Dim Mak is a martial art that focuses on a series of precise nerve strikes to incapacitate or kill an opponent. It’s quite controversial because it’s never been truly proven and many have become skeptical regarding its practice. I for one have read several books on Dim Mak but am still unclear on many aspects of the art. It’s more like a study of human vital points than a true martial art. I’m sure many Dim Mak experts out there are crying foul over this statement but it’s true. In order to use Dim Mak effectively, you need to supplement it with several other striking arts. Knowing Dim Mak in itself is insufficient as you’ll get beat down before you can apply your “Death Touch” on a knowledgeable fighter. Besides, there are many, less complicated, and less precise targets available that you can strike to incapacitate your opponent.
Some of these include (from Head to Toe):
1.) The Eyes – No Dim Mak needed here. Getting poked in the eyes is an easy way to become incapacitated. At the very least, your fighting efficiency will go down by half.
2.) The Ears – Have you ever been slapped on one or both ears? This one’s a quick fight finisher and doesn’t take much training to execute. A decent strike will cause disorientation at the very least.
3.) The Temples – If you have the option, strike your opponent’s temples. This causes Much greater damage than a random strike to the face.
4.) The Nose – A suddenly broken nose will incapacitate your opponent for at least a few seconds. In rare occasions, shards from the nose can also be driven into the target’s brain (by say a perfect palms strike,) killing him.
5.) The Chin – The “sweet spot.” A solid hit here will at the very least disorient your opponent.
6.) Anywhere on the Neck – A knife-hand chop anywhere on the neck Will cause damage. A knife-hand to a person’s trachea or cervical spine might even paralyze or kill him. A hit to the Adam’s apple will cause him to choke for at least a few seconds.
8.) The Liver – A solid hit here causes immense pain that might incapacitate your opponent. Located on the right side of his body near the floating ribs.
9.) The Groin – For Obvious Reasons. Can incapacitate or even cause death. Unignorable due to the way our nervous system works.
10.) The Knee – If snapped, is an instant fight ender.
11.). The Shin – Lots of nerves = Lots of pain. If the opponent doesn’t react however, his nerves are probably deadened. Look for another target.
12.) The Foot – Is composed of many small bones and lots of nerves. Stomp with your heel or the ball of your foot.
13.). The Cervical Spine – Hit anyone hard in any C vertebra and it might be paralysis or lights out forever for your foe.
My weapon of choice to use against head targets is the elbow. In this way, even if you miss your target, you’ll still do some damage. A palm heel strike to the nose is also a good option. For neck targets, a knife-hand chop or second-knuckle punch is ideal. The key point here is to not stop striking until your opponent is incapacitated (ala Krav Maga.)
In conclusion, a study of Dim Mak pressure points is beneficial for all martial artists but it is up to the martial artist to find the ways and means to apply them. More often than not, there are many other targets in the human body that are more accessible, and that will incapacitate an attacker just the same.
Life Is Martial Arts
On Dim Mak, the “Death Touch”
Dim Mak is a martial art that focuses on a series of precise nerve strikes to incapacitate or kill an opponent. It’s quite controversial because it’s never been truly proven and many have become skeptical regarding its practice. I for one have read several books on Dim Mak but am still unclear on many aspects of the art. It’s more like a study of human vital points than a true martial art. I’m sure many Dim Mak experts out there are crying foul over this statement but it’s true. In order to use Dim Mak effectively, you need to supplement it with several other striking arts. Knowing Dim Mak in itself is insufficient as you’ll get beat down before you can apply your “Death Touch” on a knowledgeable fighter. Besides, there are many, less complicated, and less precise targets available that you can strike to incapacitate your opponent.
Some of these include (from Head to Toe):
1.) The Eyes – No Dim Mak needed here. Getting poked in the eyes is an easy way to become incapacitated. At the very least, your fighting efficiency will go down by half.
2.) The Ears – Have you ever been slapped on one or both ears? This one’s a quick fight finisher and doesn’t take much training to execute. A decent strike will cause disorientation at the very least.
3.) The Temples – If you have the option, strike your opponent’s temples. This causes Much greater damage than a random strike to the face.
4.) The Nose – A suddenly broken nose will incapacitate your opponent for at least a few seconds. In rare occasions, shards from the nose can also be driven into the target’s brain (by say a perfect palms strike,) killing him.
5.) The Chin – The “sweet spot.” A solid hit here will at the very least disorient your opponent.
6.) Anywhere on the Neck – A knife-hand chop anywhere on the neck Will cause damage. A knife-hand to a person’s trachea or cervical spine might even paralyze or kill him. A hit to the Adam’s apple will cause him to choke for at least a few seconds.
8.) The Liver – A solid hit here causes immense pain that might incapacitate your opponent. Located on the right side of his body near the floating ribs.
9.) The Groin – For Obvious Reasons. Can incapacitate or even cause death. Unignorable due to the way our nervous system works.
10.) The Knee – If snapped, is an instant fight ender.
11.). The Shin – Lots of nerves = Lots of pain. If the opponent doesn’t react however, his nerves are probably deadened. Look for another target.
12.) The Foot – Is composed of many small bones and lots of nerves. Stomp with your heel or the ball of your foot.
13.). The Cervical Spine – Hit anyone hard in any C vertebra and it might be paralysis or lights out forever for your foe.
My weapon of choice to use against head targets is the elbow. In this way, even if you miss your target, you’ll still do some damage. A palm heel strike to the nose is also a good option. For neck targets, a knife-hand chop or second-knuckle punch is ideal. The key point here is to not stop striking until your opponent is incapacitated (ala Krav Maga.)
In conclusion, a study of Dim Mak pressure points is beneficial for all martial artists but it is up to the martial artist to find the ways and means to apply them. More often than not, there are many other targets in the human body that are more accessible, and that will incapacitate an attacker just the same.