This point is located slightly below the armpit. When on it, the enemy will not be neutralized, but he will feel severe pain. Since this point is very difficult to access, it is not effective.

In the axillary region, the brachial artery passes and there are several nerve endings. Therefore, when struck, the nerves are touched, and sometimes damaged, as a result of which the hand is paralyzed. In addition, if an artery is damaged with a knife blow, it can even lead to death (if the blood is not stopped in a timely manner).

Back of the elbow

When you hit this point, it feels like an electrical discharge has passed through the hand. This is a very painful point, as part of the ulnar nerve is located here. If the elbow is severely injured, you will feel a sharp pain in the arm and shoulder. The successful outcome of many battles will depend on the power of the strike on the point.

In addition, even a light blow to the elbow joint while the arm is extended can damage it and break the arm.

Palm

In the palm of the hand, nerve endings run from the thumb, then cross the outer side of the entire palm and reach along the rib to the little finger. The nerve endings are especially sensitive in three places: between the thumb and forefinger, between the middle and ring fingers, and along the bone near the little finger.

Ligaments are located in the area of ​​the hand between the thumb and forefinger, so when pressing on this place it becomes at least unpleasant. But if the opponent has strong hands, then there is no point in pressing on this point, since this will not lead to the desired result.
If, on the other hand, a penetrating force is struck at the points, then there will be a sensation of a sharp pain in the hand. These places are often beaten in order to knock various objects out of the hands.

Fingers

The fingers are very vulnerable and can be easily damaged or broken. Very often, the opponent's fingers are injured so that he does not have the opportunity to clench his fist. It is enough to dislocate just one finger in order to protect yourself from many techniques of gripping the enemy.

If the fight is on knives, then the fingers are the main target, since after their injury the enemy is practically defenseless.

Hands are a very good target for an opponent, since access to them is usually open. Impacts on the points listed above cause severe pain, and if severely hit on them, they can even lead to arm fractures.

It is especially useful to know the location of pain points on the hands of women and children for self-defense.

Any blow deals damage. Of course, if an outbreak of pain and future bruising can be considered damage. But to stop the enemy, to neutralize, to deprive the ability to continue the fight, this is absolutely not enough. Pain will only cause anger in the enemy, he will have a "second wind" and will increase the desire to deal with you. So blows must be carried out so that the enemy loses consciousness or fell and writhed in real pain. Do not pity the enemy - he will not pity you.

A winning situation is one in which you hit first and hit so that the opponent has no desire (and opportunity) to continue the fight. Rustic "trimming" with the methodical pouting of each other's eyes and cinematic crushing on the kidneys and abdominal muscles do not give such an effect. It is clear why people hit each other in the face - it is scary, unpleasant, traces remain. At the same time, it is quite easy to hit and just as easy to defend. About the same goal, probably, the hotheads of the distant past were chopped off with sabers. It is also understandable why in the cinema they strike blows on those parts of the body that are well protected by "meat" and bones - and it is safer to work on the set, and children who have watched the action movies and started repeating the movements of their favorite characters, if they bruise each other, then not so soon.

We have other tasks, right? For us, the most important parts of the human body are those, after being hit by which the enemy will immediately be incapacitated. Those places where the first blow will be the last.

It is easy to do this with a weapon: wherever you make a hole with a knife in the enemy, blood will flow from everywhere. It is much more difficult to harm a thug with his bare hands - after all, he is not afraid of just a broken nose or a black eye, this is part of the entertainment for him.

You need to hit the "pain points" the most vulnerable places of the human body - where the "creation of God" is most fragile, where there are large nerve nodes, joints, vital organs (Fig. 30). First, hitting these points is easier than hitting meat or bone, in the sense that it is easier to hit them so that the enemy fully feels. Secondly, blows to painful points have much more consequences than all other techniques: not just pain, but painful shock, not just darkening in the eyes, but loss of orientation, fainting. I'm not even talking about the greater trauma of "correct" strikes. No, we do not set ourselves the task of sending the attacker to a hospital bed (although this would be a useful lesson for him and, perhaps, he would not risk further swagger at the expense of random passers-by). But by the end of the fight, the enemy must be incapacitated so that he could not pursue you, catching his breath and coming to his senses.

