DIM MAK

[Traditional-Fist]

The way you practise Shotokan has surprised me very positively.

Are these concepts taught in your dojo as a part of Shotokan and if so what lineage (if it applies here) or association of Shotokan do you practise/belong to? I like to know because I find this area of training very interesting, specially when it comes to karate.

I have seen your site and it is very good. The kata is performed some what differentely-but nicely- to what I have seen so far in Shotokan and again this is probably due to association/lineage.

About you KO-ing this guy. He was more embarassed than you, believe me.

[AngelaG]

My group is under the Open Circle Institute. It is an open organisation, with people from many different styles. Five element theory and pressure points tend to be used by the majority of people in the OCI. We have Mauy Thai boxers, Wado Ryu, Tang Soo do, Ju Jutsu, Shotokan etc. all studying it, and then coming together and pooling the knowledge.

Five element theory is used within my shotokan quite specifically. All our kata bunkai is looked at with regards 5ET and PPs. We also look at players to enhance our technique.

Happy training

Angela

[Traditional-Fist]

Thanks for the info.

Good luck with your training as well.

TF

[Adonis]

I have yet to see any real master do those moves with full on resistence from there opponent. I am aware of pressure points. but people claims to be able to pull them off for real I am skeptical about.

[dtstiachi]

The Grandmaster at my school has mastered pressure points and knows DIM MAK. He is very careful about using them, but he has used them in a demonstration against several assistant instructors who he had go all out on him. He knew exactly where to hit and what the reaction would be. He is an amazing fighter. I have seen dim mak applications (experienced some of the lesser ones) and I can attest to the fact that they work. I would however caution you to the fact that they can and will hurt someone badly if not used properly. Do not use them without proper supervision and I do agree with those posted here, learn how to fight well, then work on pressure points as an afterthought.

[Sam]

ok excusing pressure points for a second....

a lot of the description of Dim Mak that has gone on simply seems to be common sense...... hit a certain target with the right attacking tool. Thats not especially hard.... like Justice's example - hit someone on their jaw hard enough and you'll cvause shock - not to be a paint but hit them any where on the head hard enough and your going to be causing damage. It seems to me all that these descriptions say is that you need to hit people in places that hurt..... not really any secret there [im really not trying to be facetious here so sorry if it appears that way].

So now concerning pressure points.... teh only application [iMHO] they could have [as has been mentioned] is once an opponent is restrained.... but again some people dont have certain pressure points.

I do however openly disagree with people who say that they would be effective in things like UFC... and the only reason they havent been tried is because they're too dangerous. I understand that techniques are too dangerous to practice in real situations, but still i doubt the ability of someone to hit so specific targets against such experienced fighters [other than things liek the 1 hit knockouts that have occured, those seem to be more by luck]

[AngelaG]

I know of certain people in sports such as BJJ and boxing who are starting to look into pressure points. They can be effective. I know of a couple of people that have used them in real SD situations. However, in my opinion, they are an addition NOT a replacement for other training methods.

as an interesting aside I have seen televised matches of people that do not study PPs where they have KOed their opponent. If you know about PPs you might notice that they have managed to hit on a PP without even realising it. It's also worth thinking that maybe people who are considered to have a "glass jaw" may just in fact be sensitive to strikes on the stomach meridian. (St4, St5, St6)

It's also worth considering that a sensitive part of the body is not the same as a pressure point, and that PPs can give much more effects than "just hurting".

Thanks

Angela

[Sam]

I agree there - that they are a "weapon" you should have, if theres a chance you can use them then why not trian in them. Its just when people start thinking they are the only way, etc.

[Adonis]

IMO PP are overated.

[Sam]

yes - trainign for them is hard, and i believe many peopel who train in them seem to believe they are the be all and end all of fighting... not all, just a lot of the ones i met...