Excellent video, thank you! Yes this is definitely a polarizing topic in the karate world. I think the idea that these “pressure points” are magic knockout buttons unfortunately has led many practitioners into a rabbit hole and a false sense of security. The karate magic happens when submitting to the consistent grind of kihon, hojo undo, and kata. In the karate world we need to somehow change the conversation from being about “magic touch points” to something more along the lines of “ideal targets” like you pointed out here.
Rational and diplomatic treatment of an emotive, potentially polarising topic. Nicely done, Sensei. Love the Pareto 80:20 breakdown! Thankyou.👍 (and to Zoé and Brian... good to know he's alive'n'kicking)
One of the best inputs I have ever seen on this theme. It's a realistic and honest attitude towards the "miracles" of pressure points. And it's in my opinion just like Che shows, that the knowledge of the anatomy is the important thing, to apply an effective technique. Searching a pressure point in the chaos of a serious fight? Hmmm... Really greatful for this vid, thx a lot. 👍😊 I love the comments section😀👍👍 Greetings from Cologne
I hate the idea that we can get all fiddly in a fight and look for one perfect spot when there are enough excellent targets that just require some good old blunt force trauma. Just learn to hit hard! Simple, but not easy. Also: our comments section is the best! - Zoe
Excellent ! You guys are giving so much! Thank you…..most insightful, and many times wonderfully/purposefully (most likely) hilarious:))! I truly am enjoying, and learning from all of your fantastic, simple no nonsense content- Down to earth and honest. Your channel is a treasure.
Ah, what a splendid comment to wake up to on a Saturday! We're so glad that our content comes across that way - we are lucky to be able to share what we know, given that we have had the privilege of training with many great Sensei who have shared their knowledge with us so generously. The least we can do is contribute to the world karate canon in our own blue collar way 🙇🏻♀️ Thank you for watching and commenting so much - we are so grateful 🙇🏻♀️
A great video on pressure points, Sensei Che. I especially like the explanation linked to Kata, because we were supposed to practice Kata with an opponent/target in mind. Clearly pressure points EXIST in all fighting systems, it's logical to target the body's weaknesses rather than attack the invulnerable points. However, like Sensei Che said, over the years there's been a lot of charlatans who sold systems built around the idea that one could simply touch a pressure point and immobilise an opponent. Perhaps they watched a karate master or Kung Fu master (like the gentleman in Kuro-Obi, Miyahara) effortlessly defeat an opponent with a grip and thought "ah, that's the secret spot to go for). Rubbish! It's the strength of the grip that came from good old slogging it out strength training of Hojo Undo (Sensei Che @ 15:45 - 16:00 ). The STRONGER THE GRIP the more vulnerable the pressure point, if you have never trained your grip/fingers, then none of it would work! The underside of the upper arm that sensei Che grabbed @ 10:00, most of us would not have been able to do anything more than "tickle the opponent" with that position, but Morio Higaonna Sensei demonstrated the same grip on SKA's Naka sensei and the pain was obviously significant to Naka Sensei (In the Kuro-Obi series) - which brings me to the second point, many of these pressure points are more suitable for holding/gripping and weakening/retarding the opponent's responses a little, they are not the magical mythical kung-fu Panda dim-mak points, and some are useless in relation to striking techniques. Again, it still depends on the level of training, and not so much on the technique/pressure point. My sensei used to say of Morio Sensei in his younger days, that when your grip is that strong, any part of the opponent's body becomes a pressure point. Let's not forget the legendary grip of Chojun Miyagi Sensei - whom others said, had a "flesh-ripping grip" - of course he didn't rip the flesh off a living person - but to his victims it must have felt like he did. Then again all too often, even in striking, there are "pressure points" meaning vulnerable areas to attack, and people do train to toughen some of these weak spots. The"denko" (in English we call it the floating rib) is a good example of a pressure point that most striking arts would attack, and it's also a position that most fighting systems would teach to protect (in karate we keep our elbows well down and cover the whole lower ribcage region so that the denko and ganka points are not exposed. Sensei Che covered the Solar Plexus (Suigetsu in Japanese)as one area (22:00) and even though in many professional fights have individuals been KOed via a blow to that area, therefore, many people who were seasoned fighters have trained to receive blows there...In my own experience: Years ago in one full-contact bout I aimed for the solar plexus of an opponent, I missed and struck the lower end of the sternum instead, in the lower middle of the ribcage, I think I compressed his Xiphoid process, and he simply dropped like a rock.....my sensei told me later that it's a pressure point called Kyosen which means "the sharp of the chest", and that sharp piece of cartilage can be pushed into the organs behind, causing intense shock and pain..... after that I managed to repeat the process on other people only twice - but it was not a 'touch" nor any normal punch, it required a full-force punch at close quarters, I literally had to jam my body-mass behind the knuckle and step into the punch with Kime and all, and punch at a slightly downward angle to compress the sternum (it also works when the opponent is charging/pressing forward too-won't work when he's backing away).....so it's not something that works simply because you struck a target, and at that distance I received quite a few blows too, so it's not like one could do it without being able to take a few blows oneself, it's not an elegant secret technique for self-defence classes ! The secret killer-touch technique exists only in the movies. In reality one trains endlessly to be able to exploit a pressure point even a little.
