Vik Family Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan

Striking the Femoral Nerve/Artery The femoral cluster is the combination of the femoral nerve, artery, and vein. This cluster is most easily located near the body surface on the inside front of either thigh, directly opposite the pubis. To find the correct location, use a finger to press on this area, specifically where the sartorius muscle runs over the junction between the iliopsoas and pectineus muscles (use Google). A strong localized strike on the nerve will render the ...leg useless, immobilizing an opponent (much like sitting on the toilet for too long). A serious strike can damage or rupture the artery or vein, causing internal bleeding or causing a blood clot. A powerful strike can be delivered effectively with the tip on the big toe (tsumasaki geri) although the toe must be trained to deliver such a strike. Hand striking of this point is possible with a spear hand (nukite) or punch (seiken) but only if the body is lowered to deliver a direct strike (not a downward blow). A blow to the femoral nerve can cause numbness in the leg, a weak knee, groin pain, and loss of motor function. Trauma to either the femoral artery or vein can cause in internal bleeding in the case of a rupture, or a blood clot if the damage does not completely rupture the artery/vein.

Striking the Temple. Strikes to the temple (left or right) can cause severe pain, unconsciousness, and as with all blows to the head, death. The temple is easily struck from the front using the thumb knuckle (boshi-ken) with either a closed fist or open hand. I find that a closed fist with the tip of the thumb tucked behind the index finger is best suited for this strike, as the thumb receives support from the forefinger. Alternatively, a back knuckle strike (uraken) can be u...sed; however an uraken strike may not penetrate as deeply as a small surface strike. The temple is easily struck from the side using the forefinger knuckle (ippon-ken) I prefer to strike with ippon-ken in the same configuration as boshi-ken, rather than pressing atop the knuckle. Alternatively, this strike can be delivered with the second knuckle (nakadaka-ken) but this requires the second knuckle extended, with the thumb bracing the forefinger down of the fist (in my experience, when striking hard surfaces, this is more likely to injure the one delivering the strike). The temple is a juncture of four bones, the frontal, parietal, temporal, and sphenoid. Directly beneath this juncture is the meningeal artery. A forceful, penetrating strike to the temple can cause the tip of one of these bones to fracture, causing trauma to this artery, resulting in an epidural hematoma (bleeding between the brain and the skull) in the dura mater. An epidural hematoma can occur whether or not the person loses consciousness.

Karate striking principles seem to be overlooked. It has been my experience that some instructors will provide guidance on where to strike, but less often how to strike. I do not believe there are any "secrets" in Karate, just things you have not yet learned. Karate strikes: punching, kicking, elbows, knees, and small surface strikes are not haphazardly thrown, hoping contact is made, each strike has an objective: a target with an expected outcome. Over the course of the next... few months, I am going to share some information on vital point/pressure point striking. Where to strike, how to strike, and the expected result. This information is from my personal research, reading, training, and what works for me. I hope that you will read, and provide feedback as I further my study of Karate. Some of this may or may not be new to you, but hopefully we can all learn something. Unfortunately, many of these strikes cannot be practiced with speed/power against another person, as the results can be very damaging. With any striking technique, conditioning is required to avoid injuring yourself, so don't neglect makiwara and bag work. First installment coming Friday.

Congratulations on your roku-kyu Fitz! Perseverance is a large part of your journey in karate-do.