How to Learn Martial Arts "Pressure Points"

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Learn about the body's very vulnerable areas: These are commonly known as pressure points.

   The points include the eyes, the groin, the shins, etc.
   
   In general, things to consider include:
   Use kicks that use the wide of your foot for the shins (if you know them) as they will make it harder to miss.
   
   Pull your foot back quickly when kicking to the groin so your foot won't be caught.
   
   The nose is easily broken with any strike.
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   Step 2: Striking the flat of the forehead forces the head back with little resistance and will actually rock the brain within the skull

   Beginners should use the heel of their palm, rather than a fist.
   
   The same holds true to the back of the skull, just below the horizontal ridge. (The front has one too, above the flat.) The ridges are strong enough to be used as weapons in their own right, so avoid them., Do not actually strike a training partner with this move., This can be achieved using a "phoenix eye" punch which involves extending the index finger (search online for an image).
   
   Do not attempt to use this punch unless you are in genuine danger., Get behind your assailant and wrap one arm around his neck, using your radius (forearm bone), apply pressure to the external carotid artery (just to the side of the throat where you feel your pulse beating), slowly lowering them to the ground as you do so.
   
   You can increase the pressure by pulling your arm toward you with the other arm, and breathing in as you do, puffing up your chest.
   
   You can also place the hand of the squeezing arm in the elbow of the other arm and push the head/neck forward with that other arm.
   
   If they show no signs of weakening a sharp blow to the back of the head will disorientate them giving you a chance to run.
   
   To counter:
   Turn your head toward the elbow.
   
   The crevice will not press on your throat, and you will be able to breath.
   
   Circulation will still be a problem, so you must be quick.
   
   Grab the elbow with the closest hand and use the pressure point there.
   
   This will loosen their grip, but they will likely not give up.
   
   Combine pulling down with biting, foot-stomping, head-butting, eye-gouging, bringing your heel to their groin, shin-kicking, rib-elbowing (turn your hips), hair-pulling, and anything else you can come up with. , Once located, jab your fingers behind bone and force to the ground (this needs to be performed within about 1/4 second in an actual assault)., A fist will have trouble fitting between the jaw and collarbone.
   
   You can also grab and squeeze the throat, and even give it a good yank to dislocate it and make breathing impossible.
   
   That is, of course, quite lethal and should be used only as a last resort when there is no other alternative., Squeeze while pressing upward., With the other, follow the jawline to the highest point, just under the ear, where it meets the bump in your skull.
   
   Apply pressure inward and upward towards your ear.
   
   This is painful and makes speaking very difficult.
   
   If possible, a person will try to move away from it, hence the supporting hand.
   
   A single-knuckle punch (the second middle finger knuckle) to this spot could dislocate the jaw., Grab the elbow with your thumb on top.
   
   Place your fingers on the back of the elbow for a good grip. squeeze the tip of your thumb toward the tips of your index or middle finger.
   
   You have to reinforce the thumb with your fingers, or you'll lose leverage.
   
   Press the thumb into the middle of the crevice, into either side of the crevice, or into the lump on the outer forearm formed when you make a fist (the brachioradialis).
   
   Experiment with this one.
   
   It can be rather tricky., When practicing with a partner, give it one good shot, so you're not doing it all day.
   
   It only hurts for a minute., When punches are thrown, catch one in your armpit and lock down tight.
   
   Grab the upper inner part of the elbow joint––this needs to be done fast.
   
   Pinch down hard one finger on each side.
   
   This causes excruciating pain and will make your opponent's arm feel like it's breaking. , It has no muscle and never much fat, so it is very vulnerable, and if struck properly can break in two down the middle.
   
   You can also strike the pectorals like this.
   
   Breaking the sternum can cause a punctured lung or worse.
   
   Be very careful with this and do not practice on friends., By striking the area just below the sternum, where the ribs join on the front of the abdomen, you affect this bundle of nerves and cause the diaphragm (breathing muscle) to contract violently.
   
   This is "knocking the wind out" of someone.
   
   It's a very easy target.
   
   This can be countered by flexing the abs quickly at the time of impact, which is accomplished by breathing out or yelling (kiai)., Roll your fingers in toward your palms.
   
   Do not pinch.
   
   Pinching does next to nothing.
   
   This will work on any body type., To break them, raise the arm to extend them, reducing their ability to reinforce each other, and step towards them when you strike.
   
   A palm-down knife hand works very well for this.
   
   Uppercuts also work for this as they seem to be designed to get right up under the arm, which is what you're aiming for.
   
   The rib areas protected by the muscles of the chest or back will not be easily broken, if at all.
   
   The lowest ribs connect only to the spine and so are especially vulnerable to breaking., Because of its structure, it can easily be broken.
   
   Do not strike the toes.
   
   It will hurt, but you certainly won't break anything.
   
   Try each with light pressure and see which hurts more., Apply this pressure to temples, the flanks of the bridge of your nose and the corners of your eyes about 5mm from the bridge of your nose. , Temporary relief or dulling of pain can be achieved by using the appropriate pressure point.
   
   Front of head:
   Massage both temples Middle/top of head:
   Apply pressure to point just above ears.
   
