The viability of Pressure Point Fighting
I am not an expert in pressure point fighting at least not on the same plane such as George Dillman or Erle Montague or others that may be out there that I have not found yet. I first learned of the concept of pressure points when I was just beginning my martial art journey in 1967. However there was never a discussion of pressure points or how they related to meridians. We were told to use our ki in our techniques but were never taught how to tap into that source of energy. In 1985 I took a massage class as part of my jujitsu training. I learned the Okazaki Long Life Massage and elements that went with it included ki flow, meridians, and specific points. We were taught that we could use the same points for hurting or healing and it depended upon our intent as to what the effect was: hurt or heal.
After a fairly good basic understanding of the "boards" I returned to the practice of karate but with a better understanding of what the techniques were about. The more I learned about jujitsu, the more I learned about karate. In 1994 I began training with an Hwa Rang Do master that happened to be blind. I learned many interesting concepts on ki, ki flow and healing techniques known as Kiatsu. I also learned that if I combined the jujitsu and the karate it looked a lot like Hwa Rang Do.
In the years that followed I made an extensive search for more information regarding the use of pressure points. I also made a study of the use of pressure points as relating to the use of joint locks and constrictions. I studied every good text I could find on pressure point fighting. Trust me, there are not that many good martial arts books available. Either they are really good or they are marginal in either the concepts they present or the application of the techniques.
From some of the material (marginal in my opinion) I learned that the use of pressure points and ki flow was irrelevant and probably did not exist because it could not be measured. The knowledge of the pressure points and meridians was good however, because they followed nerves, blood vessels and other sensitive and vital parts of the human anatomy. If ki flow and meridians was not relevant or did not work, then why has it remained viable in acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, Kiatsu and other oriental healing arts and techniques for over 5000 years? If there were not something there that was working then it would have gone away just like many "styles" of martial arts that did not work.
At this juncture my martial art training consists of the three arts mentioned above: Jujitsu (Dan Zan Ryu), Karate (Shotokan), Hwa Rang Do plus Haganah (Israeli). Every hard technique (karate and Hwa Rang Do) is done to support and set up the soft techniques (Jujitsu). The Haganah (like Krav Maga on steroids!) adds a unique mindset to the mix. That mindset is one of survival and winning.
How is this concept employed? With every entrance into a jujitsu technique there are 1- 5 strikes that include punches, elbows, knee strikes and kicks. It also includes head butts, body slams, and eye gouges. Every strike is aimed at a vital part of the anatomy i.e. pressure points. Included in the training is an elemental knowledge of cross body meridian strikes, element theory, yin/ yang, and to a lesser extent the diurnal cycle. If I am attacked at 10:00 p.m. I am not going to wait around to 1:00 a.m. to cold cock my attacker!
With every joint lock there is a preceding strike to set up the joint lock so it may be employed with little or no resistance. Catching a fist flying at my nose and doing a joint lock is possible but not very probable. If I first evade the attack and blast my attacker at Triple Warmer 17 for example I can then do the joint lock without resistance. For every joint lock there is a throw or two. Then after the throw there is a constriction: say arm bar or choke/strangulation. [Note: I did not blast Adam when he tried to punch me in the nose. I did a light slap on the tip of his nose and got excellent results.]
Another relevant topic: the traditional kata teach you where these points are and the angle from which they should be delivered. Is that really a block you are doing or is it a map showing where to strike? Or is it both?
Let us be more specific and look at a technique, break it down and see if the concept actually works.
The Technique: Figure 4 takedown (tekubi shigarami)
Pressure points utilized: Triple warmer 23, Gall Bladder 1, Heart 6, Lung 8, Lung 5
How to do the technique: I will utilize the information taken directly from my kata manual for Second Level Techniques (Jokyu Yarawa).
A note for the purists out there: we don't use the Japanese names or terms for several reasons. One is that we have a tendency to butcher the pronunciation and that makes us look idiotic and in my opinion, disrespectful. Second we are in the United States. This is now our art and our culture. We highly honor and respect our seniors that have brought us the art, but it is ours now and we will do them in English (American in general, Utahnese specifically).
9. Figure 4 takedown
Attacker delivers a right lunge punch or a right cross at your face or upper mid-section level. Defender does the following:
1. Step forward to the 11 0'clock position [Note: your opponent is always at the 12 o'clock position] with your left foot to the attacker's right side as you do a sweeping block. Grasp the attacker's right wrist as near the junction of the hand with the forearm as possible with your right hand and squeeze Heart 6 and Lung 8. With your left palm strike TW 23/ Gall Bladder 1. [Located at the corner of the eye. Use caution and restraint in practice]. Strike in an upward direction at a 45? angle to the opponent's head. This should be as close to simultaneous as possible.
2. Encircle the attacker's right arm with your left arm. As you enter the technique strike the inside of the opponent's right elbow with your left forearm (Lung 5). Grasp your right wrist with your left hand to make the figure four.
3. Swing your left foot in a large arc behind you and toward your right side. This will force the attacker onto the ground. Keep him placed on his left side.
4. Maintain your figure four hold as you place your toes under the attacker's head and shoulder. The left knee is placed on the attacker's jaw line. The right knee goes into the ribs. Place the attacker's elbow directly into your stomach and pull straight back. If the attacker's wrist is not bent, use both hands to bend it. If this does not work back fist him in the face then bend his wrist. You may use both hands to pull the wrist toward your stomach.
5. Upon submission roll your opponent onto his face and move to a defensive position.
PRINCIPLES OF TECHNIQUE APPLICATION
1. Generate momentum with movement of the hips.
2. Use distractions to cover your intent and to short-circuit your opponent.
3. Put joints into opposition. [This creates complex torque.]
4. Immobilized joints create pain by elongating and tightening the ligaments and tendons.
5. Control your opponent.
6. Use pressure point strikes as part of your distractions.
7. Always create a base.
We have listed above a very basic jujitsu technique. It does work at speed as I have done it with someone trying to hit me in the nose. The young man doing the punch became my student for a couple of years before he ran off to California to make movies. Note the use of pressure point strikes while entering the technique. The strike at TW 23/ GB 1 if done sufficiently will cause a knockout and nothing further needs to be done. A lighter strike will cause a momentary "short circuit" where you will have ? to ? of a second to do what ever you want. The sweeping block (ne gashi uke) deflects the attack and allows you to grasp the wrist at H 6 and L 8. These points will weaken the wrist and act as an energy drain that will allow you to fold the wrist, which in turn, will encourage your partner to vigorously lie down. The forearm strike at Lung 5 on the forearm will allow you to bend the opponent's arm. Swinging your left foot in a large arc will move you in such a way as to create a void that your partner will happily fill. Observe that at the end of the description is a list of applicable principles. Learn the principles and how to apply them. Your techniques will be better for it.
This technique is found in Heian Yondan and Bassai if you are interested. The figure 4 take down is done with an elbow strike to the opponent's face. The entrance is done from an arm bar. The horse stance shows you the relationship of your position to that of your opponent. The traditional kata is made up of about 85 percent jujitsu techniques. My apologies to those folks out there doing mystical dances and do not have a clue as to what they are doing and why they are doing it. May I also say that knowledge in the martial arts is a never-ending process. You can see the top of the mountain at times but it always gets higher the more you study.
Train Hard.
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Daren Willcock 
