Dim Mak training North London
By Athos Antoniades
Athos gives an introduction to Dim-Mak points and their use in fighting and chooses some Kenpo Taiji techniques to show the pressure point strikes.
Disclaimer:
Strikes taught on this website are extremely dangerous and should not be experimented with as they could result in serious injury or death. These strikes should only be used if your life or the life of your loved ones is at risk. They should never be used to hurt or intimidate another person. All those involved in the production of this site assume no responsibility for any injury or damage resulting from the execution of the strikes taught. The techniques in Kenpo Taiji syllabus should not be seen as an end in themselves which is how they are taught by most instructors, but as training methods.
Fighting is totally illogical and you cannot rely on logical pre-arranged techniques to get you out of trouble. Fighting must become a subconscious reaction, which is the whole point of Kenpo Taiji system; to take fighting to an internal level.
The techniques are there along with the forms to help us with timing, co-ordination and balance. They are also an excellent means of practicing all our basic strikes such as punches, kicks, elbow strikes, etc. In Kenpo Taiji however we have added the extra element of Dim-Mak or pressure point striking. Almost all strikes in most of the techniques are actually aimed at Dim-Mak points on the human body. You cannot learn Dim-Mak by learning points from a book or chart. The only way to do so is to practice striking them in the correct direction on the human body (only very light, or no contact of course!!) and most Kenpo techniques are excellent training methods for this.
Dim-Mak - death point striking is primarily involved with energy disruption as opposed to only brute muscle power. A well balanced, unimpeded flow of Chi is essential for life and well being. It stands to reason therefore that disrupting this energy (Chi) flow would result in either unconsciousness or paralysis. This energy can be seen as an electric current which runs through our body enabling our whole body to work. Just like any electrical appliance will not work without electricity, without the flow of Chi we die.
It is therefore useful at this stage to study the internal energy structure of the human body in order to gain a better understanding of how the knock out points we will be learning actually work. The body has 12 main meridians which Chinese medicine considers as rivers of Chi. These 12 main meridians are named after the internal organs to which they are connected, namely:
- Liver
- Lung
- Gall Bladder
- Large Intestine
- Stomach
- Spleen
- Heart
- Small Intestine
- Bladder
- Kidney
- Pericardium
- Triple Warmer
The 12 meridians running throughout the body.
Each meridian is actually a pair of mirror-image channels on either side of the body. One end of each of these 12 meridians is connected with one of the 12 main organs named above, while the other end is connected to a toe or finger. Whilst the meridians are rivers of chi the internal organs themselves may be thought of as reserves of energy. There are also eight extra meridians which may be thought of as reservoirs used to store excess energy.
Two of the eight extra meridians are of particular importance for our purpose. These are the Conception Meridian situated on the midline of the front of the body, and the Governing Meridian situated on the midline of the back of the body. There are millions of other Chi channels spreading out from the meridians, which distribute Chi to every cell in the body, nourishing the skin, hair eyes nails etc. and also inward to the bone marrow to maintain the production of blood cells. The channels also connect the organs, enabling them to communicate to and co-operate with each other.
We have already said that for the body to be healthy, the Chi must flow smoothly and continuously in the channels. Therefore, if we disrupt this energy flow, we can cause failure of the corresponding organ, paralysis to parts of the body, knock-out, death or even a delayed death, which may occur days, weeks, months or even years after the strike.
Chinese Martial Artists have discovered over 400 cavities also known as Dim-Mak or Pressure Points along these meridians which, when struck in certain directions, would cause the body to react in the manner mentioned above. These are the same points used by Acupuncturists to adjust the flow of Chi by inserting needles. Dim-Mak is probably the highest accomplishment in the Martial Arts. However, the force used to strike these points must be sufficient to affect the relevant meridian, because while some points are very close to the surface, others are deeper within the body. A strike to points on the face or neck may be made even more powerful and the results even more devastating by striking points on the inner wrist before the main strike. These are set-up points.
Energy (Chi) flows in an upward direction on the inside of the arm and downwards on the outside of the arm. Hitting either Lung 8 in conjunction with Heart 5 or 6 or Pericardium 6 in a downward direction inside the wrist, against the energy flow, makes a strike to any of these points on the face or neck far more devastating. Striking these points causes Chi drainage and are set up points for most neck and face strikes. H5 and Lu.8 are almost across from each other on the wrist approximately one inch from the wrist line, P.6 is on the inside of the forearm 2 inches above the middle of the wrist crease. By simply striking in a downward direction, with either a palm, heel or hand-sword strike, it would be difficult to miss at least one of these points.
Depending on the type of attack, set up points may be struck in a variety of ways. Hitting lu.8 in conjunction with h5 or pc.6 in a downward direction inside the wrist, against the energy flow causes energy drainage, making a strike to st.9 even more devastating. Lung 8 and heart 5 are situated approximately 1 inch from wrist line. Striking these points in a downward direction or squeezing and pulling would cause energy drainage. Antidote: gently massage lu6 and h6 toward you.
Pericardium 6 is situated approximately 2 inches from the wrist line. It causes energy drainage when struck. Antidote: if struck straight in press in on point. If struck in downward direction, knock the opposite side of arm in the same spot (tw5&6) in a downward direction.
Gall bladder 20 (gb.20) is situated at the base of the skull on both sides in the depression between the front and back neck muscles 1 inch above the posterior hairline. Gall bladder 21 (gb.21) is situated at the top of the shoulders and is quite painful if pressed. Normally used to drain excess energy from the head by pressing down on these points and brushing outwards.
Governor vessel 26 (gv26) is located on the upper third of the space between the base of the nose and the upper lip.
Meridian point: Gall Bladder 14 (gb.14). Location: above middle of eyebrow - approx. 1 inch up. Method of attack: palm heel strike in a downward direction will cause energy drainage which would result in a knockout if the strike is not too hard. A hard strike may result in death. Antidote: press gall bladder 20 (gb.20) in an upward direction into the skull use cpr if heart stops.
Meridian point Gall Bladder 20 (gb20). Method of attack: a palm heel strike in an upward direction will cause excessive energy to rush to the brain causing k.o. Possible death, if the strike is too hard.. Antidote: rub gb 20 down toward the base of the neck also push gall bladder 21 (gb.21) away from neck toward outer shoulders. Cpr may be necessary.
Meridian point: gall bladder 3 (gb.3). Location: temple. Method of attack: hook or roundhouse punch will cause k.o. or death, depending on the power of the strike. A middle finger strike to this point would almost lead to certain death. May also be attacked with other weapons such as palm heel or reverse back-knuckle. Antidote: only cpr. There is a small artery below this point which may cause internal bleeding into the brain. Death will occur within 3 days if not rushed to hospital.
Meridian point: Gall Bladder 14 (gb.14). Location: above middle of eyebrow - approx. 1 inch up. Method of attack: palm heel strike in a downward direction will cause energy drainage which would result in a knockout if the strike is not too hard. A hard strike may result in death. Antidote: press gall bladder 20 (gb.20) in an upward direction into the skull and use cpr if heart stops.