Kyusho-Jitsu and Tuite-Jitsu

 

The original Okinawan fighting arts included a multitude of techniques that involved joint manipulation (Tuite-Jitsu) and vital point striking (Kyusho-Jitsu).  Tuite-Jitsu techniques involve manipulation of an opponent's susceptible joints to extreme ranges of motion to induce pain compliance and possible injury to the joint, if necessary for self defense.  Since most assaults begin with grabs, punches or kicks, the joints of the fingers, wrist, elbow and shoulder (and legs to a lesser extent) are typically utilized for self defense applications.

 

Kyusho-Jitsu techniques involve strikes to particularly vulnerable anatomical regions of the body.  Korean General Choi, often referred to as the 'father' of Tae Kwon Do, identified 35 vital points on the human body and he noted that “precise distancing and angles of attack and defense were required” for optimum effectiveness.  Examples of common vital points include the following.

• The nose is weakest and most susceptible to strikes from the side rather than straight-in.

• The jaw is easily dislocated at the joint near the ear when the mouth is open. 

• The clavicle is easy to break with downward strikes.

• The knee joint is structurally weak and easily damaged by blows from either side rather than straight-on. 

The techniques described above belong to the most straightforward class of vital points where blunt force trauma is used to achieve a specific objective.  Such simplistic trauma-based vital points are commonly understood and taught in martial arts schools and self defense classes world-wide.  Unfortunately, the more sophisticated techniques of Kyusho-Jitsu are not generally taught in martial arts curricula dominated by "sports-centered" martial arts. 

 

Many of the more sophisticated vital points are often associated with acupuncture points and the corresponding language of traditional Chinese medicine.   Traditional Chinese medicine has identified 361 acupuncture points situated along 12 regular meridians and 2 additional meridians.  The regular meridians are associated with various organs in the body and are named after the respective organ identities of traditional Chinese medicine.  The regular meridians are lung (Lu), large intestine (LI), stomach (St), spleen (Sp), heart (Ht), small intestine (SI), bladder (Bl), kidney (Ki), gall bladder (GB), liver (Lv), triple warmer (TW) and pericardium (Pc).  The two additional meridians are the conception (Co) meridian that runs up the front of the body and the governor (Gv) meridian that runs up the back of the body, over the head and into the forehead.  Interested readers can find a multitude of resources on acupuncture at their local bookstore and library as well as on the world wide web.

 

Techniques more sophisticated than "blunt force trauma" belong to the group of vital points that are pain-based and involve stimulations of peripheral nerves by pressing, rubbing or striking the nerve(s).  These are commonly referenced as 'pressure points.'  Unfortunately, every person is different and everyone responds to the nerve stimulations differently.  Some people over-react, some under-react.  Sometimes the different responses are natural, sometimes the responses (or lack thereof) are drug-induced.  The uncertainty of the potential response from pain-based pressure points dictates that self defense strategies must not rely exclusively on pain-based techniques for protection. 

 

The more sophisticated group of pressure points also involve pressing, rubbing or striking of nerves (and sometimes associated anatomical structures like arteries, veins, etc.) but the manipulation of these points induce specific, pre-determined reflex-based actions as a result of our internal God-given reflexes.  Consider the natural reflex action when you step on a nail with one foot.  The foot that stepped on the nail will be quickly withdrawn from the painful stimulus through the almost instantaneous and natural withdrawal reflex.  However the opposite leg must also be quickly stiffened to provide the base of support for the withdrawal of the injured foot.  The opposite leg must reflexively strengthen and stiffen (i.e., extend) so that the withdrawal motion can occur.  The increased muscle tone and extension of the opposite leg is called the crossed (or contralateral) extensor reflex.  Such reflex actions are built into our bodies and provide opportunities for exploitation in advanced self defense techniques and strategies, for example, if you want an arm carrying a weapon to spontaneously move away from you. 

 

Interesting links:

 

    Professor Tony Overfelt at Auburn University

 

    Dillman Karate International

 

   Grandmaster Will Higginbotham's Ryukyu Dojo

 

    Grandmaster Steve Cooper's Karate and Jujitsu Center

 

    Master Cliff Bolton's Atlanta Ryukyu Kempo

 

© Ruel A. Overfelt 2006