The effects of striking to pressure points

Using hammer fist from the kata sifa to strike the top of the head causes the brain to suddenly and violently slam against the interior bony structure of the skull. The result of such a blow causes dizziness and possibly blackout.  When this trauma occurs, the brain simply cannot maintain its normal functioning and shuts down causing unconsciousness or partially shuts down causing a feeling of being dazed, until cellular functioning can recover. "Mild brain injury" refers to the extent of loss of consciousness 30 minutes or less and length of amnesia 24 hours or less, not to the functional effects.

Using the thrust punch from heian shodan to strike the solar plexus. Striking the solar plexus can have a varied effect, but basically the most common effect of a well-placed solar plexus strike is a muscle spasm of the diaphragm. This causes the reaction of the person not being able to "catch their breath" or breathe deeply. Other residual effects include items such as damage to the ribs at the base of the sternum; possible heart bruising. A blow to this region can also affect the celiac plexus itself, possibly interfering with the functioning of the viscera, as well as causing great pain perceived to come from the viscera (as the viscera nerves run through this plexus). It carries pain “messages” from the pancreas, liver, kidney, gall bladder, spleen and bowels. It may also temporarily halt visceral functioning.

Using the front kick from gekki sai ich to strike the lower stomach can cause damage to muscle, tendons, ligaments, and genitals. Hernias from muscle tears and weakening. Also striking the lower abdominal can cause some one o urinate on themselves. Your insides are literally being forced backward, into an unnatural position. In addition, they are relatively sensitive and the nerves in your torso tell your brain that you are in pain. Next, the force of the punch is forcing your diaphragm to expel air; hence the term "knocking the wind out of someone." This causes you to gasp for air, making it difficult to breathe. Oh, and let's not forget about your inflexed muscles. They feel the brunt of the guy's fist too, causing even more pain.

Using the foot sweep from Gekisai ich  to attack the legs can cause the person the become unbalanced and lose their footing which will leave them open for other attacks. Such as takedowns various hand strikes to the head nd body and aiki jistu controlling techniques.

Andrew James Moreno, Sensei CCDK

Recourses used

The Karate Dojo by Peter Urban

My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoushi

Conversations and training

Dr. Balfour Wright, Hanshi

Ricado Johns Sr, Hanshi

Jeff Ghee, Shihan

The Central Nervous System and Goju Ryu Karate

The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The central nervous system is so named because it integrates information it receives from, and coordinates and influences the activity of all parts of the body. Arguably, many consider the retina and the optic nerve as well as the olfactory nerves and olfactory epithelium as parts of the CNS, synapsing directly on brain tissue without intermediate ganglia. This classification is the only central nervous tissue in direct contact with the environment, which opens up for therapeutic treatments. The CNS is contained within the dorsal body cavity, with the brain housed in the cranial cavity and the spinal cord in the spinal canal. In vertebrates, the brain is protected by the skull, while the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae. A hollow organ is a visceral organ that forms a hollow tube or pouch, such as the stomach or intestine, or that includes a cavity, like the heart or urinary bladder. For instance, the nervous and endocrine system both operate via a shared organ, the hypothalamus. For this reason, the two systems are combined and studied as the neuroendocrine system.

The same is true for the musculoskeletal system because of the relationship between the muscular and skeletal systems. Cardiovascular system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood and blood vessels. Digestive system: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, colon, rectum and anus. Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal body or pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenals, i.e., adrenal glands. Excretory system: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and excretion of urine.

Immune System: structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the blood stream, the lymph and the nodes and vessels that transport it including the Immune system: defending against disease-causing agents with leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus and spleen. Integumentary system: skin, hair and nails. Muscular system: movement with muscles. Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord and nerves. Reproductive system: the sex organs, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis. Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and diaphragm. Skeletal system: structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. 

