Pressure Points - mystical or basic biomechanics?

[ps1]

I know that George Dillman is the foremost expert on pressure point attacks.

I feel a more correct statement would be: George Dillman CLAIMS to be the foremost expert on pressure point attacks.

[bushido_man96]

I know that George Dillman is the foremost expert on pressure point attacks.

I feel a more correct statement would be: George Dillman CLAIMS to be the foremost expert on pressure point attacks.

I realized that I had made a mistake. That is what I meant to say.

[MizuRyu]

If you haven't, watch that video in one of my earlier posts. That man puts Dillman to TOTAL shame. I'd like to see them in a nice little scuffle... I'm sure it would be a trianwreck and a wake up call for Dillman.

[Brandon Fisher]

I agree on the touchless knockouts. They just don't mesh well with me at all. The idea of him being the leading expert I would disagree. I think I would lean more towards Seiyu Oyata for that.

[Sensei Rick]

My sensei was ko'd by dillman at a seminar, and he can do it, but... I've covered that in another post.

Pressure points are valid. but when to use them. I use them whne Im not fighting, when i am showing the parent of a studenthow you can stop someone without much effort. a small person against a big person. The points wake up when you hit them a few times too, try that out and you'll see. But, when to really use them. They will have little effect on a big brawler in a bar or a very agressive attacker imo. Many times though, I have been at a party and a guest gets out of line. You wouldn't want to brutilise a fellow party crasher, so just to calm him down without hurting him, awaken him to the possibility of future pain with a qick jab to a pressure point or a nice wrist lock. why kick to the face when a flick of the wrist will let him remember his place as a guest among friends.

how about when your brother reminds your wife how good her sweater enhances her attributes, he's getting out of line, but your mom is looking...... what to do. grab his siatic nerve and let him laugh at the "funny bone" type feeling he gets in his leg and remind him that your a martial artist and your wife is spoken for. remember only use enough force for the situation at hand, and sometimes a pressure point is the key.

[Kam]

Pressure points are real and a valid addition to any martial arts study.

"Hit fast, hit hard..." great for young, well built, fit individuals - but what about the 16 year old 80lb female or the 70+ year old man....?

Since I was a nipper, a common theme communicated to me by various practitioners and teachers of martial arts has been that the arts allow: "the weak to overcome the strong" - or variations of that. How is that achievable if all we rely on is speed and strength? There will always be someone stronger and faster and there will always be the 'strong' trying to prey on the weak.

In my opinion, without PP's martial arts just become a slug-fest - who hits who the hardest and the most times. Hundreds (or thousand) of years of study and research into the fighting arts reduced to trading punches....?

Granted, PP's take skill to learn - so does a basic Karate/Wing Chun/Thai Boxing punch/kick.....whatever! Everything takes time to master. I bet the first time some of you stepped into your respective training halls, you looked at what the teacher was doing in there and thought "Damn, how will I every learn that?!" - no doubt since then you've learned an awful lot.....and been able to apply it for real (God forbid) and in competition. So if you train how you fight and fight how you train....yadda, yadda.

Does a right hook to the jaw hurt? YES of course it does, but angle that same punch down and in towards Stomach 5 and bingo 7 or 8 times out of 10 that one punch will KO your opponent.

[alsey]

Your aim should be to hit hard, and aim at vulnerable areas. The key to this is the "hitting hard" part, not the "vulnerable areas" part. If you strike with power and hit your opponent in a place that isnt considered a vulnerable area, it will still hurt them, and if you happen to strike the pressure point in the process then its just going to hurt them more..

this is exactly my position on the matter. know where to strike, but don't put everything down to hitting pressure points. in a real fight, hitting a pressure point is extremely difficult. knowing how to strike with speed and power is IMO more important. by all means aim for pressure points, but don't expect to hit them in a real fight. if you do hit them, then great, you win, but if you don't then at least you'll have enough power in the strike to do some damage.

learning to strike powerfully is not the same as relying on brute strength. you can have tiny arms and still deliver very powerful punches if you know how to put your whole body into the technique.

[bushido_man96]

The main problem with pressure points and joint manipulation is that they are not the same on everbody. Let me explain. You learn how to apply a manipulation technique, and finish is it with a pressure point. You practice with your partner, and get it going well. You feel good about it. Now, you get a new partner. You apply the same pressure, and he squeals, and is hurt because he was not as stiff as your last partner. So then you get a new partner. This one is big and burly, and you try to crank him, and he smiles, and then you feel like you have to over-exert to get him to comply. Then, when you try to finish with the pressure point, he laughs and asks if you are trying to tickle him.

I like pressure points and joint manipulations. I think they are very valuable to martial training. The only downfall is that they must be adapted constantly to your particular opponent. When you punch, you just punch. It is true that a punch does not affect everyone the same, either, however, it is much easier to re-apply a punch, in my opinion.

For my job as a detention officer, I will utilize joint manipulations and pressure points. If my safety or that of my family's would become threatened, I am going to punch and kick and do maximum damage.

[ninjanurse]

I tend to agree with bushidoman here. All martial techniques have different applications in different settings-learning when to use what is part of the "game" so-to-speak. Trying to pigeon hole them reduces your effectiveness and limits your capacity to depend yourself.

Edited July 18, 2006 by ninjanurse

[Kam]

Bushido-Man - respectfully, ALL techniques must be adpated for the circumstances and opponent.

Would your tactics be the same against a tall person and a short person? How about a guy with 'power-lifter style' tree-trunk legs - would you try your low kicks on him or your leg locks?....

Even 'simple' punch or kick techniques must be used in the right way for different circumstances, not just pressure point techniques.

The type of training that's mentioned on this thread of; first you get a thin guy then one with big arms...etc.etc. is exactly the type of training that will mean you have more knowledge of how the same technique - pressure point or otherwise - is applied to these types of people.

Also I think someone else mentioned that they won't TRY to hit a pressure point - why not? If you're TRYING to land a hook punch why not aim it in the right place rather than 'hit and hope'? Why rely on speed and strength - what if your opponent is faster and stronger? How long do you think you will have your speed and strength? Look at it the other way round: If you aim for a pressure point with a tasty uppercut, if you miss the point you've still smacked them pretty good.......yes? Like I said before if all we reduce martial arts to is having a 'good strong [insert technique here]' - then in my opinion all you'd ever need to do is buy a punch bag and do some weights.

What d'you guys think?

Kam.