The funny thing is that people always ask for pressure points when they find out I teach karate - the pop culture influence is strong! I can't believe I missed a chance to make a _Kill Bill_ Pai Mei reference, in the video. Most people don't like the answer of "train diligently with the right tools and teachers for many years and maybe you'll be able to hurt someone" - karate, like life, has no shortcuts. Thank you for the lovely response as always!
Hi Che, Thank you for dispelling several myths, suggesting high value books and supporting academic fields of study. There is much to karate and a lot of nonsense to avoid. Your video will help many in their journy. Terry.
Thanks Terry Sensei Got to set some ideas straight sometimes, it’s the idea that it’s magical in the wrong way! The magic is in all good he beauty of all karate, when trained, and taught by critical minds who seek what the masters sought Che
On a side note, for a less lethal self defense scenario….I will one day be teaching my two daughters those painful pressure points for when some teenage boy thinks he wants to get a little too touchy with her!
As late Lou Reed said, “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz". Same goes for Goju-ryu: punch to the nose (tsuki) and kick to the groin (kin-geri). The rest is just jazz.
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre : thank you, I'm already fine (unless you're asking about that hangover that got after historical trip to the old times of Ryukyu kingdom). :)
Haha!! Too much habu sake!!! Had the privilege and the hangover after sampling several small glasses of Miyazato Sensei’s, backyard habu-Jerry can Sake at his memorial dinner a few years ago. Glad you are well Che
We have an M.D. training in our dojo and he's wealth of information. One class, he even used a red marker on his face, arms and hands to illustrate where nerves and blood vessels are in the body and what the effects of striking might be. Fortunately, I don't think I have to worry about trained martial artists mugging me as they're usually upstanding members of society. Besides, in Texas where I live, I'm almost always armed and alert to my surroundings.
Having an MD in the dojo is such a delightful privilege - given their hectic schedule, it is an honour that they find time for their training. Truly, we have to worry about thugs more than budo-ka!
Hi there My dojo is in Jhb There are several Goju dojos in KZN They may be different federations and have different foci There is GojuKai, SeiwaKai, Jundokan , Karate do International, to mention a few schools Good luck Che
I think a lot of the nuance is lost with things like this - a pressure point is not a magic button (as is often taught in so-called self-defence classes) but if you are jamming hard body parts continuously into soft pressure / vital points it will do some damage. If you hit someone five times in the throat (let's say) then soon he might go "please stop, that is uncomfortable."
Great video, Jagger Sensei. The Book on Implications of Karate Blows, seems to be out of circulation or seemingly difficult to find, have you any recommendations for a source to find aforementioned book or supplementary suggestions, sir?
