Six Types Of Martial Art Self Defense Pressure Points

by steven gregoire

The martial arts include the use of several different pressure points, all of which are designed to have a different impact on your opponent. Some of these pressure points are described below:

Pain - Some parts of the body contain a high concentration of nerve ending, thus making them more vulnerable to pain.

Think about how you would feel if you were punched in the throat, one of the areas with a high sensitivity to pain. Our bodies

are designed to back away from pain, a reflex called the Pain Withdrawal Reflex. Martial arts techniques take advantage of this natural reflex, for example applying pressure from above to the area near the collar bone will cause your opponent to move downward, which is away from the source of pain. Different pain receptors react differently, with some reacting stronger to rubbing than constant pressure.

Muscular - This involves a direct attack on the muscle causing it to contract. Examples of this include striking the outer thigh to cause the leg to loose power and striking the solar plexus to contract the diaphragm and impact your opponents breathing.

Pressure - The carotid artery contains a pressure sensitive baroreceptor which adjusts the blood flow into a person's brain. A blackout can be caused by placing pressure on this location, tricking the body into thinking your opponents blood pressure is too high and lowering the blood pressure.

Break - This pressure point takes advantage of the fact that some bones are more prone to breaking when they are struck in the right way. Some of these bones include the philtrum and the "loose rib".

Brain Shake - You brain floats in liquid in your skull, balancing on your flexible spine. Your brain is actually vulnerable to shaking, and certain techniques can actually cause you to black out. One technique that can accomplish this is a correctly placed blow just below the occipital ridge.

Energy - Acupuncture in based on the theory that there are energy meridians that travel throughout the body. It is thought that if you can block the correct flow of your opponent's energy you can impact how their bodies function. While there have been no real scientific studies about the use of energy meridians in the martial arts there are some people who claim to get consistent results using this technique.

About the Author

Steven Gregoire has been training in the martial arts since 1986. Currently he operates Tigerstrike.com A martial art equipment and supply store.