By Gavin King, 2nd Dan Go So Kempo

As Martial Artists we live in a great time, having more information at our finger tips than our predecessors could possibly have dreamt of.  Thanks to the likes of master martial artists such as George Dillman, Erle Montaigue and Rick Moneymaker we have access to extremely advanced martial concepts.  All this is great, I have personally spent a small fortune buying every bit of information I can get my hands on.  My problem is however that some people are simply missing the point of what the pressure points actually are!

Now before I go any further, I would just like to clear up one universal argument that has been raging for years, the pressure points DO work.  Anyone making these sweeping statements against pressure points, with all due respect, doesn't know what they are talking about.  The people making these statements are simply not being shown how to apply them properly.  Most people would never argue that a decent right hook is ineffective, but if you've never been taught how to land it, even the hardest right hook in the world won't work!  It's the same with the pressure points.

The only experience most people have had with the pressure points is seeing them applied on a completely compliant partner willing to be knocked out.  Would it happen like this in real life?  Of course not!  However these demonstrate how to attack specific points.  Dillman calls his system a "method".  He shows us a method of striking the points, he is giving us new or more specific targets to attack.  It is up to us to use this knowledge and incorporate it into our own systems.  If you aren't able to work these new targets into your systems, the chances are that you're not ready to be using them.

My Dad says that when we first start learning Martial Arts we fight like we're using sledge hammers.  We target general areas of the body, the face, the body, our attacks are crude and cumbersome!  Over time, we refine our techniques and targeting, which my Dad likens to fighting with a scalpel.  I see the pressure points as highly advanced targets, that require an extremely high level of expertise to strike.

So where I see people missing the point (excuse the pun!), is by trying to apply the points without having the knowledge to actually attack the body correctly in the first place.  The pressure points are the icing on the cake, but they are not the cake!  Without an advanced understanding of how to attack the body, the pressure points are completely useless.  However, once you know how to attack the body properly, the pressure points then become extremely efficient targets. 

I read a Geoff Thompson quote recently in which he gave his advice on how people could better improve their chances in a fight by "Learning to hit fucking hard!".  Pressure point fighting is the pinnacle of Martial Arts.  It is not a substitute for a killer Gyakazuki, merely a more efficient addition to arsenal and overall understanding of the fighting arts!