scott sonnon, george dillman, and systema head instructors

[bushido_man96]

I can remember times being a dummy for instructors demonstrating pressure points and the like. When I think back on them, I can't think of any of them that would hurt more than taking a punch or a kick thrown with "intent." They were also done while standing still; no resistance.

We did go over things like this when I was in academy as well. However, they never crossed over to the types of techniques we did for more active resistance. They were used for the passive resistive types of scenarios.

[Adonis]

What I don't like about Pressure point fighting besides some inflated claims by some of the bigger known people in that ciricle. Is some of the students its die hard students, who I think look at it as a magical pill.

Basically some one looking for the easy way as opposed to putting in the hard work to develop basic practical striking techniques. They want to learn the cool way of disabling an attacker with magic points.

Don't get me wrong I believe in pressure points to a point (pun intended) and its fun to do. But a person needs very solid basics before jumping into it with hopes of pulling it off. The required speed, power, timing, and every thing needed to pull it off on some one fighting you back needs to be very precise in my point of view.

[brickshooter]

I believe in pressure point defense.

Self-defense doesn't always involved defending yourself versus a gorilla on drugs. Imagine your irate girlfriend or mother flipping out and attacking you. Would you punch her in the throat?

My problem with pressure point defense instead is that much of the pressure point is hidden behind clothes. So in the time I actually feel and find the pressure point, I could have put that person in an armlock or strangulation hold.

I could also see a favorable way to use pressure point defense versus the gorilla on drugs. Strike at the pressure point at 100% intead of a tap-tap here, tap-tap there.

[sensei8]

Pinch someones philtrum very hard to the unexpected person; you'll get the idea of basic pressure points. Pinch someones lower lip in the middle very hard to the unexpected person; you'll get the idea of basic pressure points. More even so, these two points open up a myriad of opportunities

These two points, as an example, are 100% solid hits for me.