[.ca] Kyusho-Jitsu: The Dillman Method of Pressure Point Fighting (ISBN 0963199617)

kyushu -jitsu The Dillman Method to Pressure Pooint Fighting:
In Mr. Dillman's ctiticism of standard kata applications, he is missing the fact that these applications are those presented to beginners. One would have to study one karate style for many years to begin to uncover the many possible applications ( most of which do not involve pressure points). The more realistic applications ( still not involving pressure points) cannot morally or realistically ( or perhaps legally) be presented in books that any untrained person can buy - or in public classes where student turnover is great and only a minority will go beyond shodan. Being a sandan instructor of shotokan who has studied this one style for 21 years, I must say that Mr. Dillman's presentation of traditional kata bunkai would rival that of only a beginner or one who has only a surface understanding ofhis style's kata. While he claims that traditional kata bunkai is unrealistic, I found many of his own applications as presented in the book to be amusing. For example, Mr. Dillman, when his lapel is grabbed, doesn't consider that a real attacker isn't going to just stand there. In the real world, a grab and a punch will be almost simultaneous, often coming unexpectedly and with such speed and power that a defender searching for pressure points will easily have his lights punched out. Mr. Dillman also refers to catching a punch - something else that's pretty unrealistic in the real world. Studying pressure points with regards to any martial art is an intersting sideline, but not a replacement for traditional training. If you want the most realistic applications, it's better to keep training than to buy this book. It will take a long time and great effort on your own part, but it's worth it.

You've got to come to a seminar:
A) the book is excellent. This is a great intro into the world of preassure points, but seeing Dillman in person helps to cement in the things talked about. Also, the seminars go way beyond what's written. The book will not do you much good if you do not go to one of the seminars-----at least once, if not more often than that. I've only been to 2 of his seminars and have felt some of the knockouts. Some of the info presented in the book dovetailed nicely with things I've learned from instructors. B) People who don't believe that you can "catch a fist" in a real fight or do any of the more amazing-sounding things (including, dare I say it, actually wound a person by kicking above the waist----high-kicking, for the record, is not a part of Dillman's systems) have not seen or experienced enough. It'll work. I've actually caught fists with my hands before I knew it was supposedly a kenpo technique. Bottom line: buy the book.

Some basics, but not a whole lot to use:
I purchased this book a few years ago, and I was disappointed for the most part. It does give a little insight into some pressure points, but not much real application or specific angles at which the pressure points should be struck. If you want some suggestions on some very excellent videos and books on very useful self-defense with pressure points, email me at toelio@aol.com

Pressure Point Fighting:
Commentary on Pressure Points and their uses in the martial arts. This book included sections on applications and techniques. It also includes limited narrative on selected pressure points (19 total). For example, in the section on the points, the authors have included five anatomical drawings of the human body. These charts are intended to illustrate the Traditional Chinese Medicine energy pathways throughout the body, which pressure point strikes access. Unfortunatly, the illustrations are lacking in detail, and are somewhat confusing. They have used solid black lines to represent the pathways, and have included multiple channels on each illustration. In the areas where two or more lines may intersect, there is no distinction between the lines. As such, some readers will quickly become lost. The selected point descriptions are very limited in detail and information, covering 16 "Basic points" and three "advanced" points. Using the Chinese descriptive codes, the points covered are L-5, L-6, L-8, H-2, H-3, H-6, LI-7, L-10, L-13, L-7, TW-3, TW-11, TW-12, TW-17, SI-6, SI-7, S-5, S-9 and M-UE-28. The point striking information given the reader is very limited. For example, on page 64, the martial application for Heart Three (H-3) simply lists the martial uses as "\othis point\c may be struck or firmly pressed to bend the elbow." This is concerning, since a sufficient strike to H-3 can also be very dangerous (and potentially fatal). If hit stright in, a sufficient strike to H-3 can severely injure a person by stopping the beating of the heart. The immediate signs of this trauma shock to the body are an ashen gray complexion to the skin. The reciprient of the strike will collapse into unconsciousness, since their circulatory system has effectively been shut down. With sufficient force and intent, this same strike can also be fatal. These additional uses of the points in fighting are not covered, and their riskes are not covered.

Kyusho-Jitsu: Dillman Method Pressure Point Fighting:
I have attended seminars by Dillman master instructors in the past and the book is a good reference to those training seminars. The author has done an exceptional amount of research and training, some of which is presented in this book. This subject of pressure point fighting is exteremly difficult to learn without the guidance of a competent instructor or training partner. The book serves as a guide to those already studying the martial arts; it is not for the novice or the self taught individual. That said, pressure point fighting as it is called is not the end all for self defense tactics. Pressure point techniques do serve a good purpose in ones arsenal of self defense tactics, but they are designed to supplement ones total fighting system. And as it has been said before, it is difficult to strike an exact pressure point during active hand to hand combat. Pressure point control holds and escape techniques play a more active role in ones self defense arsenal. So if you have experience in the martial arts or CQB this book will serve to support some of your training, with the use of a competent partner or instructor. Novices or individuals looking for the quick fix (which there are none) try another book.