Usefull Pressure Points - Head

If you haven't noticed yet I love to use pressure points. They are an extremely useful tool when it comes to hand to hand and armed combat. This post is the first of a series of 'Usefull Pressure Points' posts and will be focused on a few pressure points on the face and around the head and neck.

The vital point known as Tendo (the Way of Heaven) and is the crown of the skull. This pressure point was used by Miyamoto Musashi in his last ever duel. He defeated his long time rival with one strike with a bokken, which was carved from an oar on his journey to ganryujima island. This well placed strike was aimed at the Tendo, Musashi's rival, Ganryu Sasaki Kojiro, did not survive the blow. This demonstrates the value of studying pressure points and vital areas.

Useful Pressure Points - Head

1. Komekami - Temple
2. Seidon - Above and below the eyes on the eye sockets.
3. Jinchu - Spot directly beneath the nose and above the lip.
4. Gekon - Spot Beneath the lower lip.
5.  Dokko - Concavity behind ear lobe.
6.  Han Yen - spot between the outer corner of the eye and upper part of the ear, where joins the skull.
7. Hichu - Base of the neck or Adams apple
8. Matsukaze - spot on neck, 3 inches directly below the ear lobe (when head is looking forward).

The pressure points on head are good for both striking and applying pressure to. Learn where they are on yourself and practise with them on others safely in training. They will come in handy.

Next post on this series will be about Arm based pressure points.

Disrupting Posture and Breaking Concentration

   Disrupting Posture and Breaking Concentration are both tools that share the same aim, to leave your opponent vulnerable and a small window of opportunity to take them out with a knock out strike or take them to the ground. In Aikido, disrupting posture is utilised in every technique, through this we can also cause a break in concentration through short, snappy neck whipping motions which disorientate the opponent for a split second. One method we use to achieve this, is by using the opponents forward momentum and amplifying his motion (using short, snappy pulls on their attacking arm) causing his weight to shift to his front foot. this leaves him vulnerable and gives you many advantages and opportunities due to their weak posture.

   I have seen the this used in MMA before, it lead to a 15 second knock out in the first round. A Muay Thai fighter gave his opponent a strong leg kick to the lower leg, this disrupted his opponents posture and broke his concentration for a second, also causing his guard to drop. The fighter then instantly threw the knockout left hook, sending his opponent crashing to the ground with his eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

   Searching for ways to Disrupt posture and break concentration is important in all forms. Once these methods have been found they should be practised thoroughly.