Pressure points on the human body have inspired much controversy over the years. From the idea of ”one touch death” to Spock’s Vulcan grip, the art of using nerve centers has been romanticized by martial artists and laughed at by the general public. In reality, vital centers can be remarkably effective, but those hoping to become proficient in their use should first consider martial arts training. And while knowledge of pressure points in combination with a kung fu or taekwondo education can be valuable, it will not make the martial artist invincible.
In fact, it is possible to kill another person with a single well-executed blow, but most martial arts and pressure point training systems do not aim to teach students how to kill. Rather, these systems are generally taught as a “merciful” alternative to other martial arts moves used to hurt an opponent. For example, it can be much nicer to hit an opponent at the point on the outside of the thigh than to kick them in the groin. While an enthusiastic front kick to the groin can lead to serious injury, a well-executed round kick to the outer thigh probably won’t. Both kicks, however, will likely cause the opponent to fall to the ground.
Law enforcement officers use vital points because these nerve centers in the body elicit a desirable response, but will not harm the perpetrator. Martial artists are generally taught the physiology of pressure points to improve their understanding of how to take down an opponent or attacker without causing injury, but there are some instances where causing injury is desirable. Self-defense, for example, may require a blow to a more vulnerable area of the body (such as the neck or eyes, for example). For those hoping for more pressure point wow factor, this may be disappointing, but many styles of martial arts have some interesting ideas about “merciful” methods to shed some perspective on the situation.
Most people start learning martial arts with the goal of hitting a target as hard as possible. They want power. Strength. Stuff like that to really become the best martial artist that they can be. But as they progress in their training, it becomes necessary to learn how to hold back a blow. In order to safely train with another martial artist without using a lot of pads and equipment, you must have control over your movements. In some Japanese fighting systems, the measure of a martial artist is how close he can get to a moving target without actually hitting it. The ability to choose whether or not to hit an opponent becomes the goal, rather than how hard you hit. And the ability to choose to hit an innocuous pressure point instead of the muzzle, temples, or eyes can be a merciful choice. One who demonstrates understanding, skill, and mercy, all at once.