The Central Nervous System and Vital Organs

Trenton B. Young

Student UTSA
Nidan Shotokan Karate Do
Nidan Goju Ryu Karate Do

The Central Nervous System and Vital Organs (Jintai Kyusho) of the Human Body:

The Urban A-B-D-C Sector with References

O’ Sensei Peter Urban created a model called the Urban A-B-C-D sector which divides the body into four basic parts and relates vital organ and references to them. Each sector as vital organs: A-Head, B- Heart, C- Belly, and D- Legs. Each sector as references to those organs: A- Bio computer, B- Compressor, C- Plumbing, and D- Suspension and Mobility of Body Parts. The chart below is more detailed and will show a better understanding.

Sector    Vital Organs       References
A           Head: Brain        Biocomputer
B           Heart, Lungs       Compressor/Engine Room
C           Belly:                  Organs in Abdomen, Genitalia Plumbing
D           Legs, Feet            Suspension and Mobility Parts

As a karate-ka it is essential to know about the vital points of the human body. For example, if the head is attacked with a good strong blow first at a random point and next at a vital point, then there would be a considerable difference in the effect of the blows. Striking to vital points with sufficient force could cause excruciating pain; temporary or permanent nerve damage which can cause loss of motor function; dizziness or loss of consciousness; and/or death. The physical condition of the person who is being struck and the person striking may have an effect on the effectiveness of the technique.

Sector A: The Head (brain) is referred to as the Biocomputer. The brain is that part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. Objective is to shut biocomputer down.

A strike to the top of the head (coronal suture) with a hammer fist comes from the kata Gekki-Ha and the kata Saifa. This blow can cause loss of consciousness, or even be so severe that it can cause death due to trauma to the cerebrum, which is the largest part of the brain, and disruptive stimulation of cranial nerves (nerves that emerge from or enter the skull, or nerves that come directly from the brain through the skull).
Pressing the head down, a strike to the back of the head/neck with a lower level punch (gedan gyaku zuki) comes from the last few movements of the kata Sesan. The technique while being applied shall be done as if one were to drop all their weight downward as if breaking a board. Death may also occur due to disconnect of the brainstem. The brainstem is the lowest part of the brain which merges with the spinal cord and provides the major route by which the upper realms of the brain send information to, and receives information from, the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The brainstem consists of the medulla oblongata, midbrain, and pons. All but two of the 12 cranial nerves originate in the brainstem. This can cause loss of consciousness due to severe trauma to the cerebrum, cranial nerves and spinal cord, producing loss of sensory and motor function. The brainstem influences basic processes such as alertness, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.

Sector B: The Heart and Lungs are referred to as the Compressor or Engine Room. The heart is the muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body as the engine would pump fluids necessary through a machine/car. The lungs act as a compressor pumping oxygen rich blood into the heart, and from the heart carbon dioxide rich blood is sent into the lungs and then out of the body.

A powerful elbow strike to the sternal angle, which is center and about mid chest, can cause unconsciousness. Cause of loss of consciousness is trauma to the heart, bronchus, arteries supplying the upper part of the body, and the pulmonary artery, leading to malfunction of the respiratory system and shock. Following a block and kick this rising elbow (age empi uchi) can be found in the kata Gekkisai Ichi.

Sector C: The Belly (organs in abdomen, genitalia) is referred to as the Plumbing. The belly, the abdomen, is that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis.
A painful place to attack is to the lower abdomen, about an inch below the umbilicus, or right on the belt. Loss of consciousness is caused by trauma to the small intestine and bladder and in turn to the large nerves and large blood in the abdomen, producing shock and loss of motor function possibly causing one to urinate unwillingly. A good attack for this would effect be a front snap kick found in the kata Sepai, or a short punch, uppercut found in the kata First Kihon Zuki.
A kick (with shin, instep, stamping, or heel), or grab to the testicles and groin can be very painful. This can cause a person to be short of breath, lose consciousness, rupture the testicles, and even cause sterility and loss of motor function. A kick to make this possible can be found in the kata Empi-Go where the leg kicks up as if one is kicking themselves in the butt.

Sector D: The Legs and Feet are referred to as the Suspension and Mobility Parts. The legs as far as joints are concerned start from the hips, to the knees, ankles/feet/toes. Also, the thigh, shins and calves can be attacked as well. These attacks can be applied with strikes or joint manipulation.
A strike to the iliac crest, which is the top of the hip bone, can be an unusual type of pain. Trauma to this bone can cause the underlying artery and nerve to produce pain in the hip and in turn loss of motor function. This can be accomplished with a round house kick (mawashi geri) using the ball of the foot.
A side kick to the or even the middle of the fibula, orshinbone, produces trauma to the fibular nerve, leading to severe pain, painful enough to lose the ability to walk with correct posture.


The joint kick/low side kick as seen in many of the advanced Goju kata’s such as Sesan and Kururunfa can greatly damage the knees of the opponent as well. Trauma to the knees can cause loss of motor function. O’Sensei Peter Urban mentioned in The Karate Dojo, that while sparring is controlled, and most of these vital points mentioned already “are never direct targets for contact in sparring… one fully focused contact blow, called ‘sweeping,’ and irregular type of kicking against the opponent’s ankle or nerve centers of the knee for the purpose of knocking him to the ground” can be done effectively without causing major injury. This infers that karate-ka must learn that control and trust what they know while still being successful
Striking the top of the foot as seen in Saifa, Urban Taikyoku, and other kata’s with one’s own heel to either the instep or the toes can affect bones, tendons muscles, and nerves. This can cause nerves to send pain from the foot, through the leg, and into the abdomen leading to loss of motor function.

In conclusion: Some important factors in effectively applying all of the strikes from the A-B-C-D sectors, the karate-ka should follow these principles: have a relaxed mind for an active body (mushin), proper eye direction (messen), proper breathing (kokyu), and discrimination of technique and “target discrimination” (atemi). 


References:

Emedicinehealth.com http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anatomy_of_the_central_nervous_system/glossary_em.htm

Karate-Do Kyohan. Master Gichin Funakoshi. First edition 1973.

Lessons from Hanshi, Balfour Wright.
Hanshi, Ricardo Johns.
Shihan Jeff Ghee.

The Karate Dojo. Peter Urban. Seventh printing 1996.