mercop

I don't rely on pain much less pressure points. It is not because they don't hurt me or work on other people. The reason is that during a confrontation especially SD you have a very limited time to be effective. The use of pressure points has four basic issues-
All points do not work on everyone
You need to monitor the person for their response
They are easily over stimulated limiting their effectiveness
Reliance on pressure points takes training, when you train in something you expect it to work. When it doesn't you become task fixated instead of continuing to fight. The same as someone putting rounds into the COM of an attacker and standing there in disbelief because the person is not bursting into flames.

I do some things that may appear to be using pressure points. That is just because they are good spots on the body to manipulate balance. Any pressure points that are used should have a mechanical advantage. The best way to combat failure is with redundancy. Again, I don't claim to be the burning bush of martial knowledge. Just sharing what I have adopted as my training doctrine based on experience and research. - George

__________________
2010 MCS Calander
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dgb7wjh3_299f8tncbcz

budokaitd

I don't rely on pain/pressure points either, but a good strike to a pressure point/nerve cluster is good for off balancing an adversary. That's about all I've ever used them for. I won't spend too much time looking for a "magical button" to push in the middle of a fight. Thanks for the post.

__________________
Join the NRA and Gun Owners of America.

Bunny

Agreed. Don't forget that for us women, we're usually smaller and have that disadvantage in a fight. We're (supposedly) easily overpowered. As a woman, I try and rely on the fact that my center of gravity is lower anyhow, and I use my smaller stature as an advantage, especially on the ground. By using basic principles of body mechanics that I was taught in Jiu-Jitsu, it makes the odds less in the BG's favor and more in mine.

Though I have yet to get into any fight that wasn't in a controlled situation (ex: on the mat in the dojo). I'm not confident as to what would happen in a real SHTF situation.

Dal1Celt

Eyes, throat, collar bones, groin, knees, and shins. These are the main points I focus on during a fight. I was studing Escrima, Kali, Silat, Philippino stick fighting (however you want to call it) My instructor moved away. Found another person, but price is too much for me right now.

__________________
What? Me worry?

Hopyard

Escrima is a beautiful art, with powerful techniques, and wonderful empty handed applications of the stick techniques which are great for disarms and counters etc. My sense of it, having worked really hard on it for almost 2 years, is that it is technique sensitive. So unless you are very proficient it could easily fail in a real deal fight. OTOH, it certainly incorporates a lot of elements fromJiu-Jitsu and other arts and has its place in one's personal array of tools.

I started learning when I was 61 or so, and unfortunately my old body couldn't take the stress. A younger person, especially with some natural athleticism, would make progress at a moderate pace and could fairly quickly become very formidable.

I think my biggest issue besides personal limitations due to age, was that the techniques are so brutal it is hard to practice them realistically without harming your partner.

I was very fortunate to have a great partner and highly skilled martial artist in my class; he is the officer I have referred to in other posts, and I'll be forever grateful for his kindness and patience. Learning along with a very experienced LEO who had black belts in other arts was one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done.

Jmac00

I'm more comfortable with the "crazy white guy" method.......

I just go nuts and start biting, kicking, scratching .........then run like hell.

Distance is your friend

__________________
'You don't need God anymore, you have us Democrats.'
- Nancy Pelosi (Quoted 2006)

rocky

I never was taught to use pressure points during a fight, but more for control techniques. Once hands or feet start flailing , strikes or other methods work well enough.

__________________
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson


Nemo Me Impune Lacesset

Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

Dal1Celt

I couldn't agree with you more.

After several hits to the thumbs I learned rather quick to keep them tucked in properly.

You can continue to train at a slower pace to keep your muscle memory going, sort of like Thai Chi.

I miss the sessions that I was going to and hope that someday I'll be able find another instructor that I can afford.

__________________
What? Me worry?

Glawlker

I was tought to use a ppct strike as a tool to attempt to stun and, run to get as much distance from you and the threat as possible. I would never rely on them as a primary defense tool, although some of the pressure points do hurt like heck. Its just not practical for most situations.

DCJS Instructor

George,

As always good stuff!

Give me a call when you get back from Texas!

Tom