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.

Studying Many Arts

   The study of many Martial Arts will make for a well rounded fighter. the more techniques and fighting methods to take out an opponent means you will know how to handle more situations. Miyamoto Musashi
wrote in his book, known as The Book of Five Rings, the following rules:

1. Think without any dishonesty.
2. Forge yourself in the way.
3. Touch upon all the arts.
4. Know the ways of all occupations.
5. Know the advantages and disadvantages of everything.
6. Develop a discerning eye in everything.
7. Understand what cannot be seen by the eye.
8. Pay attention to even small things.
9. Do not involve yourself in the impractical.

 Following these rules will keep you open minded in the Way of Martial Arts.

   Remember that there are no superior Martial Arts, All forms are equal. they all are designed to achieve similar objectives. Neutralising the enemy whether it is done with aggressive destructive techniques or pacifist preserving techniques the objective is still the same.  The victor of any fight is not determined by the form studied by either participant, but by the skill and ability of the individual. To ask a question such as ' Is karate better than ju jitsu?' is wrong and should not be thought about. Every Martial Art has its own use.

   If there is a few different clubs in your town, you should find the time to go and train in them for about 6 weeks. If you find that it is too impractical or doesn't fit well with your main form, then take away with you the knowledge of how that style functions, just in case you ever come across an opponent who has studied that Art. I see it as a an experience, and the more experience you have the better the fighter you will become. Know Your Enemy.

Advanced Encouragement

   At my club recently we have developed the term advanced encouragement, meaning the use of pain as a tool to encourage a person to move where you are wanting them to, whether that's on to the floor or to get someone who has the advantage, whilst fighting on the floor, to get off or give up his position. In the past when I have been on the floor with my opponent on top of me ready to beat down or holding me in a submission, I have used Advanced Encouragement to get out of the tough situation. In that situation i have used both Kyoei (pressure point between the 5th and 6th ribs below the arm pit) and Denko (pressure point below Kyoei between the 7th and 8th ribs) to cause pain to my opponent and making him roll over. My opponent has also used pressure point to get himself out of one of my favourite judo holds, Makura-Kesa-Gatame and decided to use the dokko pressure point (located just behind the ear lobe) to cause me extreme pain and loosen my grip.
Pressure points should be studied and practised in training, learn where they are and the best technique to apply them.

   The favourite Advanced Encouragement Technique of my club has to be the Kote Gaeshi (wrist Reverse) wrist lock. this Technique can be applied in may ways. In Aikido we roll the wrist over at the same time as we apply the lock so our opponent can flip out safely causing no harm to the wrist during training. When we train for self defence we do not roll the wrist at all, we crush the knuckles straight down towards the underside of the wrist causing extreme pain. In Aikido we often use this technique to loosen the grip of the opponents if they are holding a Tanto (knife).

   Thai Boxers out there, don't think that this cannot be applied to you because it is grapple based. I imagine it could be applied whilst in the clinch. Pressure points in the neck such as the Matsukaze (located on the neck 3 inches directly below the earl lobe)would work to loosen the opponent up whilst struggling for power in the clinch, squeezing inwards on this point with the blade of your hand would cause discomfort breaking concentration for a second, allowing you to gain control. I understand this probably would not work whilst wearing gloves, this should still be trained for self defence situations you come across.

   Whatever you study pressure points should not be neglected. go study pressure points in the areas of the body that you would normally target and learn how to use them. They are a great tool when used correctly.

Pictures to come soon.......

Aikido - My Experience So Far

The Beginning

   I first became interested in Aikido at the age of 16, when my younger brother came home from the newly opened Wetherby Aikido Club. He showed me 5 techniques of the basic Kata and straight away I was interested. I turned up at the next training session to find familiar faces from my primary school and a friend of my dads teaching along with the Sensei of the club. Due to the club being new, they had only established a junior session and had to be taught one on one by my dads friend Jimmy.
   I trained with Jimmy for 2 months before the Senior club was started, this one on one training caused me to make great progress. Eventually after training for a few months Jimmy had suggested I take a grading to get my first belt, and he suggested I graded at his Sensei's Club in Garforth.

 

The Progression

   My first grading was a success and I passed with flying colours, attaining my yellow belt (5th kyu) skipping white belt (6th kyu). After the grading I was introduced to the Clubs Sensei's, Rob and Sutty. After talking for a while, Jimmy suggested to me that I become part of Garforth Aikido Club, due to the higher standard of teaching I would receive there.
   I found that Garforth had much to offer because of the regular attending students and the 2 Sensei's who both taught slightly different ways of performing a technique, allowing the student to choose the best option for them.
   For the past 4 years I have been training as part of the Garforth Club and have reached 2nd Kyu. I have entered into national competitions and one international competition. I think its safe to say that getting involved in Martial Arts is one of the best decisions I have made in the last 20 Years.

 

The Community

   After training under the same teachers and with the same students for 4 years we have developed a community with teachers, students and parents. Every training session is Aikido focused, however we all like to have a laugh and make the environment as friendly as possible. we often have students visit our club from other parts of Leeds and Bradford because of the environment we create.
   The martial Arts Community at large is very much the same from what I experienced at the international competition I entered into. people from many different countries came together to celebrate the study of Martial Arts. Every competitor I met was very friendly, even when we didn't speak the same language.

 

Have A Go

   If there is a Martial Arts Club near you do not be put off by the fear of judgement, lack of confidence or the inability to step outside of your comfort zone, Martial Arts will better you in every way, overcome fear, boost confidence and allowing you to become comfortable with many everyday situations, just have a go, it will benefit you, I promise