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LESSON 3: AN INTRODUCTION TO DIM-MAK
DISCLAIMER STRIKES TAUGHT ON THIS WEBSITE ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIMENTED WITH AS THEY COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THESE STRIKES SHOULD ONLY BE USED IF YOURLIFE OR THE LIFE OF YOUR LOVED ONES IS AT RISK. THEY SHOULD NEVER BE USED TO HURT OR INTIMIDATE ANOTHER PERSON. ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS SITE ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INJURY OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THE EXECUTION OF THE STRIKES TAUGHT.
The techniques in the American Kenpo syllabus should not be seen as an end in themselves which is how they are taught by most instructor, but as traning methods. Fighting is totally illogical and you cannot rely on logical pre-arranged techniques to get you out of trouble. Fighting must become a subconscious reaction, which is the whole point of the American Kenpo Taiji system; to take fighting to an internal level. The techniques are there along with the forms to help us with Timing, Co-ordination and balance. They are also an excellent means of practicing all our basic strikes such as punches, kicks, elbow strikes, etc. In Kenpo Taiji however we have added the extra element of Dim-Mak or pressure point striking. Almost all strikes in most of the techniques are actually aimed at Dim -Mak Points on the human body. You can not learn Dim-Mak by learning points from a book or chart, the only way to do so is to practice striking them in the correct direction on the human body (only very light, or no contact of course!!) and most Kenpo techniques are excellent training methods for this. In this lesson I will give you an introduction to Dim-Mak and in the next lesson I will choose some Kenpo techniques and show the pressure point strikes.
Dim-Mak - Death point striking is primarily involved with energy disruption as opposed to only brute muscle power. A well balanced, unimpeded flow of Chi(Ki) is essential for life and well being. It stands to reason therefore that disrupting this energy (chi) flow would result in either unconsciousness or paralysis. This energy can be thought of as an electric current which runs through our body enabling our whole body to work, just like any ectrical appliance will not work without electricity, without the flow of Chi we die. It may therefore, be a good idea at this stage to study the bodies internal energy structure, in order to gain a better understanding of how the knock out points we will be learning actually work. The body has 12 main meridians which Chinese medicine considers as rivers of chi. These 12 main meridians are named after the internal organs to which they are connected, namely:
Each meridian is actually a pair of mirror-image channels on either side of the body. One end of each of these 12 meridians is connected with one of the 12 main organs named above, while the other end is connected to a toe or finger. Whilst the meridians are rivers of chi the internal organs themselves may be thought of as reserves of energy. There are also eight extra meridians which may be thought of as reservoirs used to store excess energy. Two of the eight extra meridians are of particular importance for our purpose. These are the Conceptor meridian situated on the midline of the front of the body, and the Governing Meridian situated on the midline of the back of the body. There are millions of other Chi channels spreading out from the meridians, which distribute Chi to every cell in the body, nourishing the skin, hair eyes nails etc. and also inward to the bone marrow to maintain the production of blood cells. The channels also connect the organs, enabling them to communicate to and co-operate with each other. We have already said, that, for the body to be healthy, the Chi must flow smoothly and continuously in the channels, if, we therefore disrupt this energy flow, we can cause failure of the corresponding organ, paralysis to parts of the body, knock-out, death or even a delayed death, which may occur days, weeks, months or even years after the strike. Chinese Martial Artists have discovered over 400 cavities also known as Dim-Mak or Pressure Points along these meridians which, when struck in certain directions, would cause the body to react in the manner mentioned above. These are the same points used by Accupuncturists to adjust the flow of Chi by inserting needles. Dim-Mak is probably the highest accomplishment in the Martial Arts. However, the force used to strike these points must be sufficient to affect the relevant meridian, because while some points are very close to the surface, others are deeper within the body.
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