You can read the guides of oriental masters on the location of pain points for a long time, but there will be no real benefit from this. An attacker in a street fight is usually protected by thick clothing, so poking at him like a Chinese monk is simply pointless. I'm not even talking about the fact that the blow with straightened fingers must be trained for a long time with desperate perseverance, otherwise any attempt to carry it out will end in broken phalanges. And it is almost impossible to hit small points with a fist, when all participants in the brawl are constantly moving. So the list of the main pain points in this book is built on the experience of street fighters, a kind of "folk art". Everything that you read needs to be organized in your head and worked out. If you have never grabbed your opponent by the genitals, then, no matter how ridiculous it sounds, you will be ashamed to do it in battle. You need to train to gain confidence in your movements and not to lose combat effectiveness due to artificial restrictions.

At the same time, take into account that a certain percentage of opponents are familiar with this "folk wisdom" and will also try to mark on the "Achilles' heels" - protect them first of all.

Fig. 30. The main vulnerable points of the human body.

Every person at the genetic level is afraid of blows to the groin and eyes and protects these organs in the first place. The blows in them are demoralizing, the painful sensations here are the strongest, but the chances of irreparably crippling the enemy are relatively small (unless you specifically set yourself such a goal).

Fig. 31. A punch in the groin.

No matter how you hit the genitals, it always hurts (Fig. 31). Moreover, no special effort is required: a blow can be inflicted not only with a fist or the toe of a shoe, but also with straightened fingers, a knee - it all depends on the distance and the situation. But you need not only to beat - at every opportunity to grab and, without any pity, tug, twist, clench in a fist. From this, the eyes darken with pain, the hands forget about the blows and twitch down, consciousness can turn off. Of course, with prolonged "contact" your hand will be busy, so you need to do everything almost instantly. Overcome disgust for the sake of survival - abruptly grab the enemy by the balls and pull on yourself, as if you are trying to tear it off (it is unlikely to work, but the pain will be simply inhuman).

Any strike trajectory is good - from top to bottom, in a straight line, from bottom to top. A person reflexively protects the genitals to the last, so that by the threat of a blow to them, you can achieve disclosure in another area, and by holding them, you can "move" the enemy who took you into the capture. On the other hand, a man always reflexively covers his groin with his knee or hip, so it is possible to "knock out" the enemy with a blow to the balls only if he first distracts his attention with an attack on a different level. Pain shock is guaranteed from the blow and loss of consciousness is very likely.

It's the same with the eyes. The enemy is very afraid of going blind, so the threat to his eyes will surely distract him. And to deprive the attacker of sight (temporarily, of course) can be very easy. A short whip with relaxed fingers - and hello. It is also very convenient to hit with a fist: the human eye is located in the hollow, so even if you miss the blow, the blow will still "go away" in the eye. But the fist is too big to reach the eyeball, and it is more difficult to blind with such a blow (Fig. 32).

In close contact, you can press on the eyes with your knuckles or thumbs, for reliability, grabbing the opponent with the free part of the hand by the skull. Just do not try to hit in the eyes with a "fork", as they do in the movies - you rather injure your fingers than other people's organs of vision.

Fig. 32. A blow to the eyeball. Pay attention to the fist in which the middle finger is deliberately pushed forward.

A blow to the eyes or groin is the best first hit.

The main thing is that after it the enemy is likely to lose balance, initiative and cannot immediately react to you. The effectiveness of such an advantage is obvious: you can incapacitate one attacker in order to do another, buy time, or simply take flight, getting a head start in this way.

In a very experienced opponent, the groin can be protected by a shell. In this case, attacks on it will be completely ineffective and you need to switch to other pain points. But keep in mind that the shell usually does not cover the pubic bone, but it can also be hit - more on that below.

Eyes in our time can be protected only with glasses. To hit the glasses directly is to risk injuring your hand. But they can be easily brushed aside. True, a bespectacled opponent is a rare case, except for sunglasses, and the attack takes place in broad daylight.

