Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo: Dillman Theory for All Systems [Hardcover]

George A. Dillman (Author), Chris Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

Precise anatomical locations of pressure points coupled with diagrams, and striking methods. personal self-defense. Has been called a must read for every serious martial artist.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Dillman's theory will totally change the way future generations learn karate --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

George A. Dillman, a 9th degree black belt in Ryukyu Kempo Tomari-te, recently honored by Black Belt Magazine as “ 1997--Instructor of the Year” is one of the U.S.A.’s best known and well-established martial arts personalities. Dillman came to the attention of the martial arts press when he began competing in the early 1960’s. By the end of that decade, he had started running his own tournament, called the Northeast Open Karate Championships. This competition was held annually-- the first kicking off in Palmer Park, Maryland in 1966. The site was moved to Suitland Maryland in 1967, and moved again to Reading, PA in 1968 where it was held until 1996.

Official Karate magazine (Nov.1982), described Dillman as, “one of the winningest competitors karate has ever known.” Dillman was four-times National Karate Champion (1969-1972) and during this period was consistently ranked among top ten competitors in the nation by major karate magazines. During his nine-year competitive career, Dillman claimed a total of 327 trophies in fighting, forms, breaking, and weapons.

Dillman began serious martial arts training in 1961 with Harry G. Smith. He went on to study with Daniel K. Pai, James Coffman, Sam Pearson, Robert Trias and Seiyu Oyata. Dillman has always considered himself a student, never a master of the martial arts. To this end he and his wife and students have traveled throughout the United States to meet and train with various martial arts experts.

Because of his perseverance, Dillman’s martial arts talents have earned him widespread U.S. media coverage. He has appeared on 35 National TV shows, including: Real People, Mike Douglas, PM Magazine, Evening Magazine, and NBC’s Sports Machine. Dillman has also been featured five times in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and has been the subject of over 300 newspaper and magazine articles. Dillman, who was a professional boxer for three and one half years, is the only person known to have trained with both Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. In May of 1988. Dillman was inducted into the Berks County Sports Hall of Fame. He was the first martial artist to be included.

Currently, Dillman travels the world teaching seminars on pressure points and tuite (grappling) hidden within the traditional movements of the old martial arts forms. It is his research and scientific dissection of the old forms that is earning him his most notoriety. Never one to shy away from controversy, Dillman has rediscovered a formerly secret level of meaning for kata movements, and has made that interpretation understandable to all. He has produced a video tape instructional series on the pressure points, and has written six books with Chris Thomas: Kyusho-Jitsu: The Dillman Method of Pressure Point Fighting; Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo; Advanced Pressure Point Grappling: Tuite; Pressure Point Karate Made Easy; Humane Pressure Point Self-Defense; and Little Jay Learns Karate. The books have been said to be,” the definitive martial arts books of the century,” and “unparalleled among current martial arts literature.”

Dillman is the chief instructor for Dillman Karate International, an organization of over 85 schools worldwide, with an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students. He has studied under five 10th degree black belts from Okinawa and is currently furthering his personal study through research, practice, and the sharing of techniques with Prof. Remy Presas ( Modern Arnis) and Prof. Wally Jay (Small Circle Jujitsu).

Chris Thomas has studied karate since 1970, and holds a black belt ranking in three separate styles: Shotokan, Isshinryu, and Ryukyu Kempo Tomari-te. Thomas is a widely published and respected authority on martial arts whose works have appeared in martial arts periodicals world-wide. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Dillman Karate Intl Pubns; 1st edition (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963199625
• ISBN-13: 978-0963199621
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,611,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pressure Point Fighting, May 25, 2000

By 

A Reader (in the USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo: Dillman Theory for All Systems Point Fighting (Paperback)

This is the second book in Mr. Dillman and Thomas' series on Pressure Point Fighting. It is much more in-depth than their first book, which the authors reference as laying the "foundations" of using Pressure Point Fighting techniques. This book covers significantly more material, and makes better use of charts and illustrations. Some of the theories presented by the authors on the basis of Pressure Point Strikes, as well as the reasons why Pressure Points work, are controversial within the Martial Arts and Medical community. The authors attempt to cover 78 of the 350+ classical Chinese acupoints (22 on the arms, 26 on the head, 13 on the torso, 10 on the legs and 7 on the back), and 7 "extra-ordinary" points (5 on the arms, one on the head, and one on the legs).

