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)

5. Triple Warmer 12 (TW-12)

As you might have read in our previous blog, there are 3 kinds of acupuncture points:

1. Rub points (like LU-8 from our previous blog)
2. Press points (like H-6 from our previous blog)
3. Hit points, TW-12 is a hit point

How do you attack TW-12?
I suggest attacking this point with Triple V. These are 3 Triple Warmer points 6, 7 and 8 on the under arm. When you attack with these 3 points, you align the Ulna and Radius; two bones in the forearm, which will make your arm stronger.

TW-12 is a great point to stop or unbalance the opponent with.

In this video we show two techniques with TW-12.

Background information:

Triple Warmer 12 (TW-12)
Location: The acupuncture point Triple Warmer 12 is located approximately in the middle on the back of the upper arm; in the middle of the triceps.

Neurological:
TW-11 is connected to the median nerve. The median nerve is connected to the cervical vertebrae C5 - C8 and thoracic vertebra T1 in the spinal cord.

Finding the point:

Slide slowly with your finger (hand under your arm) from your elbow up to your armpit. Half way up, you will feel a big hollow. When you press and rub forward and back in this point you will sense an annoying feeling. This is where the hit point Triple Warmer 12 is located. Please note, not everyone is sensitive on this point!

Direction:
You strike this point against the bone; in and through

Impact:
The brain will think that there is a problem with the bones in the upper arm. As a result, it will release shoulder and lock the elbow.

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 at the top of ring finger 
• It runs up from the wrist, between the Ulna and Radial where you find TW-6, TW-7 and TW8 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 at takes an internal detour via the diaphragm to the abdomen. Then it goes back up to 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 takes 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 this blog we will however stick to what we can feel and what works in our Martial art.

I hope you found this blog interesting, next time we will show how you can free yourself with Triple Warmer 17 (TW-17).

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)