Kyusho Jitsu (Pressure Point) Study

"Pressure point knowledge will enhance any martial arts style"
- Professor Wally Jay

Karate-Do - "the way of the empty hand" is a basic study of the art and the sport of karate.

Karate-Jitsu - "Chinese hand fighting" is the old traditional way of karate and is used for self-defense.

This has resulted in two ways or schools of thinking about karate. Most people see karate as a means to develop self-control, fitness and to be a better person. Others think karate is for fighting and self-defense. At York Karate we take the approach that karate is all of these things.The key is how you are taught and how you train. We incorporate the skills and principles of Karate-Jitsu into our program, always making students understand both the underlying principles as well as the practical applications of every move and technique we teach.

The main idea or principle behind karate-jitsu is the use of pressure points. Most people understand vital points - like the eyes for example. Pressure points or Kyusho are less known points on the body. Pressure points are used in the healing art of acupuncture to restore health. In Karate-Jitsu these same pressure points are touched, hit or rubbed to make techniques effective for fighting and self-defense. Without the use of pressure points a confrontation is decided by the lowest common dominator: Blunt- force trauma, which is simply a function of size and strength. How can a 98-pound woman or child defend himself or herself against a 250-pound attacker regardless of their fitness or skill level? The only way is with effective martial arts techniques, including the use of pressure points.

What is a pressure point? A pressure point is a place on the body where a signal or message can be entered into an energy channel called a meridian. Meridians are thought to be low-resistance pathways for the movement of vital energy or "Qi" through the body. It is the movement of Qi energy through the body that enables life and vitality. Disurpting the flow of Qi through particular meridians by attacking pressure points (i.e., "gateways" tio the meridians) can cause predictable effects in the body of an opponent, and even unconsciousness. We can use these predictable effects to our advantage in a confrontation.

Pressure points and meridians are associated with, but not dirrectly relatred to, the peripheral nervous system. As such, attacking specific pressure points can also lead to the striking of nerves. Muscle and bone cannot register pain, only nerves can resgister pain. While blunt force trauma can be effective, the reason is because a message of pain is sent to through the nervous system. The problem with blunt force trauma is not only does it require size and strength it also results in damage - bruises, broken bones and cuts. This damage, if severe enough, can cause permanent injury and also places us at risk because of the chance of infection resulting from exposure to open wounds such as cuts.

Pressure points - Kyusho- Jistu - provide the tool to effectively, safely and humanely defend oneself as well as provide a deeper understanding of the appliaction (bunkai) for basics and kata.

The study of kyusho jitsu is not style specific, rather it focus on developing principles and knowledge that can be applied to any art. As Professor Wally Jay states: "Pressure point knowledge will enhance any martial arts style" so it doesn't matter what art you study you will be able to apply these principles to it and enhance your understanding and advance your ability.


What you will learn at York Karate

We incorporate the study of kyusho and pressure points into our art from day one. We use pressure points in all of our self-defense techniques, as well as our basics. All kata bunkai (applications) must involve a clear and concise description of pressure points being attacked, how they are being attacked, and the ulitmate effect on the opponent. We cover the following topics in our Kyusho program:

• What is a pressure point?
• What is a meridian?
• How to attack pressure points using: Yin-Yang principles, The Cycle of Destruction, etc.
• How to locate more than 50 pressure points all over the body
• Alarm points
• Meridian location, element & polarity
• M.A.D.E. of key points (method of activation, angle, direction and effect)
• Application of Pressure points for enhanced self-defence techniques and advanced bunkai
• How pressure points can cause "knock-outs"
• Using sound to enhance pressure point attacks
• Using emotion to enhance pressure point attacks
• The importance of Intent
• The importance of directing "Qi"
• Building "Qi"
• Using pressure points to heal and revive

Click here for a copy of the York Karate Black Belt Kyusho Jitsu syllabus