...
are pressure-sensitive, supplying the brain with information to control systemic blood pressure. Pressure against this region will send signals that indicate that blood pressure is too high, leading to a lowering of blood pressure.
Break
There are certain areas which are likely to lead to a break if struck effectively, such as the "floating ribFloating rib
Floating ribs are four atypical ribs in the human ribcage. They are called so because they are attached to the vertebrae only, and not to the sternum or cartilage coming off of the sternum. Some people are missing one of the two pairs. Others have a third pair. Most, however, possess only two...
s", the philtrum
Philtrum
The philtrum , is a medial cleft common to many mammals, extending from the nose to the upper lip, and, together with a glandular rhinarium and slit-like nostrils, is believed to constitute the primitive condition for mammals in general...
, and the side of the knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
.
Hyper-extension
There are joints that, when struck, can be hyper-extended and even tear. The striking of these joints is a technique which can cause permanent damage to one's opponent. There are two types, as follows:- Brute force, which, when applied, takes advantage of the vulnerability of the strike point, usually a joint, thereby causing damage.
- Golgi organGolgi organThe Golgi organ , is a proprioceptive sensory receptor organ that is located at the insertion of skeletal muscle fibers into the tendons of skeletal muscle...
strike, a relatively gentle strike to the Golgi tendon at the back of the elbow, which triggers a reflex that immediately relaxes the tendon, allowing the elbow to bend more easily in the wrong direction. If this is directly followed by a solid strike to the elbow joint, them the elbow can be broken with significantly less effort than it could through brute force.
Concussion
The brain is a sensitive organOrgan (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
which floats in a fluid (cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
). The fluid itself is a safety mechanism that allows the head to take substantial impact without resulting in concussion, although such an impact could still cause permanent brain damage. However, it is possible to deliver a blow using artful techniques in such a way that even these protections can be effectively eliminated, causing disorientation or instantaneous knockout. The most commonly taught technique involves a strike just below the occipital ridge
Occipital ridge
The occipital ridge is the region at the back of the head where the base of the skull meets the spine.This general area is quite vulnerable, and as such offensive maneuvers have been created to target the occipital ridge. If the occipital ridge is hit with sufficient force, it will cause...
, 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
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
expression a "glass jaw".
Energy
Some fighter artists believe that there are energy channels (acupunctureAcupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
meridians
Meridian (Chinese medicine)
The meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.- Main concepts :...
) which allow Qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
, or "life-force", to flow through the body. Acupuncture, for example, is well-known among the practices that use the meridian system. Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
practices in general are largely based on the belief that meridians are specific pathway lines in the human body, along which are found many hundreds of acupressure points. According to this belief, attacks can be used to impact the flow of Qi, and, thus, the body. Therefore, pressing, seizing
Chin Na
Chin Na or Qinna is a Chinese term describing techniques used in the Chinese martial arts that control or lock an opponent's joints or muscles/tendons so he cannot move, thus neutralizing the opponent's fighting ability...
, or striking these points with specific intent and at certain angles is believed to cause either a heightening or a diminishing of Qi circulation in the body.