What are the pressure points in Taekwondo?

One of the best dim mak pressure points is Stomach 9, point application shown by Grandmaster Pier Tsui-Po. Some ancient points used for self defence are no longer useful as they used to be. Pressure point Kidney 1 Yong Quan located on the sole of the feet is a perfect example. This ancient death point is now more useful as a healing point. A few adjustments to the list of best pressure points have been made over the last few decades. It pays to know them. So… an ancient death point may now be more effective in causing injury or it may have a greater use as a healing point rather than a target for self defence. Centuries ago, senior masters of Chinese martial arts developed the art and science of deadly pressure point fighting. These were made up of two groups: 72 points that caused unconsciousness or temporary paralysis and 36 that could kill. The current training regime of practitioners is also very different than it was when the ancient masters discovered the usefulness of pressure point fighting. Although the categorisation of pressure points, according to the effects they have on the body, remains unchanged, the evolution of the art and the human race has meant that adjustments in terms of re-categorising based on their effectiveness and use in various situations have changed.

Martial art, being essentially a fighting art, utilizes the pressure points to hurt the opponent, in different degrees, to stun, paralyze, or to inflict major damage to the opponent. For example, in the Korean martial art of Taekwon-Do, the pressure points also known as vital spots (kupso), are identified as given below. Taekwon-Do vital spots (kupso) “Vital spot in Taekwon-Do is defined as any sensitive or breakable area on the body vulnerable to an attack. section of the body – mom dungboon —high section – nopun boobun —middle section – kaundye boobun —low section – najun boobun skull – dae sin moon temple – gwanja nori bridge of the nose – migan eyeball – angoo mastrid – hoo-i-boo mandibula – tok gwanjol philtrum – injoong jaw – yop tok point of the chin – mit tok lips – ipsul angle of the mandible – wit tok upper neck – witmok adam’s apple – gyol hoo windpipe – soom tong clavicle – swe gol thenar – umjigoo radical artery – maekbak sonmok dongmaek back wrist artery – dung sonmok dongmaek wrist joint – sonmok gwanjol shoulder joint – eukke gwanjol nose – kotdung neck artery – mok dongmaek sternum – hyung gol heart – shim jang solar plexus – myong chi spleen – bi jang liver – gan jang epigastrium – sang bokboo umbilicus – baekkob lower abdomen – ha bokboo pubic region – chiboo groin – sataguni scrotum – nang shim instep – baldung occiput – hoodoo cervix – gyong boo upper back – gyon gap small of the back – gyong chu kidney – kongpat coccyx – migol fossa – ogum Achilles tendon – dwichuk himjool ankle joint – balmok gwanjol elbow joint – palgup gwanjol armpit – gyodurang floating ribs – nuk gol knee joint – murup gwanjol inner thigh – anjok hobok dari tibia – kyong gol

A pressure point refers to an area on the human body that may produce significant pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner. There are several types of pressure points — each is applied differently and each creates a different effect. Types of pressure points include "Pain points", which use tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and "Reflex points", which produce involuntary movements. Most pressure points are located on pathways on the nervous system. Some pressure points produce pain when struck, pressed, or rubbed, depending on the point itself, and are also referred to as nerve centers. Pressure points can be used to cause a variety of effects, including pain, blood pressure changes, breaks, and concussions. The baroreceptors in the carotid artery are pressure-sensitive, supplying the brain with information to control systemic blood pressure. Certain areas, such as the "floating ribs", the philtrum, and the side of the knee, are likely to lead to a break if struck effectively. The brain is a sensitive organ which floats in cerebrospinal fluid and can be affected by certain pressure points, such as a strike just below the occipital ridge or the chin or lower jaw.