In this case, you still win a second, because the sun suddenly flashing in front of the eyes that have lost their protection blinds the mounted bully. If you beat on the glasses with improvised means (for which see a special chapter), then you can injure the eye with fragments. Then the enemy will be completely withdrawn from the battle.

The throat is also a very "steep" point, it is almost as easy to hit it, and if you hit it, you can kill it inadvertently. But if you do not kill, then disable it for sure. The kadik is struck by a blow from the bottom up, which causes painful shock and suffocation, and can lead to irreversible damage to the windpipe (Fig. 33). With a serious blow, bleeding from the mouth begins, followed by loss of consciousness and death. A fractured laryngeal thyroid cartilage can rupture the windpipe.

Fig. 33. A blow to the Adam's apple.

Unfortunately for those who are beaten, and fortunately for the striker, there are no items in the modern wardrobe that can reliably protect the interclavicular fossa and Adam's apple. The raised tight collar of a leather jacket may somehow protect the throat, but with a strong blow it will not help. So you need to rely on your agility and active defense.

A good goal is also the chin, more precisely, its center - the protruding part. Uppercuts and hooks should target exactly this point. But hitting the chin with a fist directly is pointless: the jawbone is very hard, you can even injure your hand. But with a blow from the side, twisting the lower jaw is as easy as shelling pears. An uppercut can act on nerve endings that will transmit an impulse to the cerebellum, and a person will lose consciousness due to a concussion of the vestibular apparatus. A blow to the chin can also bite your tongue, which is very painful and therefore disorientates the opponent.

To hit the solar plexus, or, as the people say, "under the gut" is almost guaranteed to knock down the enemy's breath and deprive him for some time of the desire and ability to attack you. Here, of course, certain skills are needed. The solar plexus is the junction of the nerve "wires" of the body, located under the point where the ribs converge. That is, where the xiphoid process of the sternum ends. The "sun" is covered by the abdominal press, so it is not always easy to pierce it, but no one can keep their muscles constantly tense. (So, it is necessary to relax the abdominal muscles on a deep breath.) You need to beat "under the breath" a little from the bottom up so that the blow does not hit the sternum. The defeat of the solar plexus causes a temporary cessation of breathing, disturbances in the work of the heart, a sharp decrease in pressure. Most likely, from a strong blow, a person will bend in half, which will allow him to quickly "finish off".

At a long distance, neither the Adam's apple, nor the solar plexus can really be "pierced", therefore they are not in the first place among the points that need to be hit. But you need to cover them very carefully, since it is not so difficult. The throat is protected by a slight tilt of the head forward (just do not press your chin to your chest: this will stiffen the neck and it will be difficult to breathe). The diaphragm is covered already because one of your hand protects the body, besides, you do not turn to the enemy frontally, and he needs to break through close to you in order to hit properly. This, of course, should not be allowed.

Leg attacks are the fastest way to knock your opponent down. And if they are also carried out correctly, they will save you from any attempt at persecution. In addition, they are carried out at the very border of the field of view, so that with the proper sharpness of movements, it is difficult to notice them and it is inconvenient to defend against them. Trousers and jeans are not so tight compared to most jackets, and extra protective gear from the sporting goods store is only worn by the few weirdos.

It is very convenient to hit on the phalanges of the toes from above, even with the heel, even with the whole foot. It is especially unpleasant, of course, to receive such a blow with a female hairpin. The effectiveness of the blow depends on what kind of shoe the attacker is wearing. If he is wearing high military boots, it is better not to try - there is most likely a steel insert in the toe or just very tough leather that will not break through. But sneakers usually have a soft top.

Next to the toes is another "interesting" point - the instep of the foot. This place, where there is practically no muscle cover, is usually not protected by anything even in the most "sophisticated" shoes and is easily struck at a short distance by the heel or the edge of the foot (Fig. 34). The impact can break the small bones of the foot, causing a fracture of the lower end of the tibia. A blow from the back to the supporting leg breaks the Achilles tendon, making it impossible for the opponent to move the foot.

Fig. 34. A blow from above with a hard heel to the foot may well break her bones.

