A pressure point is a specific area on the human body where a nerve lies close to its surface and is supported by bone or a muscle mass. The knowledge of pressure points is quite a speciality. Direct pressure to ‘a pressure point area’ is applied by striking it with a natural body weapon, especially with fingers.
Concept of Pressure Points
The concept of Pressure Points was derived from the supposed meridian points in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Indian Ayurveda, Siddha medicine, and martial arts. They refer to areas on the human body that may produce desired and significant pain. It also arouses sensuality when manipulated in putting pressure on specific areas. These are the medicinal and the mild pressure points treatment for health and physical pleasure. On the other hand, skilled MMA fighters use pressure points as human weapons to make the opponent submit.
Most common pressure points
The most common pressure points are the back of the head and ears, the shoulders, the elbows, the lower back and buttocks, the hips, the inner knees, and the heels. Pressure injuries may also form in places where the skin folds over itself. Also, they can occur where medical equipment puts pressure on the skin.
There are main pressure points. Squeeze a pressure point, which means to press the artery, above the wound, against the bone. The primary pressure points are on the inside of the arm, just under the armpit, and on the inside of the leg in the groyne.
Pressure Point Fighting Targets
There are many pressure points where an MMA fighter is not allowed to kick his opponent in the balls (testicles) or any other sensitive place.
The places where can not be put pressure are as follows:
Eyes, ears, nose, chin, temple, throat, back of neck.
An MMA fighter is allowed to kick in the chest. There are no strict rules, except the prohibited particular parts of the body, about pressure points. However, pressure points are used by many martial arts such as Kung Fu, Karate and especially Kyusho Jitsu. Kyusho Jitsu practices without restriction. The martial arts named ‘pressure-point fighting’ are often subjected to criticism. It all started when their self-defence moves were first brought into the limelight and the onlookers didn’t even want to believe the techniques were real or not.
It is not easy for an MMA fighter to use pressure points on an opponent who is moving in the cage. Pressure points only work on a steady person. The moment the person moves, the pressure point loses the target. In a contest, it is hard to hit a moving target on a fairly big area like the ribs or the head, let alone put pressure on a sensitive tiny part of the human body.
“Pressure points” is almost rarely used by MMA fighters. The techniques are used to manipulate the energy flow and neurological procedures of the human body. On the expert hand, it affects the whole body. The effects can be painful, with loss of equilibrium, loss of power, and even up to unconsciousness. Only an expert MMA fighter can apply the method of “pressure points”.