ABOUT GUNS!
Backstory: There has been a serial rapist targeting elderly women living alone in small communites in east central Texas. Three attacks ago he ran into an armed would be victim. Since then he has changed tack and gone after women in assisted living homes and the news actually reported that the speculation among law enforcement is that he made the change to go where victims would be less likely to be armed.
Victim disarmament zones strike again. But at least the news is giving honest coverage to this story and the thought process behind it.
On a slightly related note, local PD's and community centers are offering self defense classes / seminars for the elderly in the area. They are covering awareness and such similar to NRA"s Refuse to be a Victim and they are teaching brief sessions on pressure point defensive moves. Sorry but I don't see that last part as helpful. As misbeHaven can point out, when she was practicing pressure point holds with a friend who is big into Akido, she had his wrist cranked pretty severely and he was standing there smiling saying, "that's very good." When she gave up in disgust at it having no effect on him he replied that it was a good hold and it did hurt but it was just pain. That right there underlines the issue with pain induced compliance, the receiving party has to actually be motivated by pain in the first part for this to work. Second problem with this is it only works when you are in intimate contact and you have the skills and strength to apply the techniques properly. Not something that is developed in a couple hours in a mass setting.
Just my NSHO.
Visage à trois #2621
1 hour ago
But a correct NSHO.
ReplyDeleteThe previous martial art I studied was big with pressure points. They are good to know as it teaches vital areas, good targets for striking because generally getting hit in those places will hurt more. It's all good stuff.
BUT
You have to consider pressure points as icing on the cake. They cannot and should not be used as the first line of defense. Like you wrote, maybe the guy shrugs off the pain. Then who is to say that you are actually hurting them! It's not always easy to find a pressure point under controlled conditions (e.g. willing partner, you poking around going "did I get it?" "ok, how about now?") let alone the pressure of a true self-defense situation, not everyone's points are located at exactly the same spot, and then there are just some people it won't work on period. I used to practice with one guy that pressure points just did not work on... everyone in the school would work on him endlessly... we'd all take turns, and nothing.
Pressure points are useful as icing. So you've already got a guy in a lock or a hold, if there's a pressure point nearby your fingers should be dug into it as well. It might add to the pain and increase compliance... but then it may not.
But hey... there are kids out there that prefer to eat the icing and throw the cake part away. To each their own.
The only "pressure points" I'd consider as useful for untrained folks would be the eyeballs, trachael notch, and groin. You can't condition those areas, they're generally pretty vulnerable. If you do happen to find yourself in a self-defense situation in close enough contact with someone that you can sink your thumbs into those places, by all means do so. Don't expect a "one-eye-gouge-stop", but better than trying to find yuhl gyuhl (Lung 7).
There's a topic for debate,
ReplyDelete"what sized finger is required for a one eye gouge stop?"
or maybe the,
"index finger vs thumb for one eye gouge stops"
or,
"toes vs fingers? Which is better for hurting your opponent?"
or,
"choke holds or pressure points? YOU be the judge.
Somebody stop me...........