The lower leg in front is practically not covered with muscles, so that a direct strong blow to it will most likely result in either a crack or a fracture. You can cover your shins with football shields, but walking in them is very uncomfortable at all times. It is not worth hitting the shin with a toe - the blow may slip off. A strong blow with damage to the periosteum can cause loss of consciousness from pain shock. The calf muscle is located on the back of the lower leg, the impact into which is not so effective, but can cause a cramp, since this muscle is often tense. In terms of speed, punches to the shin are the fastest, moreover, they are successfully combined with evasion of punches to the head and body. A retaliatory strike from the front to the shin or a “sweep” from the side, performed with the same movement, can “drop” the opponent to the ground.

The knee is a joint, and blows to the joints are both more painful and traumatic. A blow to the kneecap from the front or from the side with relatively little effort can make a person lame for life. There are several reasons for this: rupture of ligaments, damage to the meniscus, fragmentation of the articular bag. A blow to a straight leg can cause a joint fracture or severe dislocation. All these damages prevent the fight from continuing, and even the smallest of them greatly affect the combat effectiveness, since the knee participates in jerking steps, launching a blow when twisting the body and allows you to control the center of gravity. If all this becomes impossible for you, because it causes a sharp pain in the newly punctured knee, you have lost.

For any blows to the legs, the first remedy is maneuver. If you keep moving, changing directions, it is much more difficult to hit you. Of course, kicks need a little more distance than fist kicks. So try not to get hit.

The ilium, or, in a simple way, the pubis. But not only him, but the entire lower abdomen. There are much fewer muscles here, but there are a lot of important vessels. Moreover, the target is located at such a level that it is convenient to hit it with both the foot and the fist. Possible injuries - bladder rupture, pubic bone fracture, dangerous internal bleeding.

Heart. It requires a slightly higher impact force, because it is covered with ribs (Fig. 35). It should be borne in mind that with a correct and strong blow to the left nipple, the heart can stop, which will lead to death. But since the point is not the most convenient for an attack, you should not count on blows "in the heart". But you don't need to open up again - you can get it in the chest in such a way that the ribs will break.

Fig. 35. Elbow blow to the heart.

The interclavicular fossa is an unprotected point, which, however, cannot be hit with a fist, it is too small. It is more profitable here to hit with straightened tightly clenched fingers. The blow injures the trachea, stops breathing, and can cause throat bleeding. The most terrible blows are applied to the clavicular cavity with improvised objects - from a fountain pen to a nail. But here it is already fraught with lethal outcome, and not just incapacitating the enemy - depending on how deeply the "improvised object" is inserted.

The liver and spleen are both vital and highly vulnerable organs. Located under the lower ribs: liver on the right, spleen on the left. You can beat as you like, trying to break the ribs simultaneously with damage to internal organs. A strong blow can rupture the liver, resulting in death. But even not such a strong blow is very painful and can cause loss of consciousness.

Collarbone. It is very simple to break the clavicular bone; it is enough to hit it sharply from top to bottom with a fist or the edge of the palm. But you can do this with the base of your hand and with your elbow. If the enemy does not collapse from pain, then at least you "cut out" his hand.

The neck is generally all vulnerable. In addition to the throat, which has already been discussed, you can hit on the side of the neck - and not only hit, but (if possible) squeeze it. From a blow with a fist, elbow, edge of the palm along the carotid artery (or jugular vein, and you don't need to aim especially, because it is difficult to miss) the attacker has difficulty breathing, dizziness begins, and coordination of movements is impaired. Strangling techniques - although they are rarely given the opportunity - can "turn off" the enemy without much harm to him. From a strong blow to the neck from the side, a person can lose consciousness, but such attacks do not pose a threat to life (Fig. 36).

On the face, the most "successful" zone for attack is the nose and the underfoot. The nasolabial fold, that is, the place where men wear a mustache, is very sensitive. Moreover, you can not only beat here, but also grab it with your fingers and twist it - believe me, it's just incredibly painful. In the same way, you can grab the lower lip in close combat: with your fingers, you pinch and twist or pull on yourself from both sides. You can tear it off inadvertently, but nothing, and so they live. Just be careful with your teeth - do not tear the skin on your knuckles on impact and do not let the enemy bite your hand.

