(by Dave J. Lomas theukwriter.weebly.com 7-7-19)
For many who take up the martial arts for the first time their main aim is to no more than to learn a form of effective self-defence and keep fit. Others will become involved in the sporting aspect of the fighting arts while some will over a period of time study the more technical aspects and traditional areas of the martial arts. For many the practice of the fighting arts will be limited to combat effective fighting methods but for some the interest will become progressively more in-depth.
Many schools of martial arts will cover the practice of vital strike point attacks which normally includes striking to the throat, eyes, knees and groin but a rare few will teach the specialised area of nerve point attacks which is often limited to the more senior students.
Nerve point techniques are a more specific method of fighting that would normally include pinching, striking or trapping various nerve points of the body. The somewhat mystical or elite of these fighting methods is the technique known as the Dim Mak or Death Touch.
To understand how the Dim Mak would work you would first have to study and understand the basics of the ‘meridian’ and how the bodies’ natural energy flows.
In places like Japan, China and other areas of the eastern world the true top martial art practitioner can often be found practising various forms of medicine to complement their studies of the martial arts. The true practice of the martial arts is, at its highest level, not only the study of fighting methods in a systematic way but also in a scientific and anatomical way.
Chinese kung fu masters for example will have a good working knowledge of not only how to break an opponent’s bone or joint in a certain way but also how to reset or heal parts of the body using a variety of methods that include herbal remedies and pressure point manipulation.
One of the now famous methods of Chinese and eastern practices of healing the sick or injured is the technique called Acupuncture, (putting needles into various parts of the body), and Acupressure, (using finger pressure to parts of the body as an alternative to needles), for less serious ailments to a degree.
For many years the practice of Acupuncture as an alternative form of medical treatment was looked upon in some cases as stupid and silly but after tests and demonstrations of its effectiveness throughout the world including Russia and America many people and the medical profession now accept it as a proven form of medical procedure to one degree or another. Today there are many Acupuncture clinics available.
The human body operates on many various levels with the most common known ones being the circulatory system that pumps blood through the veins and arteries and the nervous system that allows electrical type impulses to flow throughout the body giving out commands from the brain.
Anything that lives must have a form of power in which to function and remain alive, machines like a computer for example, would require a flow of electrical energy to function but the human body just like any living animal does not remain alive by such a power source.
Through many various processes including breathing, eating and various chemical reactions the body creates its own biological energy that sustains life. This biologically created energy is often referred to as our life force and without it we would die.
When we run, jump or work hard our body sweats, this sweat is the body’s way of cooling down due to the heat that the body produces in the form of released biological energy.
In the same way we need veins and arteries to allow the flow of blood and a nervous system to allow the flow of impulses to travel from the brain around the body so do we need a system that allows the flow of natural biologically produced energy to travel freely around the body. The system used to channel and allow the flow of energy around the body is called the ‘meridian system’ and is closely intertwined with the nervous and circulatory systems.
This flow of energy is called ‘Chi’ in Chinese or ‘Ki’ in Japanese and both terms translated into English simply mean breath. The reason for this is based on the true fact that without the ability to take regular breaths you will die. Breathing is life itself in many ways and plays a very vital part in our existence – of course.In martial arts the famous ‘karate shout’ is based upon increasing and focusing the flow of air in the lungs and the flow of body energy into a specific action which can be compared in just the same way when a powerlifter, (weight trainer), will shout when attempting to lift a very heavy item.
In the same way that it is possible to alter the flow of blood as it travels around the body so can the flow of energy or Chi’ be altered or redirected by the use of Acupuncture needles or the use of applying pressure along certain specific points of the meridian channels.
The discovery of Acupuncture, or so the legend goes, is based on the story of a Chinese soldier who, suffering from Arthritis in his arm, was hit by an arrow that went through his arm on one of the Acupressure points, (called cavities), while fighting on the battlefield during ancient feudal times and although the arrow damaged his arm the result was that his arm no longer suffered from Arthritis. Although this is an unproven story, even a myth perhaps, Acupuncture has been proven many times for its remarkable effects.
Proven many times to affect the internal organs of the body in various ways Acupuncture is also used to perform operations, in some cases, on people that remain wide awake throughout the entire procedure and without painkillers.
Unlike nerve point attacks that are used in martial arts to control or inflict damage to an opponent by damaging the nervous system at a specific point the Dim Mak is a technique by which the meridian system is attacked by the use of focused pressure in the form of a strike or impact.
Students of this fighting technique are required to condition their fingers in various ways including advanced finger press-up techniques so that they can strike the required meridian points with full force with their steel hard fingers.
Claims that a touch or strike can alter the flow of energy within the meridian channel which could result in a delayed form of damage or even a fatality is however yet to be fully proven by those who have stated that they can touch someone and they will die hours or even days later.
If you are ever touched or slapped in a joking or friendly way on the shoulder always remember, is it a form of greeting or have you been given the Dim Mak – the touch of death?
-------------------
https://theukwriter.weebly.com/articles/touch-of-death-the-dim-mak?fbclid=IwAR1_F8kogPtc9aFygD2oObBOKWOv4mFE24lMD0ityN0STAEiMdrxxaIXsjk
