Customer Reviews

Kyusho-Jitsu: The Dillman Method of Pressure Point Fighting

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a kung-fu practitioner and acupuncturist, I found a good deal of the information contained in this text to be inaccurate. The effects of striking some of the points shown in the book are incorrect and in any event, real combat happens much too fast to try to strike a number of the (minor) points suggested by Mr. Dillman.
Moreover, many (acupuncture) points must be struck with various type(s) of power in order to be effective. You cannot simply give them a solid whack and expect much. Knowing where the points are located is only part of the equation. You have to develop, through special training, the type(s) of force needed to adversely stimulate these points.
It's a cute book, but falls short of the mark.

Commentary on Pressure Points and their uses in the martial arts. This book included sections on applications and techniques. It also includes limited narrative on selected pressure points (19 total). For example, in the section on the points, the authors have included five anatomical drawings of the human body. These charts are intended to illustrate the Traditional Chinese Medicine energy pathways throughout the body, which pressure point strikes access. Unfortunatly, the illustrations are lacking in detail, and are somewhat confusing. They have used solid black lines to represent the pathways, and have included multiple channels on each illustration. In the areas where two or more lines may intersect, there is no distinction between the lines. As such, some readers will quickly become lost.

The selected point descriptions are very limited in detail and information, covering 16 "Basic points" and three "advanced" points. Using the Chinese descriptive codes, the points covered are L-5, L-6, L-8, H-2, H-3, H-6, LI-7, L-10, L-13, L-7, TW-3, TW-11, TW-12, TW-17, SI-6, SI-7, S-5, S-9 and M-UE-28. The point striking information given the reader is very limited. For example, on page 64, the martial application for Heart Three (H-3) simply lists the martial uses as "[this point] may be struck or firmly pressed to bend the elbow." This is concerning, since a sufficient strike to H-3 can also be very dangerous (and potentially fatal). If hit stright in, a sufficient strike to H-3 can severely injure a person by stopping the beating of the heart. The immediate signs of this trauma shock to the body are an ashen gray complexion to the skin. The reciprient of the strike will collapse into unconsciousness, since their circulatory system has effectively been shut down. With sufficient force and intent, this same strike can also be fatal. These additional uses of the points in fighting are not covered, and their riskes are not covered.

As a 28 year practictioner of Old Yang style taijiquan, I found many "secret" techiniques contained in this text regarding pressure point attacks. George Dillman has spent over 30 years researching the acupuncture points necessary to end a fight, and in this, his first book, I think he's done a commendable job. I would recommend the serious martial artist buy this and also his second book. I would also recommend purchasing some of his commercial videotapes, either from his school or off of ebay when they become available. The one reviewer who complained that the book did not contain healing techniques should purchase Dillman video #5 which focuses on just that. Essentially, to heal you braodly strike the pressure point you just attacked sharply with one knuckle, using your fingers or the flat of your hand, striking the attacked point in the direction of its natural energy flow (in an attack you go against the energy flow of the meridian). If you don't know the direction of flow, you generally massage the point. If you don't do anything to heal a pressure point strike, the person usually recovers on his or her own in twenty minutes to a half hour. If you knocked them out, they'll usually wake up shortly on their own even if you do nothing to revive them (unless they're on drugs, especially vulnerable to the type of strike you administered, or you hit 4 or more points at once. Then they need revival (but you probably shouldn't have hit 4 or more points to begin with). That's generally it on how to heal a pressure point strike. I still recommend you buy the healing video for the fine points. Any serious martial artist of whatever style should seriously consider buying Dillman's books and videos. Hitting a pressure point and numbing an arm or achieving an electrical (vs. a mechanical) knockout is more humane than breaking a leg, an arm, busting up some teeth or leaving a black eye-- not to mention the whole issue of legal liability! Pressure point fighting is clearly something more people can benefit from learning.