Fig. 36. A blow with the edge of the palm on the neck.

Hitting the base of the nose is not only painful but disorienting. In addition to the fact that blood begins to flow through the nose and makes breathing difficult, there is a high probability that the enemy will reflexively throw back his head and open his throat for a blow. The nose is that rare point where you need to punch not with a fist. A blow with the base of the palm is much more suitable here (fig. 37). And do not be afraid to break your opponent's nose - this is a fearless injury, besides, it is usually broken or broken by hooligans. For the same purpose and with approximately the same results, you can hit from top to bottom on the bridge of the nose. It is more difficult to damage the nose, but it is easier to hit.

Side punches can target not only the jaw, but also the temple. Blows to the temple are very dangerous, the easiest way is to get a concussion, to lose consciousness - the skull bone here is quite thin, and behind it there are many important vessels. But to kill a man with a punch of your fist, you have to be Chuck Norris, so don't hold back too much.

Fig. 37. Blow with the base of the palm under the nose.

Well, ears are a separate topic. Not everyone is aware that our ears are responsible not only for hearing, but also for the vestibular apparatus. Of course, the "vestibular" is located deep in the inner ear, but hitting it is not difficult. A simple slap on the ears with your palms, if done abruptly and forcefully, will cause pain shock, dizziness, and nausea in the bully (Fig. 38). It is highly likely that the victim will fall and will not be able to rise immediately. The rupture of the eardrums (and they can suffer not only from the clap, but also from the blow of the fist, elbow) disorientates the enemy, forcing him to be distracted.

One way or another, the head must be protected. Everything grows together, heals - well, yes, the blows hurt, but not scary. And if you miss one or two good straight lines to the head - and that's it, you have already been led and there was no time for a fight, just to stay on your feet. So if it is possible to cover your head in one way or another, cover it and, unless absolutely necessary, do not expose it to the blow.

Fig. 38. Blow with both palms on the ears.

The opportunity for such blows is a real "lucky chance", but it happens very rarely, for example, if in a mass fight the enemy accidentally leaves you behind his back or you have to inflict neutralizing blows on an already defeated enemy. At any opportunity, it is possible and necessary to beat in the back - you are not in a knightly tournament, you have one task - to save yourself at any cost.

The most traumatic "zone" of the back is the spine, and the most open to impact part of it is the back of the neck with protruding vertebrae. Do not even hope to displace or destroy a vertebra with your bare hands, but keep in mind that missing a blow to the spine, for example, with a stick, is no less dangerous than to the head. You need to hit the spine as hard as possible - with elbows, knees, head - with such impact surfaces that they themselves can be minimally affected. Yet this is not the primary goal.

You need to start attacking the back with the kidneys. Where they are located, everyone roughly represents. In the region of the kidneys, a large nerve runs along the back, so that all blows to these organs are very painful. In addition, there is a high probability of internal bleeding - not the worst thing that can happen, but with such an injury it is impossible to continue the fight (Fig. 39, c).

Further, strong painful sensations cause blows in the hollow between the shoulder blades and the lower back (Fig. 39, b). The point is not only that the spine passes here, but also that by hitting the corresponding muscles, you limit your mobility and reduce the combat effectiveness of your opponent. You can beat here, as well as on the kidneys, as you like and with anything, as long as it is harder - enough "easily accessible" places with nerve endings close to the surface.

Beat on the back of the head in the place where the neck joins the head. Any blow here loses control over the situation, begins to double in the eyes, dizzy. Moreover, this point is open not only when entering from the back. Being on the side of the opponent, you can get there with your elbow or forearm (Fig. 39, a).

Fig. 39. Options for actions when the enemy throws himself at your feet to knock you down: a - a blow from above with an elbow to the cervical spine, b - a blow from above with an elbow between the shoulder blades, c - a blow with a fist to the kidney.

