Chapter 119: Pressure Point Methods in Self-Protection

In self-protection teaching it came to mind that pressure point techniques didn't exactly fall into the categories in a methodology that is used, i.e., impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedown/throws and compression. I wondered, since pressure points are thought of and taught as self-defense, whether pressure point techniques were effective or even adequate when one tries to use them under the adrenal stress-conditions found when a person is attacked either socially driven or predatory asocial types of attacks. 

In my personal experience with a few of the pressure points I learned when I tried to apply them on one isolated specific condition didn't work, the guy was drunk and aggressive. I tried several of them to achieve a restraint objective when encountering the guy on patrol overseas, during my military time. None of them worked or were effective until we switched to a combination of joint manipulation through pulls, twists and causing compression on joints, etc. Even then, the guy due to the chemicals ingested was a difficult handle requiring all three of us to work the problem using these tactics. 

Pressure points in training work just fine so I wondered if those who teach them, who learn and practice them and all toward the self-defense model actually considered there value under the reality of the adrenal stress-conditioned adrenal chemical problems encountered in a real attack. Notice I didn't say, "fight." 

Remember, those techniques I was taught to apply pressure against pressure points take a lot of practice and training to do in a training and practice environment often without the reality of adrenal effects found in real attacks, especially of a predatory nature. 

I did some research and could not find anyone who actually taught pressure points in a reality based way for self-protection and/or to professionals such as body guards, bouncers/security folks, or police/corrections/military, etc. If they did, it isn't or wasn't obvious and may have been a part of a whole as found in the multiple methodologies list above. 

Most everything I could research/find was a sales effort to sell the public on taking, learning and using pressure point techniques for self-defense. Little to nothing was taught involving adrenaline effects or reality-based methodologies to teach one to protect and defend self and others. 

I guess I will have to keep wondering because to teach this without some evidence that it is effective in defense would be irresponsible to me, the student and to their safety and freedom. 

It pays significant dividends to the practitioner to research, test and validate those very lessons long before assuming, just because sensei says it is so, that things taught under the canopy of self-defense actually are self-defense defenses.

Note: Multiple Methodologies [actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression