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INDEPENDENT RESEARCH SUBJECT
Pressure points and Nerve Motor Points of the Human Body, Along with Shuto-uke
Jeffrey Heermans
?It is important to those who train in Karate-do to know about the vital points (jintai kyusho) of the human body?. As we continue to train after we receive black belt it is up to the karate-ka to do some self-study. As for myself as a brown belt I took Anatomy and Physiology, Kinesiology, Psychology PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics) classes. I had to start teaching as our instructor had left the area, and I needed to understand why some people could do splits or bend their front knee without a problem and others could not. At brown belt level I thought those that did not bend their knees or could not touch their feet when bending over were just lazy. As I began taking these classes at the college I learned differently. Yes, some were lazy and quit within a few weeks of starting class. And others continued through black belt and have continued to train, compete and teach Shotokan karate to this day.
In Karate we use many different types of waza (techniques): blocking, punching, kicking and striking as defensive and offensive waza. I will talk about blocking and or striking with shuto (sword hand) using Heian Shodans last two waza.
In Heian Shodan when we teach beginners we show then kokutsu-dachi (back stance) shuto-uke (sword hand), the block is chudan (solar plexus) level followed by another shuto-uke block. For the application your opponent will step in punching chudan, you will block with shuto-uke, next the counter is a shuto-uke strike to the neck using the shuto (heel edge) or haishu (back of the hand) striking the side of the neck in the region of the Brachial Plexus (origin) which is formed from the Median, Radial, and the Ulnar nerves fibers coming from the vertebrae in the neck. These nerves meet and form the Brachial Plexus group at the side of the neck in the carotid arteries area between the two groups of Sternocleidomastoid muscle. The first strike using the shuto or ridge can kill or permanently cripple or with perfect quick penetration stun your opponent, the second Haishu if delivered correctly with the pressure applied directly toward the center of the neck, will cause:
1)High intensity of pain.
2)Immediate cessation of motor activity
3)(Probable) temporary motor dysfunction to the arm and or leg on the same side of the body.
4)Mental stunning, lasting 3 ? 7 seconds.
5)(Possible) low levels of unconsciousness.
6)As well as a motor dysfunction to both legs.
This waza is used to stop your opponent from continuing to attack. The course motion is important starting with the left hand from your right ear straighten out your arm turning the back of the hand (Haishu) toward the target, in this case the Brachial Plexus Origin (side of the neck) striking with a hit and stick then draw back. Problems that might happen, you may hit the opponent?s shoulder and then their ear rather than the neck. The course motion should be straight to the neck with a slight upward motion from the ear then strike the neck, relax your shoulders, tighten the tanden, keeping a strong stance under you while making the waza.
In conclusion there are many pressure points as well as vital points in the body this is but one of them. Remember the effectiveness of the blow is not mainly due to the power in which it is delivered; it will vary from person to person on how they are struck and how much both your opponent and yourself are trained. And remember to Keep Training.
Notes from PPCT Management Systems Inc. 1988
Master Gichin Funakoshi Karate; Karate-Do Kyohan
Master Masatoshi Nakayama; Best Karate #5
Master Teruyki Okazaki; Textbook of Modern Karate
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