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Secret Karate: The Hidden Pressure-Point Technique of Kata

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This book is about pressure points. The author of this book, Ashley Croft, practices the Shotokan style of Karate.
The pressure point theories in this book are from the Chinese practice of acupuncture and the application of acupuncture points as pressure point targets made popular in recent years by the translation of the Bubishi, an old Chinese book on the use of pressure points as martial art targets of the body based on Chinese acupuncture theory, first by George Alexander and Ken Penland in 1993 and again in 1995 by Patrick McCarthy. The author of this book, Ashley Croft, says that he first learned of the significance of pressure points from Rick Clark, the author of "75 Down Blocks" and "Pressure-Point Fighting."

Ashley Croft's Secret Karate has 173 pages divided by 10 chapters and 3 appendices.

Chapter 1 is a brief preview of what Ashley Croft covers in the following chapters of this book. This Chapter is only about 4 pages in length.

In Chapter 2 Ashley Croft briefly covers the origins of some of today's modern karate styles all of which originate from Okinawa. There nothing new here to any student who have read about the history of karate that is available.

Ashley Croft acknowledges some hinderences into effort to research the history of karate: " a tradition secrecy", the fact that "very few of the old masters documented their systems and techniques..." , and a hypothesis that "many of Okinawa's official records and historical documents that did exist were destroyed when the island was bombed during World War II. I agree with the first 2 hindrances listed about the tradition of secrecy and that most of the old masters just did not write much about their arts. But, I dought that American bombing destroyed all the existing official and historical documents. You cannot destroy what does not exist. The weapons of the Okinawan Karate men were old farming and fishing tools which suggest their means of existence. A farmer's workday is long and hard. When an Okinawan Karate man was not working or practicing karate in secret, he would have had little time or desire to write. Furthermore, since the practice of martial arts by Okinawans was officially banned by the Japanese feudal government with Samurai of Satsuma watching over them, any written documentation found indicating practice by the Okinawans of a banned activity would be regarded by the Japanese samurai as a challenge to their authority which would probably result in severe consequences to the Okinawans involved. Therefore, it would seem obvious to the Okinawans that they would not want to have such evidence in their homes for the metsuke, the Okinawan spies in service to the Japanese samurai to report.

Chapter 3 Eastern medical concepts and the martial arts examines the pseudo science and myths of archaic and obsolete medical systems of knowledge from India and China: Ayurvedic medicine and Acupuncture. Ashley Croft makes metaphoric comparison of these ancient medical systems to modern neurology. The ostensible purpose is to seek legitimacy of the central concept of an invisible energy force flowing around the body. The reasoning rests upon the fallacy of the appeal to tradition as Ashley Croft says, " any system of medicine that has been in existence...for thousands of years must have a reasonably sound basis."

The imaginary concepts of meridians, vessels and elements associated with yin and yang cycles of energy thru these meridians and vessels are introduced in chapter 3. Most of these meridian circuits around the body are named after various organs of the body with which there is no real association. There are 3 meridians introduced which are not named after organs of the body: The triple warmer, the governor and the conception meridians. Next, a complex imaginary system of logic that is more appropriate to games than to science is introduced as cycles of creation and the cycles of destruction. No real understanding of anatomy and physiology is offered. Therefore, no real understanding of the consequences of striking and inflicting injury on pressure points are offered. Those who subscribe to the theories of acupuncture often offer such reasons as, "the strike to whatever pressure-point has disrupted the flow of yin or yang chi or ki through whatever meridian. Would you accept such an answer from your doctor to explain an injury that you have suffered?

In Chapter 4, the development of vital-point striking, a suggestion is made that an Ancient Chinese legendary figure named Chang San Feng was an acupuncturist who also created Tai Chi and vital point striking. But, then on the next page a disclaimer is made saying, "Nor is it clear whether Chang San Feng was the founder of vital point striking...." In this chapter, Ashley Croft is attempting to tie the traditions of Chinese acupuncture to Okinawan Karate practice as vital point striking.

Chapter 5 examines 9 theories of how to strike pressure points effectively. In my opinion some of these theories have very little credibility and no place for practical use in a real fight.

Chapter 6 the main pressure points covers the acupuncture points on the 12 main meridians and 2 extraordinary meridians. Most of the main meridians are named after body organs with which they have no association: The lung, the pericardium and the heart meridians extend from the chest to the fingers of each arm along the anterior of the arm. The small intestine, the triple warmer and the large intestine meridians extend from the fingers along the posterior of the arms to the chest. The triple warmer then extends to the head while the large intestine meridian then extends up into the neck. Other meridians are named after the spleen, kidney, stomach, bladder and the gallbladder. As I have said they have nothing to do with the anatomical parts that they are named after. 2 other meridians not named after the body organs are the governor vessel and the conception vessel. Proponents of the Bubishi and the acupuncture points as striking points believe that the Chi or Ki energy flows through these imaginary meridians. Their explanation of what happens to a person when a pressure point is struck is frequently limited to such statements as, "the chi energy has been disrupted." Such a statements reflects little understanding of anatomy and physiology.

Chapter 7 illustrates many of the striking techniques and their striking surfaces. Ashley Croft considers the designs of the various striking techniques only as means of access to pressure points. He, along with many other martial artists, does not consider the type of force used with particular striking techniques which can be better understood in terms of physics: shear, torque, compression, tension. These terms used in physics to describe qualities of force are important for the martial artist to understand because each strike, kick, throw, joint-lock and grappling move applies qualities of force applied to the design of the technique. The forces of compression and shear are experience when punched. The bones of the body providing protective covering of the internal organs might experience shearing force as a punch with penetrating force is applied as say against the ribs. But, the internal organs being protected by bone structures would experience some degree of compression by a punch with penetrating quality. The use of rotating strikes and kicks apply torque and shear and are thus very effective against joints in particular.