On the human body, these are certain areas that are most sensitive to damage. They are called painful due to the fact that even the smallest blow to them causes serious pain, which is sometimes difficult to cope with, and dots - due to the small areas of these very skin areas.

Why are they needed, and do you need to know them? Of course, everyone does not need to be familiar with them, but if you are a fighter and love not only to fight, but to win, then it is very necessary to know them! Knowing the answer to the question of where the pain points are on the human body, you can be sure that the victory will be yours. So, let's get acquainted with the most effective pain points and learn how to apply this knowledge in practice.

The human body is a complex mechanism, sometimes referred to as an artificial product (by some researchers). Perhaps there is a certain amount of fiction in these words, however, you cannot argue with a note of truthfulness. It's just that the stable operation of the center is responsible for the activity of all systems and organs, and when it fails, then there are malfunctions in the whole body.

By listening to all the signals from your body in time, you can avoid any serious complications. This is how pain points on the human body function (the diagram will show this clearly).

The Chinese claim that on the body of each of us there are about 200 (or even more) pain points, in contrast to our specialists, the calculations of which are much more modest (30 pieces). Now more specifically about each of them:

• The eyes are the most sensitive point and at the same time reliably protected by reflexes. By the way, reflexes can be easily deceived by striking first in another place (as if to divert attention), and then right on target.
• The nose is a painful point, both in humans and in every animal. With the help of a simple "plop" (at an angle to the back of the head), it is easy to break thin bones and cartilage. In self-defense, a punch in the nose will become an excellent helper.
• Crown - a strong blow can provoke shock, and even a concussion.
• Temporal region - blows to the temple are especially dangerous, because they can even cause death. Painful people in the temple area are so highly sensitive that it is advisable not to hurt them at all. Unless you set out to kill the enemy, only in this case you can use such knowledge.
• The bridge of the nose - a precise blow to it (and you can be anything: a fist, elbow, edge of the palm, or even a head) can provoke shock and bleeding, in some cases, loss of consciousness. If the force of the blow is very high, then the cartilage and nasal bone can pierce the brain - resulting in instant death. A blow to the bridge of the nose is a favorite of all action heroes, especially in the final battles.
• Chin - any blow will cause loss of consciousness, shock and even concussion.
• The area of ​​the carotid arteries - here the points are especially sensitive. Due to blows in their area, a person experiences severe pain, shock, up to loss of consciousness. In general, a whole range of unforgettable sensations.
• Throat - this painful point is known to many, in particular the Adam's apple. It is in its area that it is better to aim if you want to inflict a crushing blow on the enemy. Even a blow from a small child can stop an attacker. Remember this.
• The groin is a famous place of "persuasion." Probably, each of us heard about it, and maybe even checked it. The main pain points on the human body (meaning the male gender) are located just above the "male pride", so hit inward and upward with maximum effort.
• Pain points on the arm and leg are the most accessible and successful targets. Hits on each of them cause serious pain in the opponent. And if you apply all the force to the blow, then you can provide the enemy with either a fracture.

As you can see, human bodies are quite vulnerable. And knowing how to beat and where to beat - you can become a winner in a fight with any fighter.

Human pain points were often mentioned in the media. For example, in Star Trek, Spock uses the technique of pressing down on the base of the opponent's neck to eliminate him. The authors and fans alike explain that this technique should block the blood flow through the vessels, so that the blood should not enter the brain. This should be the reason for the loss of consciousness. From a scientific point of view, this is, of course, impossible. However, a person becomes unpleasant and painful when someone rubs his temples too intensively or presses hard on the neck muscles located next to the jaw.

What are pain points?

These are certain places on the human body, the impact on which causes pain and discomfort. Moreover, they are called points only because of the nature of the impact on them. Their origin and structure are not known for certain. One of the versions - in this place, the nerve endings are closer to the skin than usual, but the hypothesis has not been proven. Complicating research in this area and the subjectivity of the sensations of each person, the differences in the location of such points on the bodies of different people.

Where are they located?

All pain points on the human body can be divided into three main groups. Heads:

• eyes;
• whiskey;
• lips;
• the chin.

• solar plexus;
• armpits;
• kidneys;
• false rib.

