Anatomical manipulations

I `borrowed` this topic from Ozbudo, one of Australia`s best martial art forums. I was particularly impressed that the thread avoided using the phrase `pressure points` as I find this term quite limiting and often inaccurate. This is a topic that I have been very interested in lately. My studies of Koryu Uchinadi Kenpo Jutsu and the Bubishi, Hakkoryu jujutsu and most recently Eastern medicine has opened up my eyes to a new dimension in the martial arts. This is probably old news to everyone else, but as it is a new discovery to me, I thought I should post it.

http://www.ozbudo.com/

First of all, I should state that I believe all martial art techniques to be anatomical manipulations. Whether seizing or hitting, we attempt to make the most effective use of our own bodies against our opponent`s body. The more different martial arts I study, and the more I learn, the more this great truth becomes evident. As we are all human, our bodies are constructed with the same components. When this is realised, styles lose importance and principles form the essence of learning.

Many books have been written on this topic, but to keep this short, I will focus on the use of manipulation of meridian channels with just two karate blocks, shuto-uke and kake uke. I must be frank and admit that for a long time I only saw these `blocks` as a way of defending against a strike. Now I realise there is much more. These two blocks could be considered almost enough to defend yourself in a confrontation!

Before understanding how to use these blocks to control an attacker, it is necessary to have a basic comprehension of meridian channels. As far as I am aware so far, there are 14 meridian channels that run throughout the body. Each has an associated body function. Much eastern medicine, such as shiatsu is based on manipulation of these meridians. Jujutsu is a dichotomy composed of satsu (killing) and katsu (life) techniques, both of which use the same anatomical principles. Six meridian channels run along the arms, the large intestine, small intestine, triple heater, lung, heart and pericardium meridians. Hakkoryu jujutsu uses its signature technique, gakun to manipulate these channels. It just happens that shuto-uke and kake-uke do an excellent job of mimicking gakun, once you know how to use it.

I think there is a general impression that pressure points are to be hit or squeezed. However, these blocks `cut` along the meridian channel using the edge of the finger. Shuto-uke works best when the fingers are spread wide. This creates the perfect angle for striking both the large intestine and lung channels when attacked by a hooking punch or any outside hand attack. It is easy to continue this motion to hook the wrist with a 3 finger grip, extending the pointer finger. A quick twist of the waist will control the lung channel and elbow of the attacker enabling the defender to quickly take them to the ground.

As with most karate blocks, kake-uke is comprised of two actions: raising the left hand vertically along the centreline of the body then hooking with the right (or vice versa). The left hand may be deflecting a strike or seize, or breaking the grip if the wrist has been seized. This motion is used to break the balance (kuzushi) of the attacker, setting them up for an attack to the small or large intestine meridians (depending on which hand the attacker used). Cutting down with the 3 finger grips enables the defender to control the attacker all the way to the ground.

I am yet to test these techniques against a crazed attacker high on crystal meth, but so far, I have been very impressed with my own experimentation with these techniques against karate, judo and MMA opponents. Importantly I feel that the next level of martial art knowledge has been opened to me and I am excited about learning much more about the human body. I would be very interested to know if anyone else uses the same or similar applications for these blocks? I understand this is explanation is difficult to follow, it is very difficult to explain or even show these movements – youtube will not suffice. These must be felt to understand.