This is the book that everybody refers back to when they talk about the "real meaning of kata". It assumes that the reader is familiar with karate and is up to about black belt level. Plenty to interest someone into a Chinese martial art. It dispels more myths than it promotes. For martial artists it's a must-read.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #388881 in Books
• Published on: 1993-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

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Customer Reviews

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 "[this point] 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.

Clear and controversial
This is the book that everybody refers back to when they talk about the "real meaning of kata". It assumes that the reader is familiar with karate and is up to about black belt level. I'm neither, but I still found it one of the most clearly illustrated martial arts books I've read and that it had plenty to interest someone into a Chinese martial art. It dispels more myths than it promotes. For martial artists it's a must-read

Introduction to the Dillman System of PP fighting techniques
An interesting presentation of martial arts techniques, intended for incorporation into varying martial arts systems.