Hello! We've managed to find some secondhand copies on Amazon here: amzn.to/3BNmk7H I would also recommend the Big Bloody Book of Violence by Wilder and Kane, which is widely available. amzn.to/33WYlX7 Hope this helps! Zoe
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre I got it in the post. Thank you for sharing this and I look forward to seeing future videos; stay safe, stay healthy and all the very best to you and Zoe.
why would anyone would wish to lose their fine motor control of their fingers. and it would be lot easier to simply punch someone to the liver than try to hit someone with your fingers to a pressure point even if such points do exist. I would like to think they do and as far as the area like for example in the lower center hole of the throat that really is a very good target if you can hit it. but i don't see why not simply hit it with a fist rather than try to hit it with the way its sown to hit it with a strike that is often shown on youtube videos. If you would do those type of strikes if opponent tightens their neck and lifts their shoulders this strike loses lots of it's effectiveness.
Bart Angel I think we are on the same page, the irony of what is getting answered , starts with the crazy fascination by some for “Dilman” type pressure point karate. There is the wacky belief that one would get to “ no touch “ knock outs. This was an attempt at showing all the flaws in this logic, it also is aimed at showing some pitfalls that people commonly fall into, or some of the “ more dangerous “ self inflicted ideas of becoming stronger. ( finger jab vs loss of fine motor capability ) Thanks for your inputs as always Che
Excellent video, thank you! Yes this is definitely a polarizing topic in the karate world. I think the idea that these “pressure points” are magic knockout buttons unfortunately has led many practitioners into a rabbit hole and a false sense of security. The karate magic happens when submitting to the consistent grind of kihon, hojo undo, and kata. In the karate world we need to somehow change the conversation from being about “magic touch points” to something more along the lines of “ideal targets” like you pointed out here.
The magic is in seeing karate in everything we do!!
The grind becomes Fun
Thanks for all your comments Jake
Che
Train train train
Study and train some more!!
No shortcuts in karate!
Another great video. The instructions, common sense and humor set you all apart
Thank you so much Jon
Che
Rational and diplomatic treatment of an emotive, potentially polarising topic. Nicely done, Sensei. Love the Pareto 80:20 breakdown! Thankyou.👍 (and to Zoé and Brian... good to know he's alive'n'kicking)
Thanks for every comment, and seeing what I was after,
Che
One of the best inputs I have ever seen on this theme. It's a realistic and honest attitude towards the "miracles" of pressure points. And it's in my opinion just like Che shows, that the knowledge of the anatomy is the important thing, to apply an effective technique. Searching a pressure point in the chaos of a serious fight? Hmmm...
Really greatful for this vid, thx a lot. 👍😊
I love the comments section😀👍👍
Greetings from Cologne
Danke Jo
Appreciate your comments and inputs to our community
Che
I hate the idea that we can get all fiddly in a fight and look for one perfect spot when there are enough excellent targets that just require some good old blunt force trauma. Just learn to hit hard! Simple, but not easy.
Also: our comments section is the best!
- Zoe
Love today vidoe
Glad you are commenting Nish
Keep it up
Excellent ! You guys are giving so much! Thank you…..most insightful, and many times wonderfully/purposefully (most likely) hilarious:))! I truly am enjoying, and learning from all of your fantastic, simple no nonsense content- Down to earth and honest. Your channel is a treasure.
Ah, what a splendid comment to wake up to on a Saturday!
We're so glad that our content comes across that way - we are lucky to be able to share what we know, given that we have had the privilege of training with many great Sensei who have shared their knowledge with us so generously. The least we can do is contribute to the world karate canon in our own blue collar way 🙇🏻♀️
Thank you for watching and commenting so much - we are so grateful 🙇🏻♀️
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre I keep forgetting the time difference- I’m in San Francisco;)-!
