Vital Point Strikes is a guide to pressure point striking for the average martial artist. Sang H. Kim demystifies the lore of vital point striking and shows you realistic applications of vital point strikes for self-defense and combat sports. For those new to the concept of vital points, he begins by examining the Eastern theory of acupoints, meridians and ki (qi) and the Western scientific concepts of the nervous and circulatory systems, pain threshold and pain tolerance, and the relationship between pain and fear. This synthesis of accepted Eastern and Western theories helps the reader understand what makes vital point striking work and why it can be not only useful in fighting, but deadly. Based on this introduction, you ll learn about 202 vital points for use in fighting including the name, point number, location, involved nerves and blood vessels, applicable techniques, sample applications, and potential results for each point. The points are illustrated in detail on an anatomically correct human model, with English, Chinese, and Korean names as well as point numbers for easy reference. In addition to identifying the vital points, Sang H. Kim gives you detailed information about the type of techniques that work for vital point striking including a discussion of fighting zones and ranges, plexus strikes, stance and footwork, bodily weapons, striking directions and angles and dozens of applications for common empty hand, grappling, groundfighting, knife and gun attacks. Based on over thirty years experience in the martial arts and in-depth research, Sang H. Kim has created one of the most complete books available on the art and science of vital point striking.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Good practical book:
This is a good book, devoted to anatomy of the body. Very nice representation of the points location. You can find here lot of usefull and practical information. But it rather describe application to some spots of body, when points. Subtle difference in strikes and possible prolonged effects from strikes to points not covered here. For this is better reffer to "Dim-Mak" books.
Strike straight to the point:
An amazing book. A martial arts masterpiece. Well illustrated, great information, will take a long time to catch the lots of info, and expect never have to use it. Great book.
A self defense book:
Good photography
good explanations although kyusho and the like purists probably would say that they are not enough because it's not told the direction in which you must apply pressure or pretend to strike. There are very good illustrations of the regions, meridians and points. I liked the generally street oriented applications too, which surprised me because I thought I would find mostly sports-tkd material. Very good work
Vital Point Striking... to the point:
This is a great book for pressure point information, and one of the few books that combines Eastern and Western ideas and reasons for striking a specific area. I would have given this book a 5 star rating but some of the techniques shown and fighting strategies shown in the book are questionable at best. But, the pressure point and other anatomical information was enough for me to give it a 4 star rating.
