In the first part of the “Attacking the pressure points of the arms” series, the importance of attacking the arm points were emphasised. As the arms are usually the first things coming at you during a confrontation, targeting the pressure points of the arms will not only help you to incapacitate the arms of your attacker, but will also further facilitate the nerves of the neck and head points for attack, which will ultimately lead to incapacitation and/or unconsciousness.

We then investigated variations of the martial art outer forearm block to attack and incapacitate the points on the arm. In order to be good at pressure point attacks it is of utmost importance that the pressure points of the arms are mastered, as all further strikes will generally flow out of the initial strikes to the arms. If your first point of contact (usually attacking that which is attacking you) during a confrontation is not good, the ability to set the attacker up for further strikes will be significantly reduced.

In this second part of the arm pressure point series we investigate how to target the wrist points by using the palm hooking block (sonbadak golcho makgi) as found in Taekwondo patterns Yul-Guk and Kwang-Gae (see figures 3 & 4). We also look at targeting these wrist points from a single and double lapel grab. The wrists are full of nerve endings, which is part of the reason why you see pictures of ancient warriors wearing thick leather and metal wrist wrappings to protect these wrist points.

It is possible to activate pressure points by either pressing, rubbing or striking. Certain pressure points will only respond to a specific form of activation, whereas others might respond to a combination of these methods with varying degrees of intensity. In this article, we will cover arm points, which demonstrate all three methods of activation.

Figure 1: Wrist points

Heart point-6

Heart-6 (H-6) lies on the little finger side of the arm, two fingers up from the bump on the outside of the wrist, between the tendon and the bone (see figure 1). This point responds mainly to pressing and touching. Heart-6 (H-6) is located on the ulna nerve, which lies on top of the ulna bone. To activate this point you need to pinch the nerve onto the bone. This point is often used in conjunction with Lung-8 (L-8) as explained below, and can be used as a viable point off many grabs, blocking and trapping techniques. This point is effective in weakening and releasing the hand and wrist.

Lung-point 8

Lung-8 (L-8) lies on the opposite side of the wrist (thumb side) compared to Heart-6 (H-6). This point is located three fingers up from the bend of the wrist in the hollow part where one would usually take your pulse. This is a rub point, which has very little response to pressing and direct striking. This point works best when rubbed in a rapid up and downward motion (for roughly 2cm) with a knuckle. This pressure point lies on the radial nerve, which lies on top of the radial bone. You are trying to send a signal up the nerve by pinching the nerve against the bone in a rapid rubbing motion. This point has great single point applications, which we will cover later in this article. This is a very effective point for releasing your attackers grip.

Figure 2: Grabbing of Lung-8 (L-8) and Heart-6 (H-6) wrist point

Pericardium 6 (P-6)

Pericardium-6 (P-6) lies directly between Heart-6 (H-6) and Lung-8 (L-8) in the middle of the underside of the wrist (Refer Figure 1). This point responds well to pressing, rubbing or striking. This point is also commonly used as a cure for nausea. Think of the airsickness elastic armbands that they sell at airports (an elastic band with a bead on it). The bead presses into Pericardium 6 (P-6), which reduces the effect of nausea caused by air travel. This pressure point can be massaged in a circular fashion on both arms, to provide relief for all forms of nausea. This is also a very effective point for injecting pain into your attacker, and releasing the wrist and the grip. We will not get into techniques in this article on how to target Pericardium-6 (P-6).

However, simple finger pressure or a strike directly on this point into the bone, causes severe pain, and is useful in the weakening of the wrist and arm. We will get into further application of joint locks and manipulations in this series.

Wrist grab

As shown in Figure 2, the angle and direction of the grab, as well as method of activation (i.e. pressing, rubbing or striking) when grabbing these wrist points are very important. Lung-8 (L-8) is activated by using the thumb to stretch the nerve up and down towards the wrist (rub point), whilst the ring and middle finger presses on Heart-6 (H-6) in between the tendon and the bone at a forty-five degree angle. People often have difficulty in getting a reaction on the Heart-6 (H-6) point due to pressing into the muscle rather than penetrating between the bone and the tendon and onto the nerve. This basic wrist grab is important to master as the techniques covered later on in this article against single and double lapel grabs, as well as wrist grabs off the palm hooking block, are variations of the wrist grab explained above, and shown in Figure 2.

Palm hooking block to Large Intestine 10 (LI-10) and Large Intestine 11 (LI-11), sliding into a wrist grab

Figure 3: Palm hooking block close-up


Figure 4: Palm hooking block to Large-intestine 10 (LI-10)

In part one of the arm point article, we covered the attacking of Large Intestine-10 & -11 (LI-10, LI-11) points on the top of the forearm using an outer forearm block. These points on the top of the forearm can also be activated using the palm-hooking block (obverse or reverse) as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Once you have blocked the arm using a palm hooking block, the palm is already wrapped around the arm and then slides down and activates the wrist points Heart-6 (H-6) and Lung-8 (L-8) as explained above (See Figure 5).

In Taekwondo pattern Yul-Gok Tul there are two palm-hooking blocks (one obverse and one reverse) followed by a punch, which is repeated on both sides. This activates the points on top of the arm and wrist on both arms. On the last block the wrists points are then utilised to pull the attacker towards you followed by a strike to one of the head points (which we will cover in a later article). This will undoubtedly cause a violent body reaction, and potentially render your attacker unconscious.

Wrist grabs off single or double lapel grab

The wrist grabs can be used effectively in situations where an attacker or opponent grabs you in a single or double lapel grab. In a situation where the attacker does a single lapel grab on your neck or shirt, you can either peel off his hand to the left using your left hand targeting the Heart-6 (H-6) and Lung-8 (L-8) wrist points (this time it is the middle fingers on the L-8 point, and the thumb on H-6). This will result in a good elbow lock for a takedown. However, should you take too long to apply this technique your attacker will most probably retaliate with a punch to your face with his free arm.

Figure 6: Peeling the arm off using the wrist points towards the
inside of the body to expose the attackers back.

Considering this, you are probably better off peeling away his right arm, by reaching across and using your right arm (i.e. middle and ring finger on H-6, and thumb on Lung 8 (L-8)) and peeling his arm toward your inside as shown in Figure 6. Once you have peeled away the arm you can apply joint locks and manipulations or get into striking some of the arm, head and neck points.
Off a double lapel grab, your only option will be to peel the arm to your outside (i.e. your left arm on his right and vice versa).

References:

Graphic of the pressure points in the hand. Used with permission from Evan Pantazi.