• lap;
• ankles;
• shin;
• foot.

Also, pain points differ in their soreness. The modern method of influencing them distinguishes 5 groups:

1. The first level is the weakest. A blow to such a point does not harm the opponent and can only serve as a distraction.
2. The second level - has a stronger effect than the first, but also does not cause significant harm to the attacker.
3. The third level can already harm the opponent. When hitting the points of this level, you can stun the enemy or make his limbs numb.
4. The fourth level - impact on the points of this level can lead to serious consequences: injury, loss of consciousness and even paralysis.
5. The fifth level - the impact on such points can be fatal.

It is important that the impact on the points of the fourth and fifth levels is recommended only in extreme cases that threaten your life.

Scientifically

In films, we see how pressing on certain parts of the body can disable a person or even kill, but is this true from a scientific point of view? There are many misconceptions around pain points. What is it really? Is it helpful to put pressure on them? In fact, pain points on the body can both hurt, if you hit them, and help, there is a massage. Can a blow to a pain point lead to death? The answer to this question is not known.

History and application in martial arts

Despite the fact that science has not proven the existence of pain points, people have long used them in hand-to-hand combat. The first mentions of the use of such a technique are rooted in the martial arts of Japan. It is associated with the name of Minamoto Yoshimitsu, a Japanese samurai who lived in 1045-1127. It is believed that he was the first to use pain points in combat. Minamoto examined the bodies of the dead rivals. He strove to understand the structure and location of pain points and how to act on them in order to cause pain or even death. Of course, mastering this technique took many years, because not everyone knows where and at what angle to hit, when and how to get into the nerve.

However, pain points were used not only as a way to harm a person. They have been widely used in Chinese medicine. The Chinese believed that the "meridional points" are the place through which life energy passes. Acupuncture is a technique of influencing such points to achieve balance with your body, improve blood and lymph circulation, and increase metabolic rate.

While acupuncture is viewed by critics as unscientific practice, 2006 research has shown that it can help reduce lower back pain. Also, massage of specific points of the body can help with headaches caused by stress, jaw clenching and nervous tension in the body. For example, rubbing your temples, the bottom of your neck, or even the area between your index and thumb can help ease your headache.

Death Strike

The most mysterious and disturbing use of pain points is the death blow technique or dim mak.

Known by various names in Japan, it is considered the "evil twin" of acupuncture. The idea behind this technique is that energy passes through special lines (meridians) in the human body, so pressure on certain points on such lines can lead to paralysis or death.

Some martial arts experts argue that this technique, if used correctly, can lead to "delayed" death. That is, pressure on an artery or meridian can lead to damage to internal organs and death in 1-2 days. Others argue that dim mak leads to instant death when properly applied to the carotid artery or other important areas of the human body. For example, it is believed that a blow to the solar plexus can disrupt the carotid artery and, as a result, disrupt blood circulation in the brain.

There is no scientific evidence that dim mak works, much less leads to death. However, it will be fair to say that some fighting techniques (a strong blow to the temple, blocking the airways, and others) can lead to malaise, lack of oxygen, loss of consciousness and (in severe cases) death.

This is usually due to oxygen loss or severe brain damage, rather than pressure on the pain points on the body. All this calls into question whether such a technique existed among the samurai at all. More research is needed to understand the true functions of such points and learn how to apply them in combat and also in medicine.

Pain points: where to hit in self-defense

Now let's consider a few of these points in more detail. Despite the fact that the existence of pain points on the body has not been proven, the impact on the sensitive areas of the human body can be very helpful in street fights, attacks by hooligans and the like. Where to beat?

1. The pharynx is a depression in the front of the lower part of the neck. May cause choking and lung spasm on impact. You can also use the finger-pointing technique.
2. Solar plexus - A fist blow causes burning pain and causes the person to bend in half.
3. Abdomen, groin and kidneys - when struck with the edge of the palm or fist, it causes burning pain, and sometimes a nervous shock.
4. Knees - A kick under the kneecap with a boot will immobilize an opponent.

It is necessary to use techniques only in self-defense.