I'm loathe to repeat criticisms already offered, so I'll simply add the following. The idea of accupuncture meridians being viable, practical options in a violent confrontation is almost too silly to warrant a serious critique, but it seems sufficient interest exists in the idea, much of it directed at the most visible purveyor, George Dillman. Even if such vital points WERE real, effective targets, and I'm by no means conceding that at all, consider the facts... Recall any of your own real fights, or, failing that, ask any inner city policeman or military combat vet; the loss of fine motor skills that comes with the adrenaline dump of an actual fight is a well-known reality. If you could accurately attack tiny, precision targets in a controlled situation, dream of doing so when REALITY strikes at your own mortal peril. Mr. Dillman's book shows him attacking basically a human crash test dummy, squared up nice & proper directly in front of him and not in any semblance of a real fighting posture. Besides the afforementioned adrenaline dump, an assailant has an unreasonable tendency to MOVE and aggresively impose upon one's space when it's "game on". Bottom line, and this is with the understanding that Mr. Dillman wants his readers to believe "...and YOU TOO can do it with sufficient devotion", I'll quote Phineas Taylor Barnum: "There's a sucker born every minute, and two waiting to take his money", and "No man ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American people". Enough said.

This stuff looks great.

It won't work in a real fight.

It's very interesting, and it certainly provides a lot of material for discussion.

But this ain't the real deal, and if you want to defend yourself, this won't help you.

Take a look at any book or dvd that teaches SIMPLE techniques, because that's all you'll be able to do under the INTENSE stress of actual fighting (remember, bad guys don't want an opponent; they want a victim). The first time you'll know you're in a fight is when you see those little purple lights on the black background, and try to get your hands up to prevent the bundle of right hands coming at your head.

And that, by the way, is the opening move a bunch of kata; the formalized flinch response.

If you want to defend yourself and can't bring yourself to hurt your opponent, you'd better be much bigger, faster, and overall better than your opponent.

If you're smaller, etc., you're going to have to do some damage and run.

Take a look at the dvd Street Safe; take a look at the Tegner self defense books; or look at Strictly Street Stuff.

Self defense has to be simple to work. Period.

The first in a series of eye opening books which stirred a controversy not only in the martial arts community but also the Traditional Chinese Medicine world, one cannot deny that the detail and information contained in this book sets a firm foundation in the science of using nerve points in the human body. In a culture (martial arts and TCM) that still tries to hold onto mysticism and legend, George Dillman lifts the veil with an intelligent and concise book on the subject.

After 10 or 15 years of doing the same kata one begins to wonder what else is there about kata and these techniques? In the late 80's I came upon Dillman's tapes and books and was amazed at the effectiveness and efficiency of use. After exploring the many variations of "a punch is a block is a throw is a punch" some still wonder what else might be missed with the kata. This book opens another useful door for your kata and kumite techniques. Now after 40 years in the traditional martial arts I still continue to marvel at Dillman's revelations.
Thanks for opening another window of understanding.
Roberto
[...]

As a lifetime student of the martial arts I found this book interesting. From the people I have talked to who have attended his seminar, the author does indeed knock people out; however, there is nothing mystical about the techniques. For example,striking the side of the neck will affect the blood flow to the brain, which can cause a knock out. Other parts of the jaw, neck and head are also areas that can cause unconsciousness depending on the blow used. George A. Dillman has been around for many years and no doubt knows his subject well, but in a real-life fight, it will be difficult to strike a combination of pressure points to knock the attacker out. Nevertheless, to be fair, this book does a good job of explaining many of the common vulnerable areas of the body.

In conclusion, this is a book that will be of interest to all martial artists.

Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Monadnock Defensive Tactics (MDTS) System).

Great book! Very highly recommended for those studying Ryukyu Kempo. Outlines the basics of history, theory and techniques. Very informative!

I have attended seminars by Dillman master instructors in the past and the book is a good reference to those training seminars. The author has done an exceptional amount of research and training, some of which is presented in this book. This subject of pressure point fighting is exteremly difficult to learn without the guidance of a competent instructor or training partner. The book serves as a guide to those already studying the martial arts; it is not for the novice or the self taught individual. That said, pressure point fighting as it is called is not the end all for self defense tactics. Pressure point techniques do serve a good purpose in ones arsenal of self defense tactics, but they are designed to supplement ones total fighting system. And as it has been said before, it is difficult to strike an exact pressure point during active hand to hand combat. Pressure point control holds and escape techniques play a more active role in ones self defense arsenal. So if you have experience in the martial arts or CQB this book will serve to support some of your training, with the use of a competent partner or instructor. Novices or individuals looking for the quick fix (which there are none) try another book.