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Martial arts applications

There are several types of pressure points, each of which is applied differently, and each one creates different effects:

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•Pain: Some points are painful, because of the prevalence of nerves in the area. For example, being prodded in the throat is painful. The body has a pain withdrawal reflex, whereby it reacts to pain by moving away from it. Martial artists make use of this, sometimes without being aware of it. Applying pressure next to the collar bone, from above, will cause the person to move downwards (away from the pain), whereas poking them in the gap between the jaw and neck (just below the ear) will make their body want to move upwards. Pressure to the shoulder causes that side of the body to move back. A rub to the back down will cause the body to move forth. Some points react more violently to pain from changes in the pressure (rubbing) rather than constant pressure. All pressure points can cause pain. 

•Muscular: Here a direct attack is made on a muscle, which will contract. Examples include: (I) a punch to the solar plexus, which impacts the diaphragm and thus affects the person’s breathing (‘getting the wind knocked out of you’); and (II) an attack to the outer thigh, which could cause the person to fall as their leg loses power (a ‘dead leg’ or ‘charley horse’). 

•Pressure: The baroreceptors in the carotid artery are pressure-sensitive cells that allowing the body to control the bloodflow into the brain. Pressure against this region will ‘trick’ the brain into thinking that blood pressure is too high, and thus will lower blood pressure – which can cause blackout. Striking veins and arteries can also cause them to shut or tear, both of which will definitely cause black-out and possible death if not treated immediately. 

•Break: There are some areas which are likely to lead to a break if struck properly. This includes the ‘loose rib’, the philtrum and the top of the skull (soft-spot). 

•Hyper-Extension There are joints that, when struck, can be hyper-extended and even completely torn apart. This is a technique which can cause permanent damage and disfiguration to one’s opponent, usually focusing on the elbow and the knee. There are two types: 
◦brute force: This takes advantage of the vulnerability of the strike point, thereby causing the damage; and 
◦Golgi organs: A relatively gentle strike to the Golgi tendon at the back of the elbow, for example, causes a reflex which immediately relaxes that tendon, allowing the elbow to more easily bend in the wrong direction. If this is immediately followed by a solid strike to the elbow joint, the elbow can be broken with significantly less effort than through brute force. 

•Brain shake: The brain is a very vulnerable organ, which is why it is encased in the skull. The brain floats in fluid and balances on a very flexible spine. Certain techniques can actually shake the brain in a way which causes black out. The most commonly taught technique involves a strike just below the occipital ridge, at the correct angle in the correct direction. Other areas succeptable to such techniques are the temples and the top of the skull. 

•Energy: Some believe there are energy channels which flow around the body through acupuncture meridians, and an attack will impact the flows, and thus impact the body. This is called “chi”, “ki” or “qi” in East Asian cultures. These techniques are deadly. If used correctly a strike to an opponents arm or leg can cause black-out and two consecutive strikes along the arm(s) or leg(s) can kill an opponent. A skilled martial artist can master the death touch which is a single strike or grab in the torso or the head and neck that can instantly kill their opponent. 

Scientific evidence
Until recently, it was believed that the existence of acupoints could not be scientifically demonstrated because the theoretical system underlying acupuncture was mystical in nature and the practice of acupuncture was alien to the scientific method. 

However, neither the theoretical nor the practical context of acupoints could prevent modern research from studying their existence. 

In 1998, the groundbreaking study by Lu & al.,(verif+quote needed), published in the US Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that a seemingly unimportant area of the fifth toe could cause an activation of the visual cortex, when properly localized and stimulated in accordance with traditional acupuncture theory and practice. 

Following this discovery, a host of new researches using state-of-the-art neural imaging techniques obtained results as surprising with other acupoints (but not sham points). 

In a 2005 review of 7 intense years of research on this previously neglected aspect of physiology, Lewith & al. appreciate the progress accomplished using modern imaging techniques: 

Studies show that specific and largely predictable areas of brain activation and deactivation occur when considering the traditional Chinese functions attributable to certain specific acupuncture points. For example, points associated with hearing and vision stimulates the visual and auditory cerebral areas respectively”.[2]

Theory
Acupoints may or may not be in the same area of the body as the targeted symptom. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory for the selection of such points and their effectiveness is that they work by stimulating the meridian system to bring about relief by rebalancing yin, yang and qi (also spelled “chi”). This theory is based on the paradigm of TCM, not that of science. 

Body acupoints are generally located according to their distances from landmark points on the body. Acupoint location usually depends on specific anatomical landmarks that can be palpated. There are nearly 400 basic acupoints on the meridians; many of which are rarely used. Some points are considered more therapeutically valuable than others, and are used for a wide array of health conditions. 

Location by palpation for tenderness is also a common way of locating acupoints (see also trigger point). Points may also be located by feeling for subtle differences in temperature on the skin surface or over the skin surface, as well as changes in the tension or “stickiness” of the skin and tissue. 

Body acupoints are referred to either by their traditional name, or by the name of the meridian on which they are located, followed by a number to indicate what order the point is in on the meridian. A common point on the hand, for example, is named Hegu, and referred to as LI 4 which means that it is the fourth point on the Large Intestine meridian.

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References 
1.↑ Luh CL, Wilson DA (1978) “A Review essay – Acupuncture: Politics and Medicine”] Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars, Vol. 10
2.↑ 2.0 2.1 “(S)tudies show that specific and largely predictable areas of brain activation and deactivation occur when considering the traditional Chinese functions attributable to certain specific acupuncture points. For example, points associated with hearing and vision stimulates the visual and auditory cerebral areas respectively”.Lewith GT & al. (Sep 2005). Investigating acupuncture using brain imaging techniques: the current state of play. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM 2: 315-9. PMID 16136210. 
3.↑ Pearson S & al. (2007). “Electrical skin impedance at acupuncture points”. J Altern Complement Med 13: 409–18. DOI:10.1089/acm.2007.6258. PMID 17532733. 
4.↑ Ahn AC & al. (2005). Electrical impedance along connective tissue planes associated with acupuncture meridians. BMC Complement Altern Med 5: 10. PMID 15882468. 
5.↑ Valchinov ES, Pallikarakis NE (2005). Design and testing of low intensity laser biostimulator. Biomed Eng Online 4: 5. PMID 15649327. 
•Martial art: FightingArts.com 
1.Pressure Points: Going to the Heart Of Pressure Points – What They Really Are 
2.Pressure Points: Some Observations On Their Use 
3.Pressure Points: Types of Points 
See also 
•Trigger points 
External links 
•Acupuncture Points Complete Acupuncture Point Listing (Includes point locations, actions & indications) for over 360 points. 
•Acupuncture Points A few commonly used acupuncture points. 
•Acuxo A graphical listing of acupuncture points 
•American Acupuncture Maps of various acupuncture points