Anyone who has seen Star Trek should be familiar with the famous Vulcan nerve pinch, which Spock and his fellow Vulcans use to instantly knock their enemies unconscious simply by pinching their nerves in the right place. I’ve always loved Star Trek and as a kid, the Vulcan nerve pinch was always one of those things that I really wished I could do.
Of course, the actual pinch of nerves, as depicted in Star Trek, is a piece of fiction. But, nevertheless, it is also true that the idea was not simply taken out of nowhere, but was based on something real. It’s pretty safe to assume that the Vulcan nerve pinch idea was based on the Chinese art of manipulating pressure points. The same principles that are used for healing in acupuncture and acupressure massage are also used in eastern martial arts for fighting and self defense. The system that teaches martial arts students to do this is called ‘Dim Mak’, and is sometimes referred to in the West as the Art of Death Touch, for its reputed ability to kill an opponent with just one touch of the combination. correct point. .
Drawing on the Dim Mak system of Kung Fu, here is a technique to knock out an opponent that is actually very similar to Spock’s famous Vulcan nerve pinch:
This technique actually consists of two different pressure point manipulations, either of which is capable of causing unconsciousness and which can easily be combined to create a very reliable method.
The first part involves applying pressure to the jugular notch, and it is this action that remarkably resembles pinching of the nerve. The jugular notch is the notch at the base of the throat below the Adam’s apple in the center of the collarbone. This is one of the most effective and easy to use pressure points. A brief tap of the fingers on its tip causes a gag reflex and whole-body motor dysfunction, effectively stunning your opponent for approximately 2-4 seconds. Sustained pressure up to this point can cause unconsciousness in about 20 seconds. Approaching from the front, you should press your thumb into the jugular notch and spread your fingers over the top of the trapezius muscle that runs from neck to shoulder, digging in with your fingertips for a good grip. This gives you a good point of control over your opponent and greatly reduces your ability to resist or counterattack.
The second part of the technique is a strike at the origin of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus nerve runs down the side of the neck, just behind the collarbone, and down the front of the shoulder. The point you want to hit is at the base of the neck, on each side, an inch or two behind the clavicle, and about 1.5 to 2 inches to the side of the jugular notch. You can use a punch or alternatively raise a knuckle of a fist and strike with this. A good hit in this area will knock you out instantly, but it can be difficult to hit the right spot in a real fight, which is why you use the jugular notch for an initial stun and to gain control. If it doesn’t work the first time, be sure to keep a good amount of pressure on the jugular notch and try again. But with the cumulative effect of both attacks, it should work the first time anyway, as long as you hit roughly the correct area with the hit.
Dim Mak is a fascinating subject and a powerful martial arts tool that is often overlooked. I hope you enjoyed this short article and that you take the time to delve into the topic that I think would be of great benefit to you if you have any interest in martial arts.