A great video on pressure points, Sensei Che. I especially like the explanation linked to Kata, because we were supposed to practice Kata with an opponent/target in mind. Clearly pressure points EXIST in all fighting systems, it's logical to target the body's weaknesses rather than attack the invulnerable points. However, like Sensei Che said, over the years there's been a lot of charlatans who sold systems built around the idea that one could simply touch a pressure point and immobilise an opponent. Perhaps they watched a karate master or Kung Fu master (like the gentleman in Kuro-Obi, Miyahara) effortlessly defeat an opponent with a grip and thought "ah, that's the secret spot to go for). Rubbish! It's the strength of the grip that came from good old slogging it out strength training of Hojo Undo (Sensei Che @ 15:45 - 16:00 ). The STRONGER THE GRIP the more vulnerable the pressure point, if you have never trained your grip/fingers, then none of it would work! The underside of the upper arm that sensei Che grabbed @ 10:00, most of us would not have been able to do anything more than "tickle the opponent" with that position, but Morio Higaonna Sensei demonstrated the same grip on SKA's Naka sensei and the pain was obviously significant to Naka Sensei (In the Kuro-Obi series) - which brings me to the second point, many of these pressure points are more suitable for holding/gripping and weakening/retarding the opponent's responses a little, they are not the magical mythical kung-fu Panda dim-mak points, and some are useless in relation to striking techniques. Again, it still depends on the level of training, and not so much on the technique/pressure point. My sensei used to say of Morio Sensei in his younger days, that when your grip is that strong, any part of the opponent's body becomes a pressure point. Let's not forget the legendary grip of Chojun Miyagi Sensei - whom others said, had a "flesh-ripping grip" - of course he didn't rip the flesh off a living person - but to his victims it must have felt like he did.
Then again all too often, even in striking, there are "pressure points" meaning vulnerable areas to attack, and people do train to toughen some of these weak spots. The"denko" (in English we call it the floating rib) is a good example of a pressure point that most striking arts would attack, and it's also a position that most fighting systems would teach to protect (in karate we keep our elbows well down and cover the whole lower ribcage region so that the denko and ganka points are not exposed. Sensei Che covered the Solar Plexus (Suigetsu in Japanese)as one area (22:00) and even though in many professional fights have individuals been KOed via a blow to that area, therefore, many people who were seasoned fighters have trained to receive blows there...In my own experience: Years ago in one full-contact bout I aimed for the solar plexus of an opponent, I missed and struck the lower end of the sternum instead, in the lower middle of the ribcage, I think I compressed his Xiphoid process, and he simply dropped like a rock.....my sensei told me later that it's a pressure point called Kyosen which means "the sharp of the chest", and that sharp piece of cartilage can be pushed into the organs behind, causing intense shock and pain..... after that I managed to repeat the process on other people only twice - but it was not a 'touch" nor any normal punch, it required a full-force punch at close quarters, I literally had to jam my body-mass behind the knuckle and step into the punch with Kime and all, and punch at a slightly downward angle to compress the sternum (it also works when the opponent is charging/pressing forward too-won't work when he's backing away).....so it's not something that works simply because you struck a target, and at that distance I received quite a few blows too, so it's not like one could do it without being able to take a few blows oneself, it's not an elegant secret technique for self-defence classes !
The secret killer-touch technique exists only in the movies. In reality one trains endlessly to be able to exploit a pressure point even a little.
Simple truth is we all need to keep training!!
The funny thing is that people always ask for pressure points when they find out I teach karate - the pop culture influence is strong! I can't believe I missed a chance to make a _Kill Bill_ Pai Mei reference, in the video. Most people don't like the answer of "train diligently with the right tools and teachers for many years and maybe you'll be able to hurt someone" - karate, like life, has no shortcuts.
Thank you for the lovely response as always!
Hi Che, Thank you for dispelling several myths, suggesting high value books and supporting academic fields of study. There is much to karate and a lot of nonsense to avoid. Your video will help many in their journy. Terry.
Thanks Terry Sensei
Got to set some ideas straight sometimes, it’s the idea that it’s magical in the wrong way! The magic is in all good he beauty of all karate, when trained, and taught by critical minds who seek what the masters sought
Che
Well done. Very interesting watch. Enjoyed it... Wow
Thanks, keep training
Thanks for today's lesson
Our pleasure
18:17
Indeed - Brian keeps a beard as a teeny tiny bit of cushioning lol
Nice video! Thanks.
Only a pleasure! Thank you for watching this bit of older content - we appreciate the view and the comment!
On a side note, for a less lethal self defense scenario….I will one day be teaching my two daughters those painful pressure points for when some teenage boy thinks he wants to get a little too touchy with her!
Big smiles Jake
I’m sure they will make many a young man think twice!!
