Pressure points and White Crane

The study of pressure points or "Dim-Mak" has a long history within the Chinese martial arts forms, it has to a large degree, been withheld from the general public until recent years. There is a great deal of mis-information regarding the subject which is not helped by some of the more "out there" claims and actions of certain individuals within the martial arts scene. Within the martial arts scene the mere mention of pressure points results in several reactions and in-depth discussions. Everyone has an opinion on the subject from the ardent believers to the harshest critics. There are those who completely dismiss them without ever experiencing them right through to those who worship their "Master" to the point of imbuing him with god-like status.

Within the martial arts, pressure points are those areas on the human body that when seized, manipulated or struck produces significant pain, trauma and may result in a loss of function, knockout or more sensationally, death of the individual. Within the martial arts, pressure points are those areas on the human body that when seized, manipulated or struck produces significant pain, trauma and may result in a loss of function, knockout or more sensationally, death of the individual. The study and application of pressure points are apart and parcel of the martial arts that are to be utilised in conjunction with the other equally important aspects, concepts, principles and techniques of the martial arts. Historically, there exists several well documented references to the study and application of pressure points as can be seen in the many ancient texts in which they are made mention of. This is not some mystical, magical "hocus pocus" but real world accounts of the study and application of pressure points. However, simply learning the location of these points is not enough to be certain of a successful outcome, the others aspects of martial arts must also be brought into play. Pressure Points are merely the best use of the weakest parts of the human body. As such, they (along with the other martial arts aspects) are worthy of considerable study and exploration within our White Crane.



Pressure Points work and very work well. They are not the "be all" within the martial arts. They are a very useful addition to that which one already knows.

Everything within the martial arts works if you know how to apply it. Some aspects work better than others or in certain situations than others. It is these high percentage techniques that we personally credence to. Adding the use of pressure points to these techniques, will significantly increase one's chances of success.

Pressure Points are as simply the weak areas of the human body. Ask yourself if it is better to strike a weak part of the body over that of a strong and well protected area? The answer is glaringly obvious! So to improve your martial arts ability, why not learn where these weak areas are, how to seize, manipulate and strike them and how to utilise them in what you do within your own martial arts?

Within the White Crane Research Institute, we follow the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach to Dim-Mak.

The "Interlink Penetrate-Heart Palms" (Lian huang chuang xing zhang) also known as "Pushing the Mountain with Crane Palms" is a devastating technique that takes many within many of the Baihe Jingqishen Quantao forms as taught within the White Crane Research Institute.



One application consists of three palm strikes in succession delivered to a variety of Dim-Mak points located on the human body. A deadly and decisive technique, one application involves delivering a series of palm strikes to Conception Vessel 14 ("Juque" - "Great Palace") point resulting in death stopping the heart. A double strike can also be delivered to the Liver 14 ("Qimen" - "Expectations Door") or Stomach 15 ("Wuyi"- "Room Screen) and Stomach 16 ("Ruzhong" - "Middle of Breast") with similar results. When the Crane is attacked it immediately establishes contact, which is known as making a “Bridge”. If the opponent tries to attack, the Crane deflects the blow If the opponent withdraws, the Crane follows. It will not release its touch until it seizes an opportunity to strike most often with a Dim-Mak technique, and when it does, the Crane does so with practical efficiency.

The technique is also representative of the Fire Hands ("Huo Shu" - "Huei Chui") of the five element system of classical White Crane.This is a technique taken from the White Crane forms and involves opening up the opponents chest area and then attacking with the Interlink Penetrate Heart Palms. The first strike is lighter, yin, so as to activate the receptors in the spinal cord, and make them ready to receive yin and then hit them yang. It has some considerable benefit striking against fire element on the chest. Delivering 3 serious strikes with anything to CV 17 is considered fatal as is a double strike to Liver 14.

One of the He Quan, Quan Jue or Crane Fist, Fist Poems for a technique of this nature is:

Huo nai xinhuo zhi fuli; "Streaming from the heart FIRE is floating energy".

Ho comes from heart, floats strength (Fire).

When the Crane is attacked it immediately establishes contact, which is known as making a “Bridge”. If the opponent tries to attack, the Crane deflects the blow If the opponent withdraws, the Crane follows. It will not release its touch until it seizes an opportunity to strike most often with a Dim-Mak technique, and when it does, the Crane does so with practical efficiency.This is but one of the myriad of applications of White Crane Boxing. I recommend that the practitioner undertake an arduous and in depth study of this subject to truly understand one’s own White Crane Boxing in conjunction with instruction from a competent instructor.

I like, cool stuff, respect!!

Over

Overlord,

Thank you for your very kind comments. I hope it is of interest not only to you but also others on this forum.

I like this picture very much. Those who know will know.

Over

Yes that is so true!

"ZhaoYang

White Crane Technique #5

Both fists raise the hands,
Only they must be Zhao Yang.
No matter what posture he uses,
You can use this posture,
Slip past the Big Gate,
Enter straight into the Little Gate.
With this posture, both hands are in front of the nose,
Blocking and cutting are like short teeth,
Guard against separating the lower spine when retreating backwards."

In short, it says, wax on and wax off. Bit like in Karate Kid.
But please correct me if I got it wrong, Sifu. I could be wrong about it.

Over

shifu wrote:

"ZhaoYang

White Crane Technique #5

Both fists raise the hands,
Only they must be Zhao Yang.
No matter what posture he uses,
You can use this posture,
Slip past the Big Gate,
Enter straight into the Little Gate.
With this posture, both hands are in front of the nose,
Blocking and cutting are like short teeth,
Guard against separating the lower spine when retreating backwards."

The third last sentence I think should be: This posture both hands need to guard/pay attention to teeth and face.
The last sentence should be: it is forbidden to move backward disjointly.
Big gate, right hand, or your strong hand; Small gate, lefthand, or the weaker one.

Of course, I could very wrong about it.
Cheers,

Over

Girl's gait preserved. Very original crane.

Over

Very good insight into White Crane. Thank you for sharing with us, Shifu and Overlord.
White Crane is similar to Southern Mantis group, but White Crane seems to be much softer, which interests me a lot.

Shingo