   Back of head:
   Place both thumbs just behind ears and trace backwards until you find the point where your skull ends.
   
   Move another mm inwards and apply pressure. , If you're stuck fumbling with a pressure point, you're going to get knocked in the head.
   
   Practice often, practice safely.
   
   Practice as if you were in a real fight.
   
   Start slow, and get the placement down.
   
   Then, use all the intensity and speed that you can.
   
   You fight how you practice, so if you're practicing slow or sloppy, that's how you'll fight, and you probably won't last long.
   
   If your focus is on speed, breathe normally (Bak Mei Kung Fu).
   
   Your arms can move faster than your lungs.
   
   While controlled breathing etc. may provide power, it sacrifices the speed of your arms. , Everybody is different and has different levels of pain tolerance.
   
   Where one point may be on you could be an inch to the left on someone else.
   
   Some don't feel it at all.
   
   The more people you can practice with, the better you can be at approximating where a point should be and finding it when it's not there.
   
   Tap out.
   
   When practicing with a friend, have them tap their thigh loudly to show that you are doing it properly and need to stop.
   
   However, they should only tap if it hurts.
   
   False confidence doesn't work in a fight. , Always look directly at your target.
   
   If your eyes aren't there, your focus isn't. , Key things to bear in mind when practicing include:
   Use the tips of your fingers and thumbs for techniques using either.
   
   This works like a needle, focusing all the force into the very tip of your finger/thumb, multiplying the pressure per square inch (psi).
   
   You wouldn't sew with the side of a needle, would you? Keep your knees bent, at least a little, at all times.
   
   More so when doing techniques.
   
   This gives you stability and power.
   
   Locked knees must be unlocked for you to move, increasing your reaction time.
   
   If you're standing straight up, you're like an upright piece of wood, ready to be pushed right over. , If you're pressing down, bend your knees.
   
   If you're pushing forward, step that way or turn your hips towards it.
   
   For greater force when punching, vision the target spot to be slightly further than the real one. (not recommended for training except with the use of a punch pad).
   
   When striking, twist your hips with it.
   
   This is a building block of martial arts.
   
   It starts your weight moving and is more often than not the source of power in techniques. , When striking, once you've made contact, pull back quickly.
   
   It's almost like bouncing off of what you hit, except you want to recoil quickly enough to prevent the energy you're putting into the target from coming back into your body part.
   
   This keeps the energy in the target and causes more damage, especially in bones.
   
   This will increase the chance of breaking bones and reduce the chance of the enemy simply grabbing your foot or hand. , In martial arts (Japanese, anyway), this is known as a kiai.
   
   It must come from your diaphragm, truly releasing your inner power.
   
   It gives you confidence and startles your attacker.
   
   By flexing your abs for it, it also protects your solar plexus.
   
   This kiai can be the difference between pressure points working or not.
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   Step 3: causing a concussion

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   Step 4: or worse.

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   Step 5: Temples: The temples are the thinnest part of the cranium

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   Step 6: so a good blow here (one-knuckle punch is ideal) can cause concussion

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   Step 7: hemorrhaging

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   Step 8: or even death.

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   Step 9: Temple 2: When this area is hit

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    Step 10: the victim may be rendered unconscious

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    Step 11: in some cases dead.

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    Step 12: Neck/sleeper: This is another more obvious pressure point but is very complicated in application.

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    Step 13: Look for the collar bone.

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    Step 14: The easiest way to strike is probably with a knife hand (karate chop) turned up side down.

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    Step 15: Under the jaw: Grab the neck on the front and reach under the jaw.

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    Step 16: TMJ: Support the head with one hand.

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    Step 17: Forearm/crevice: The crevice of your forearm is made entirely of muscles and tendons

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    Step 18: so there's lots to work with.

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    Step 19: Back of the hand: If you are grabbed

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    Step 20: look directly at the hand of your assailant

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    Step 21: and with either a regular or single-knuckle punch

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    Step 22: strike the bones in the back of the hand.

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    Step 23: Pinch the fingers for a simple defense.

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    Step 24: Sternum: Strike with a single-knuckle to the bone in the middle of the chest.

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    Step 25: Solar plexus: This is a bundle of nerves deep within the center of the abdomen

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    Step 26: thought to be responsible for the physical feelings of deep emotions.

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    Step 27: Love handles: Place your hand flat on the side of the abdomen

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    Step 28: between the ribs and hips.

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    Step 29: Ribs: The ribs have very little covering

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    Step 30: regardless of the body type

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    Step 31: and only thin muscle between them.

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    Step 32: Feet: Look down at the foot

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    Step 33: and using your heel

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    Step 34: raise your knee as high as you can

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    Step 35: and stomp on the arch of the foot as hard as you can.

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    Step 36: If feeling drowsy or can't concentrate using both pointer fingers

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    Step 37: apply pressure.

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    Step 38: Headaches are a pain.

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    Step 39: Bear in mind that speed is key in a fight.

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    Step 40: Practice on yourself and with a friend.

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    Step 41: Practice your focus.

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    Step 42: Hone your techniques.

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    Step 43: Move your weight toward the direction you're putting pressure.

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    Step 44: Practice the recoil.

Detailed Guide

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