Dim Mak Self Defence Pressure Points and Special Targets

While this is part of studying pressure points, you must remember that the basic aim of all martial arts is to protect ourselves from physical harm by using a range of offensive, defensive and evasive tactics. And that includes dim mak.

So while striking specific pressure points is the specialty of DM as a martial art, a practitioner needs to utilise all their skills to ensure their safety.

In the practice of DM for self defence, you must remember that the primary aim is to affect your opponent's health in an adverse way in the quickest time possible. So that involves striking a specific ‘target’ on the body.

In traditional martial arts, general areas such as eyes, ears, nose, throat or groin are targeted. But in dim mak, targets are specific areas of the body that are given focussed attention. So a target can be any one, or more, of the following examples:

• A single pressure point. Each point causes a certain dysfunction - note that each point has a specific function that gives rise to a number of illness, injury or adverse reactions. Each point also belongs to a specific grouping of points. For example, Conception Vessel point 22 (CV22), see photo below.




• A cluster of points. That is a group of points that are very close to each other and can all be hit in a single blow, increasing the damage caused. Not all points that are close together qualify for a cluster point group. Cluster of points are also combined, that is, various points are used to achieve a specific result.
• Set-up points. Some points qualify as set-up points whereas other points do not. The practitioner may deliver a blow to a point in the act of blocking an opponent’s strike, and then follow up by targeting a single or cluster of points. Some points, for example Pericardium 6 Nei Guan, has the capacity to weaken the body first, allowing you to strike a major point or target.
• A vital organ. Although an area over an internal organ such as the heart can be targeted to be struck, many major pressure points are located very near or directly over internal organs. An example is Conception Vessel 17 Shan Zhong.
• Blood Vessels: Like vital organs, some pressure points are located on or near major blood vessels. Lung 9 Tai Yuan for example, lies over the radial artery near the wrist. It is just one of the major points used in Devil Hands of DM and in techniques that involve wrist locks.

  You can see from this example that wrist locks in DM does not just immobilise your opponent, it in fact causes damage to the structures of the wrist joint, the radial artery and the main pressure points that have been targeted.

• Joints: Some pressure points are located over major joints. Damage to joints will inevitably occur when pressure points situated over joints are struck. Keep in mind that not all these points are effective. For example Bladder 40 Wei Zhong is located at the back of the knee joint. In my dim mak class, I teach an ancient point called “Never Walk Again” which, until I taught this point a few years ago, has not been disclosed or documented. This point is much more effective and accessible than Bladder 40.
• Bones, muscles or tendons. Although these are not areas targeted in dim mak, damage to underlying bones, muscles and tendons will occur in a pressure point strike.

A competent practitioner will not only focus on the single pressure point, they will use all their knowledge to attack any one or more of the targets listed above, depending on the situation.

If a self defence situation creates an opportunity that allows you easy and efficient access to a target other than a pressure point, then you should use this opportunity to your greatest advantage; remembering that the first and primaryaim of dim mak in any situation of self defence is for you to get out of danger as quickly, efficiently and with as little harm to yourself, as possible.

The effective practitioner of DM is trained to draw on their knowledge to ensure that they extricate themselves from a violent situation as quickly and painlessly as possible.

While dim mak is in theory a specialist study of pressure points for self-defence, in practice it incorporates all of the student's knowledge to achieve the desired outcome. This art enhances a student's ability to focus on the most appropriate target in any given situation by understanding the ramifications of strikes to a variety of targets, not just a single pressure point and utilising all skills and techniques to maximum effect.

Back to Types of Pressure Points

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