Che
As late Lou Reed said, “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz". Same goes for Goju-ryu: punch to the nose (tsuki) and kick to the groin (kin-geri). The rest is just jazz.
I like making Music, that’s the edited out sounds and grunts from Brian
Hope you recovering well
Che
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre : thank you, I'm already fine (unless you're asking about that hangover that got after historical trip to the old times of Ryukyu kingdom). :)
Haha!!
Too much habu sake!!!
Had the privilege and the hangover after sampling several small glasses of Miyazato Sensei’s, backyard habu-Jerry can Sake at his memorial dinner a few years ago.
Glad you are well
Che
Cool!
Glad it was great
Hope the new dojo tattoo is healing
We have an M.D. training in our dojo and he's wealth of information. One class, he even used a red marker on his face, arms and hands to illustrate where nerves and blood vessels are in the body and what the effects of striking might be. Fortunately, I don't think I have to worry about trained martial artists mugging me as they're usually upstanding members of society. Besides, in Texas where I live, I'm almost always armed and alert to my surroundings.
Having an MD in the dojo is such a delightful privilege - given their hectic schedule, it is an honour that they find time for their training. Truly, we have to worry about thugs more than budo-ka!
Is there a dojo like urs in Durban?
Hi there
My dojo is in Jhb
There are several Goju dojos in KZN
They may be different federations and have different foci
There is GojuKai, SeiwaKai, Jundokan , Karate do International, to mention a few schools
Good luck
Che
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre Ok cool thanks
I think a lot of the nuance is lost with things like this - a pressure point is not a magic button (as is often taught in so-called self-defence classes) but if you are jamming hard body parts continuously into soft pressure / vital points it will do some damage. If you hit someone five times in the throat (let's say) then soon he might go "please stop, that is uncomfortable."
Great to see your comments Chris
Hope you are training hard in PTA
See you sooner than later
Che
Great video, Jagger Sensei. The Book on Implications of Karate Blows, seems to be out of circulation or seemingly difficult to find, have you any recommendations for a source to find aforementioned book or supplementary suggestions, sir?
I’ll get Zoë To look for some others
I troll lots of old and second hand book shops
Never know what somebody else got rid of,
Hello!
We've managed to find some secondhand copies on Amazon here: amzn.to/3BNmk7H
I would also recommend the Big Bloody Book of Violence by Wilder and Kane, which is widely available. amzn.to/33WYlX7
Hope this helps!
Zoe
@@GojuRyuKarateCentre I got it in the post. Thank you for sharing this and I look forward to seeing future videos; stay safe, stay healthy and all the very best to you and Zoe.
I have a friend that teaches pressure points he has been challenged by boxers.other martial artist etc pressure points have never let him down
That's amazing! I personally haven't had enough luck with it, but I wouldn't try do it in the middle of a fight 🙏🏻
Cool
Yip!! Karate is cool
why would anyone would wish to lose their fine motor control of their fingers. and it would be lot easier to simply punch someone to the liver than try to hit someone with your fingers to a pressure point even if such points do exist. I would like to think they do and as far as the area like for example in the lower center hole of the throat that really is a very good target if you can hit it. but i don't see why not simply hit it with a fist rather than try to hit it with the way its sown to hit it with a strike that is often shown on youtube videos. If you would do those type of strikes if opponent tightens their neck and lifts their shoulders this strike loses lots of it's effectiveness.
Bart Angel
I think we are on the same page, the irony of what is getting answered , starts with the crazy fascination by some for “Dilman” type pressure point karate. There is the wacky belief that one would get to “ no touch “ knock outs.
This was an attempt at showing all the flaws in this logic, it also is aimed at showing some pitfalls that people commonly fall into, or some of the “ more dangerous “ self inflicted ideas of becoming stronger. ( finger jab vs loss of fine motor capability )
Thanks for your inputs as always
Che
👏👍
Thanks for all the thumbs up Jonas!! Have an awesome weekend
Che
👍
Thanks, Matthew! Nice to hear from you 🦄
Meridians? Seriously?
Yip!! So many wired things, some totally unfounded, some by other names, like nerves!
Have a super day
Che