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Lessons from a German shepherd pt 2

Self defense pressure points

Pressure points are areas that is especially tender to touch when pressure is applied. These can be used for good reasons in massage, increasing circulation and other positive application. If an aggressor does not back off with the good offense, knowing these pressure points can also create a sharp pain that will slow down, if not stop completely, the attacker.  

By striking the opponent in these areas it can cause different reactions depending on the force and how hard the blow is. The body has a natural reaction to move away from pain.

There are six main ways this works to your advantage.

Pain – this is a useful deterrent if an attacker doesn’t stop. If you reach up to the collarbone and press you can see how little pressure it takes to get a reaction to move away from the pressure. The nerves are near the surface and make for tender areas that draw almost immediate reaction.

Muscular – muscle blows cause an automatic muscle contraction. One of the most powerful hits is striking the solar plexus – center at the bottom of the rib cage. A direct blow here affects the diaphragm – if they can’t breathe they cannot chase you.

Brain shake – Most have heard now of shaken baby syndrome when the brain is shaken within the skull. Because the brain is ‘floating’ in fluid excessive movement can create a problem. In the back of the head where the skull meets the spinal cord can be a striking point to turn the tables.

Pressure – pressure points are often used in first aid care. An example is a bleeding injury when direct pressure is applied to slow the blood flow.

There are other things to learn such as breaking the grip of someone who has a hold of you. If someone grabs you place four fingertips of your strongest hand on the bottom side of the attacker’s wrist along the wrist – not across its. This puts your fingers over the blood vessels in the hand. Then place the thumb across the wrist on the other side about where the watch would be if he’s wearing one. Press as hard as you can gripping with the tips of your fingers with the thumb as leverage, weakening the grip. This not only slows circulation but allows you to pull and twist to get free.

Still another way along with this is grabbing a finger and pushing it backwards…they will let go or have an ineffective broken finger. Either way you are free. Still another means is pressing the ulnar nerve just below the elbow along the bone. Press your thumb against here or hit it. If you’ve ever “hit the funny bone” you know the sharp pain that works.

Another highly sensitive spot is behind the jaw joint in front of the ear. If he grabs your knee pull on the fingers and pull backwards as if snapping it off..he will let go!

There are many areas that have instruction for self defense courses, with an increasing ones for seniors and women. This can be valuable training.

Learn the sensitive spots and practice with someone gently until it’s second nature – when you need it for real the basics are there and often adrenaline will increase the amount of pressure in a crisis situation. Being practiced means being erady.