This pressure point stuff really works.

[Nick]

I've heard a lot of people bad mouth it, and even in my Karate class, I never used the stuff while sparring, even grappling, but I went to a seminar today and it was quite affective. It wasn't just intercepting an unbelievably slow punch, either, we did all sorts of stuff. One of the teachers there said he knocked out a kickboxer with three pressure points in succession and he was the best one there.

Later...

[spiderchoke]

Let me guess, He tapped him on the wrist, then the upper forearm near the elbow crook, and finally at the base of the jawline on the neck.

I have heard of it being done, but Have not seen it duplicated in a sparring situatuion. I would like to see it.

Rick Clarke demonstrated it. I am sure that someone can learn it, and it would be really cool to play with, but how practical would it be?

How long would it take to learn?

[Nick]

He said he knocked him out using his legs. As for how long it takes to learn depends on safety euipment/training partners I suppose. This stuff could be really affective, but I'm sure you need lots of practice.

Later...

[ryanhall]

I'm sure that this doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, but I don't believe you. I am not calling you a liar, just someone who has been woefully misinformed.

There is no doubt that pressure points exist and that some of them hurt, but the fact remains that they really won't stop anyone even semi-serious about hurting you. In addition, the stuff doesn't hold up under pressure and does not take into account the fact that people wear more clothing than a white undershirt and a pair of gym shorts.

[huey]

i don't know about specific spots on the body or how hard you have to hit them but i do know that if you hit someone hard enough in the liver you will induce liver trauma and they will drop suddenly. they will still be awake but cannot speak or move for a while.

[jaykay]

The problem with pressure point stuff is that in a real street combat situation where you feel threatened your body loses all capacity for fine movements, and instead falls back to large motor movements. You would never be able to execute these when it matters because your body would completely forget about them. As I understand it that is the principle that is behind self defense arts such as Krav Maga (I've never trained in that, though, only read about it).

I'm sure that pressure points do induce a lot of pain, and may well be able to be hit while sparring in the dojo, but I seriously doubt their real life effectiveness.

[Apoth]

All pressure points really are are bundles nerves in specific locations. Do I buy that you can strike a series of them and knock a guy out? Not until I see it. But I have used them in grappling situations.

I've a fairly skinny guy (6'0", 155) so when I grapple with bigger guys I get tossed around alot. When a guy has a you locked up and you can't get out. A finger press to the throat, a thumb in the crook of the elbow or the armpit, the side of the hand directly beneath the nose, or even a quick love-handle twist will get an opponent to loosen up long enough for me to move.

Would I use one when standing? Only the occassional knuckle-punch to the arm pit or forearm to the base of the neck.

[MMA fanatic]

well there no doubt that pressure points work, as i have seen a demonstration done on my friend but as far i using them in an actual fight situation there is doubt

[Kosh]

The question of wether pressure points work is irrelavent, because they do...you can find them yourself; the obvious ones are the temple, throat, sternam...but to me these arent pressure points thye are just weak areas. If you get smacked on the temple you might die from brain trauma, not because its a pressure point.

'Proper' pressure points are places that arent particularly important, but wreck when you touch them or prod them (not just smack them).

If a big bastard is throwing himself at you then its pretty unlikely that your going to be able to hit a pressure point. But thats not to say they arent effective...if you dont believe touching a pressure point hurts then you havent had one touched. The pain is so intense it stops you from thinking...good for getting someone to release a hold or lose concentration on something. And im sure a person could be rendered unconsious from that level of pain.

Theres one in that fleshy part between you thumb and index...squeeze that as hard as you can. Or theres one at the base of you thumb, right in the middle of the big muscle thing. Or theres one right in the centre of your palm, theres one on your wrist...

Generally you could say learning about these is pointless, but thats like saying generally a person attacking you will hit you with a right punch. Neither are true.

[m7777c]

Now I got a question to go along with this one ...while standing in the clinch is there any good pressure points to grab or hit to set up a slammin' takedown???

[Nick]

All right, second day of the seminar, and you guys are right: although they DO work, self-defense wise they're pretty much useless. But I did learn a few good techniques that are in fact good for self defense.

Later...

[adacas]

My cousin is 6'2" and near 400lbs and when he went to a seminar that included pressure point lessons from another kajukenbo instructor he too was skeptical. That was until the guy knocked him clear on his ass with one touch to the gut. I don't know if it was a push or a punch because my cousin was stunned and couldn't tell but he was impressed. Pressure point is real but it is difficult to master and even more difficult to apply to real world self defense but it could make for great conversation at a party.
"Hey Bill come over here. Put that beer down I got something to show ya"

[Szczepankiewicz]

The question of wether pressure points work is irrelavent, because they do

Ipse Dixit???????

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Actually the Old forms(koryu kata) were especially to train the sequences of strikes or rubs
PP are rarely used alone so a sequence could be grab wrist and apply pressure to a point there, strike a point on the upper arm ( believe inside of biceps) followed by strike to beck of neck and finished by strike somewhere to face (have to forgive me is 5 years ago I did the seminar from Patrick McCarthy)
and still this would not neccesary knock him out, maybe just stun your oponent for a short while
One would train the seperate sequences by means of tegumi drills ( 2 man excercise)


Forms were made into stylistic excercises instead of tools to learn PP, because of this they lost all value for fighting

[Nit]

From a biological point of view pressure points exist in the form of nerve bundling inand around your body (Such as the Bracheal Plexus through the should and arm - would welcome corrections)...

They are useful things to know, but like any technique you need to know when to use them, trying to hit them won't work generally for the average fight because you lose fine motor control when the adrenalin kicks in... however going for the main targets will improve your chances of success say in a drawn out bout in the ring or in a 'gentlemans street agreement'

Some areas are the centre top of the thigh (hit it really hard with your elbow or a pointy thing and the whole leg will deaden), inbetween the bicep and tricep on the inner arm (corrections! If you hit that really hard say with a punch or knife hand and seperate the muscles the whole arm will deaden and the shock can knock them out) the same goes for the arm pit (right in) and the ribs just below the armpit...

also, if you have a greasy pole handy, a quick deep unexpected insertion up the anus will cause a blackout (seen this in a nursing home with a suppository, ew)

If you hit a quick succession of these points quickly then you will overwhelm the nervous system and cause a blackout... however unless you are well practised then best stay to the main pressure points we all use, jaw, temple, solar plexus and groin...

oh and in addition, don't try it if thier wearing anything thicker than a shirt or more than one layer...