Pressure points are a hot topic today among many karate pratitioners and other martial artists. We would like the hear your views and expereinces and your opions too, especially on a number of topics:

(1) What is the best way to understand presure points: (a) In terms of the human nervious system, (b) through understanding of the enery model found in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or (c) ignor the theory and concentrates on what works?

(2) When do pressure points work best and can they be used in a fast and hard exchange of techniques against an attacker that is throwing combinations of techniques, like a boxer?

(3) Are pressure point techniques effective against the highly emotional combatent, those on mind altering drugs, or who are mentally deranged?

Please see my reply to "Pressure points in free fighting" by Bronx.

Repectfully,
Scott Watkins

If you want to understand the effectiveness of pressure point manipulation as well as its proper application, a fairly thorough knowledge of neuro/vascular anatomy is required ( if you aren't a biology or med. student you should at least pick up a modern A&P book and compare and contrast it with some of the older anatomical documents/diagrams). Many of the older texts (ex: The Bubishi) use antiquated terms and a lot of mysticism (for example striking points at certain times of the day to cause a desired effect). Pressure point strikes are very real though, and are incorporated in Chinese Chin Na as well as those styles influenced greatly by Okinawan Tuite (Ti): Kojo Ryu, Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu, and a few others. Proper application of technique is situationally specific, but if ones' knowledge and training are sufficient, then application should pose little problem (no matter the intensity of the confrontation or the opponents skill or mindset). According to my Sensei he doesn't have to be standing in front of you to be used as a guinea pig, and the true test of pressure point skill is its combat efficacy.