9. What is a pressure point?

In our previous blogs you have seen various pressure points. Today we summarize them and answer 2 questions "what is a pressure point" and "What are pressure points used for in the martial arts?"

What is a pressure point?

Pressure points are spots on the nerves that are sensitive. Look at it is as "holes" in the nerves where the Chi circulation can be influenced (like in acupuncture). Most of the time, you will find pressure points in a "hollow":

• Where a nerve begins or ends 
• Where nerves cross each other (like an X) 
• Where nerves split (like a Y) 

If you hit a point right on the spot, next will happen:

• A sensory (pain) signal directly goes via the nervous system and spinal cord to the brain. 
• This causes the brain to make endorphine (the fighting hormone!) and it sends a motoric signal to body to protect the body.

Please note: a pressure point does not always have to hurt to have the desired effect

How big is a pressure point?

One pressure point has the size of about a coin. Multiple pressure points in one area will create a bigger surface to attack.

What are pressure points used for?

An acupuncturist uses these points to heal people by balancing the meridians; they provide the right energy in the meridians via the acupuncture points.

In the martial arts, we aim on using these points to stop or speed up the energy flow in the meridians. As said above, the signal finds its way to the brain. It will send a signal to the body, to protect the body part that was attacked. This can give several reactions, like:

• Opening the hand 
• Bend an arm 
• Buckle the knees 
• Turn the head away 
• Shut the body down 
• etc.

What are pressure points used for in the martial arts?

Acupuncture points can be used in general to weaken or defeat the opponent. Here are a couple of examples of where we use pressure points for in our martial art - Yawara Ju-Jutsu:

• Stop off an attack 
• Unbalance the attacker 
• Position the attacker (to continue with other techniques) 
• Free yourself out of a grip or bear hug attack. 
• Use them in a take-down 
• To control the opponent 

Here is a video with examples of the effect of a pressure points. It is a compilation of previous videos with two bonuses.

In our future blogs, I will tell you a lot more about the pressure points we use in our martial art. We will first introduce a couple more points, and then we will combine them in locks, take-downs, etc. In our next blog, we will go back to the wrist to Pericardium 6 (P-6).

We cannot be held responsible for injuries 

cause by practicing the techniques shown in the video's!

Respect the danger of locks and pressure points 

and be very careful when practicing the techniques

Practice these techniques only with an certified teacher

or school (despite of the martial art)

6. Trippel Warmer 17 (TW-17)

In this blog and the next, I will stick to the Triple Warmer meridian.

After writing about Triple Warmer 12 (TW-12) in my previous blog, I will now write about Triple Warmer 17 (TW-17). A great press acupuncture point that can be used to free yourself from a hold around the neck standing up or laying on the ground. There are more applications, I will write about those in future blogs.

There are 3 ways to manipulate this point:

• About 30 years ago I first heard about TW-17. I was told that TW-17 is located in the hollow under the ear. At that time we just pressed in that hollow. This is great for practicing.
• Shihan Jan the Jong taught us that it is better to press 45° to the middle of the head. Indeed, this was a lot more effective; especially when you wanted someone from the ground to stand up (use middle finger on both ears).
• Over the years we found out that TW-17 is lower than the hollow, under de bone; You can hit it 45° to the front (tip of the nose) or press it 45° to the middle of the head.

I feel that it is okay to stick to pressing TW-17 up to the center of the head for starting or wreck less students.

How do you attack TW-17?

Press point:

With the middle finger: Press on TW-17: when the hand is coming from behind the head; or hook (grab) with the fingers behind TW-17 when you are standing in front of the opponent.

With the thumb: Sometimes it might be easier to press with the thumb when the hand is coming from behind (metal on wood, because of the connection (meeting point) with gallbladder).

Hit point:
You can use a Tsuki (with the knuckle of your middle finger) or Tettsui (with the knuckle at the end of your pink finger). You can also use all knuckles of your fingers and knock toward you (especially with the middle finger). Please, please, please be very careful with TW-17 as a hit point !!!  

Background information:

Triple Warmer 17 (TW-17:

Location:
The acupuncture point Triple Warmer 17 (TW-17) is located under the ear at the bottom of the bone.

Finding TW-17:
Go with you finger down from the ear, you will find a bone. Press against the bottom of that bone.

Neurological:
TW-17 is connected to the greater auricular nerve. It is located where the nerve splits. It comes from the cervical plexus from the branches of the spinal nerves C2 and C3.

Direction:
You press or hit TW-17 below the ear, up against the bone 45° towards the mouth or middle of the head.

Impact:

You can use press point TW-17 to free yourself, to position the opponent or in a take-down. You can use hit point TW-17 to cause confusion in the head.
TW-17 is close to ST-6 (agains the jaw), this might dislocate the jaw of your partner, Be very careful with these hit points!

The Triple Warmer meridian:

This meridian contains 23 fire points.
The route of the Triple Warmer meridian is quite a journey with a lot of interesting points:

• The meridian starts with TW-1 at the top of the ring finger 
• It runs up from the wrist, between the Ulna and Radial where you find Triple V (TW-6, TW-7 and TW-8) up to the elbow 
• Then it proceeds its way via the outside/back (Yang side) of the upper arm where you find TW-11 and TW-12 to the shoulder 
• From the back of the supraclavicular fossa it takes an internal detour via the diaphragm to the abdomen. Then it goes back up the supraclavicular fossa in the front 
• It goes to the neck; from there it goes to the hollow under the ear TW-17 
• the meridian goes around the back of the ear to the front of the ear (to the level of the eye. There he makes a little internal detour up to the front of the head to connect with Gallbladder 
• The last point TW-23 is on the outside of the eye.

There is a lot more information about meridians, like times, sounds, colors, etc. It is interesting and probably effective too. In my blog, for now I will stick to what I can use and what works in our Martial art.

I hope you found this blog interesting, next time we will show how you can use Triple Warmer 11 (TW-11).

We cannot be held responsible for injuries

caused by practicing the techniques shown in the videos!

So, be very careful when practicing the techniques!

Respect the danger of locks and pressure points.

Only practice these techniques with

an authorized teacher or school (despite of the martial art)