In chapter 8 of this book, Ashley attempts to redefine the meanings of many moves in Karate kata He offers interpretations of kata applications that are much improved over those that you find in Masatoshi Nakayama's books that are still taught by many Japanese instructors by reinterpreting the moves as attacks on a pressure-points according to acupuncture theories and principles wherever the interpretation seems to fit reasonably into the kata move.

Ashley Croft makes a false distinction between what he defines as pressure points and what he defines as vulnerable points. He defines a vulnerable point as, "... a part of the body where it is ...weak." Then, he defines "pressure points as, "...gateways into the body through which pain can be inflicted and the nervous system, respiratory or circulatory systems disrupted or shut down." He classifies joints as vulnerable points but not as pressure points although many of the joints of the body are especially sensitive to pressure and experience pain as a continuum of degrees, which is directly proportional to the pressure, applied to the joint. It is this continuum of pain and injury that can be applied to joints which can be manipulated to achieve compliance or submission through the exertion of pain.

The truth is such that all parts of the human body are vulnerable. Some areas of the body are more sensitive or fragile than other areas. All these areas are pressure points to the extent of the consequential experience of striking or manipulating them. To Ashley Croft a pressure point is not a pressure point unless it is identified as an acupuncture point on a meridian. Furthermore, many of the points, which he would deny classification as pressure points when using common terms of body parts, are at the same location as acupuncture pressure points and are identified as acupuncture points. So, how can a point of the body be both a pressure point and not a pressure point at the same time?

Ashley uses the term science to describe acupuncture. But there is nothing in his writing about acupuncture that is scientific. Furthermore, there are a number of inconsistencies left unexplained.

Chapter 9 the law and self-defense.

Chapter 10 Conclusion

Appendix I Points of the Bubishi

Appendix II An essay titled "The Wall of Silence" by Rick Clark is definitely worth reading. In this essay Rick Clark documents deception and with holding of information by Okinawan and Japanese martial arts masters which has contributed to the lack of effectiveness and credibility of some martial arts styles.

Appendix III The History and origins of some modern-day kata.

In the Preface Ashley Croft asserts his opinion that the intention of Karate was to exploit weakness of the human body. He makes the observation that the interpretations of Karate kata by the Japanese did not make sense and did not work as a means of self-defense. The Japanese Karate school masters always tell their students that practicing kata will teach them how to fight. This is a tradition handed down from Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate and the first Okinawan to bring Karate out of Okinawa to Japan. What I have found though is practicing kata does not teach anything about how to defend yourself. But, actually learning the elemental techniques such as throws, joint locks and weapon disarming techniques, exposure to and examination of techniques and means of fighting in many various styles and talking and practicing with people from different styles and actual fighting practice in a full contact style will make many kata moves understandable after you redefine the moves.

Ashley Croft observes that the practice of pressure-point strikes is found in Okinawan Karate and Kempo but absent in the Japanese schools. From this he makes the conclusion that the Japanese were deceived or deprived of the real significance of karate kata and secretly deprived of the knowledge on how to use pressure-point targets in self-defense. Yet, Ashley Croft never considers in his book that the emphasis on kata practice in Karate is part of the deception itself as many other more well known martial artists have said in their writings. Some well known martial arts masters have said such to effect that Karate kata is a means of wasting a student's time and designed to collect monthly fees.

If you look at the biographies of martial arts masters, some of the most well known: Jigoro Kano, Morihei Ueshiba, Masutatsu Oyama and Bruce Lee have all engaged in challenges, either making challenges or accepting challenges from other martial artists. Gichin Funakoshi and most of his followers never made nor accepted challenges to test themselves or their art in actual self-defense or fighting situations. They rigidly adhere to kata practice. I am convinced that Gichin Funakoshi knew not much else than kata and over emphasized its value to his students and followers to legitimize his position as a martial arts instructor. The belief that karate kata teaches one how to fight probably expresses more than one fallacy of reasoning. The first fallacy to come to mind is that the statement itself expresses a conclusion that does not follow any reason to support it. There are so many karate students learning little more than kata and basics who cannot protect themselves. There are several martial artists who are well known for performing nothing more than kata. They have never won in a tournament match. The tournament champions in matches never attribute their skills to kata.


75 Down Blocks: Refining Karate Techniques by Rick Clark

Chin Na In Depth - Courses 1 - 4 (YMAA grappling) by Jwing-Ming;senior students Dr. Yang

Chin Na In Depth - Courses 5 - 8

Chin Na In Depth - Courses 9 - 12

Karate Knife & Weapon Disarms by Guy L. Trimble III

Karate "Bo" take-aways

Pressure-Point Fighting: A Guide to the Secret Heart of Asian Martial Arts

The Bible of Karate Bubishi by Patrick McCarthy

Legendary Bruce Lee (Literary Links to the Orient) by the editors of Black Belt magazine

Chapter 5 of this last book listed above is title "Liberate Yourself From Classical Karate." It carries an important message for martial artists. It is very basic. But, many martial artists who have been socialized in the institution of their martial art have in the process of socialization lost sight of these basic truths Bruce lee speaks of in this chapter of this book. The whole book is worth reading. But, I want to point out this chapter to traditional style martial artists who originally took up martial arts with an attitude and desire of wanting to learn how to defend themselves as their original motive. It is just something to think about.