The authors have used a series of body photographs to illustrate the Traditional Chinese Medicine energy pathways and acupoint locations. While the illustrations are an improvement, in my opinion, over Mr. Dillman and Thomas' first book, there are a few problems too. Several of the photos have problems with incorrect lighting, occasional out of focus images and lack of detail in certain poses. As such, they are of varying degrees of usefulness. The authors have also elected to use a mixture of black dots and "bullseye" stickers, placed on the skin of the photo subject, to highlight pressure point locations.

The level of information given on each point is not consistently presented. In general, the authors give a description of the point location, and give what they believe is the anatomical structural association of the point (i.e., why it works in that area of the body). Then they usually (but not always) give a block of text marked "Method" in which they give some point activation instructions and occasionally discuss the results of the strike. This lack of discussion on the effects of the strike / rub / slap may leave some readers disappointed. For example, on page 98, they discuss hitting Small Intestine 16 (SI-16), by simply noting "...strike this point at about a 30 degree angle from the back to the front." No additional narrative is given regarding the martial effects of the strike, nor the effects to the body. This is concerning to me, since SI-16 is a very dangerous acupoint. If you strike straight into the point with sufficient force and intent, you can cause a knockout (KO). But there is also an extreme risk of producing emotional side effects. Additionally, with a slightly harder blow, this point has been known to be fatal! None of these issues or risks are discussed, nor are similar issues covered in the majority of the other points.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book which gives lots of information on pp fighting., October 16, 1999

By 

Steven Burton (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo: Dillman Theory for All Systems Point Fighting (Paperback)

Many people just want to learn how to beat someone up. Mr Dillman shows the most efective and 'sometimes' humain methods of controling a situation. The book is mearly a tool in discovering the finer details of PP fighting. Having studied Acupuncture and Martial arts for a large portion of my life I feel strongley that the information given is of great importance to any martial artist. Having been KO'ed by some of these points I can Guarentee that these techniques DO work. The problem is not the techniques that are taught by Mr Dillman but by people having "Tunnel Vission" with regards their martial arts. A thoroughly enjoyable book and a recommended read for any one with an interest in martial arts and PP fighting, although it does help to have a bit of knowledge about how the body functions both in western medicine and in Chinese philosophy also. Well done Mr Dillman.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Experience May Be of Some Small Interest, October 1, 2006

By 

D. Paden (Tulsa, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Advanced Pressure Point Fighting of Ryukyu Kempo: Dillman Theory for All Systems Point Fighting (Paperback)

God knows I wouldn't claim my experience to be either exhaustive or authoritative, but of the two times I've knocked someone out, one was with a pressure point. I didn't know it at the time. I just knew that I had barely touched the guy with my kick, just inflicting a very light, barely noticeable on my end, "thump." But the location I hit him at was pretty clear, and imagine my surprise years later to learn that there is a knock-out point at that location. (The other time I knocked someone out was with a pugil stick during Marine Corps bayonet training.)

In addition, years ago I spent a few months--regrettably did not get to spend more--training with some Ryukyu Kempo people. I experienced the tuite techniques--many of which rely on the pressure points and hyperextension of the nerves for their effectiveness--and found them effective.

For those who suggest that cooperation is required on the part of the person getting the technique performed on them, no doubt that is what it looks like in a demonstration. It is a demonstration, after all, not a fight. And it is surely true that application of these techniques is more difficult in a fight than in a demonstration, but that is true of just about any technique, isn't it? The answer to that problem is the same as it has always been--practice.

As far as the lack of these techniques in the UFC proving their ineffectiveness, all I can say is that in the limited amount of UFC-watching that I have done, I didn't see any dangling eyeballs from eye gouges; I didn't see any crushed tracheas; I didn't see any snapped fingers, ripped-off ears, or any biting, or anyone pick up a bludgeon. Nor did I want to; the point is that poking eyes, jamming fingers into the windpipe, twisting or biting ears, or even use of weapons are all proven combat-effective techniques, and they appear to be absent from UFC competition.

God knows I wouldn't want to climb into the ring with one of those guys; they are all obviously much fitter and stronger than I am. But it is a mistake to conclude that because two big, strong, guys step into a ring to do some combined kickboxing and grappling that only their techniques are effective in ordinary self-defense situations.