The Vital Organs can be temporarily or permanently damaged by impact from being struck by hands elbows and knees and feet.  The Brain can cause a person to be Dazed and Blackout/Pass out from Punch of the hand connecting on the temple or from under the chin. The eyes can disable a person’s vision of a poke to the eye from the finger. A “Ringing” in the ear sound is heard from a hands being quickly slammed on to both ears in a clapping motion. The throat can be closed from a choke of the hand or forearms which creates a tightening of the air way and oxygen becomes less to their lungs. The sternum/breastbone can cause sealing of breath in the lungs once impacted from a punch of the hand, being struck by a knee or taking a kick from the foot. As well as the abdomen. The liver can cause a person to lose Focus or even consciousness by the same hit of the punch, knee or foot. Lose of bladder control from impact is possible.

Sensei John G. Castillo, CCDK

Goju Ryu Karate and the Central Nervous System

With the knowledge of pressure points, one can strike these targets and use it as self-defense. The human skull and face are very sensitive areas, along with the neck, torso and arms. 

 Starting with the head and the face, a strike to the head can lead to lose consciousness, severe headaches, immobility in the arms and legs, vomiting, lose of bowel control, and even a concussion which is very dangerous.  Hitting to the face, for example the nose, leads to uncontrolled nasal leakage, severe shock, double vision and semi-permanent to permanent vision problems. It can cause permanent deformity and broken bones. Common broken bones in the face include, the jaw and the nose. One can perform these strikes by striking the top of the head with a hammer fist and (empi) elbow strike. In the temple, the strikes that can be used are empi uraken, tettsui, shuto, haito. Strike towards the ears include, haishu, and tettsui. Strikes to the nose with, uraken, haito and, empi are used. Striking can also be done under the nose with teisha, hiraken, nake dakaka. Last but not least, the jaw with siken, uraken, kakuto and empi. 

 Moving on with the neck, the neck contains an important artery called the carotid artery. If the carotid artery gets damage, it can cause trauma to the body. This artery won’t get damaged with a simple touch but with a blunt force. Striking the carotid artery can restrict blood flow to the brain, and lead to neurological injuries. Bleeding from the brain is also a possibility when striking the neck. Some of these strikes include, shut, tettsui, wan, empi and can are used when striking towards the carotid artery. Empi, shuto, and kakuto are used for the back of the neck. Empi, tettsui, and wan for the side of the neck. For the throat, ipponken, nakadak ken, and kakuto are used. 

 Another target is the torso. Direct hits to the torso down the center leads to trauma of the central nervous system. It puts the heart in shock temporarily and immobilizes the body due to lack of breath. A strike to the torso also increases blood pressure and causes irregular heartbeat. Blurred vision, nausea, lack of motor function and uncontrolled bowels are also some of the after side effects when striking the torso. Seiryuto, tettsui, and empi strikes are used for the collar bone. Strikes such as seiryuto, teisho, wan, and hiraken can be used when striking the shoulder seam. For the sternum point, seiken, tettsui, and empi are used. Seiken, tettsui and empi, are used for the solar plexus. Ippon ken, nakkadaka ka, kakuto, and empi for the kidneys. Siken, maigeri for the stomach. Seiken, and maigeri for the bladder and mei geri and kakuto for the hip seam. 

 Last but not least, the arms. The arm contains a nerve called the triple warmer which is located in the triceps, two fingers above the elbow joint. One of the advantages of recognizing this pressure point is that it can be used for joint manipulation. There is also another pressure point located on top of the forearm and on the wrist. If done correctly, one can control the other person's movement. Strikes towards the biceps that are used are, seiryuto, empi, tettsui, and wan. For the triceps, seiken, empi, and wan. Strikes towards the deltoids include, empi, seiken, and haito. Brachioradialis strikes include, nakadak ka, wan, seiryuto. Strikes for the back of elbow are, ippon kei, and seiken and for the hand, strikes are, ippon ken, nakadaka ka and seika.

Hermen Orosco, Sempai CCDK

Striking Crane