# Is there any truth to all that ninja pressure points stuff in movies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350 "2006-05-11T08:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/1 "2006-05-11T08:30:31Z")
The other day, my girlfriend and I were watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon on TV, and there’s a part where one of the people fighting pokes the other five or six times quickly in different places, and the opponent is frozen. I’ve seen all sorts of things like that in movies (Kill Bill, for instance). I’m wondering if there’s any truth to pressure-point moves of this sort in martial arts? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/2 "2006-05-11T08:51:05Z")
Yes and no. As anyone who grew up playing _Star Trek_ can tell you, getting something like a Vulcan Nerve Pinch can hurt like hell, and there are spots like that all over your body, which if they get hit the right way will cause considerable amount of pain. If you get a shot in at the right spot, it can give you an edge over your opponent. However, if your opponent is in good physical shape and expecting such a blow, it won’t have a great deal of effect. As for the “Death Blow,” (i.e. where you’re able to kill your opponent instantly with just one blow) there’s no solid evidence AFAIK that such a point exists. (Certainly be difficult to prove, I would think.) ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/3 "2006-05-11T08:56:48Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > As for the “Death Blow,” (i.e. where you’re able to kill your opponent instantly with just one blow) there’s no solid evidence AFAIK that such a point exists. (Certainly be difficult to prove, I would think.) I think the chin qualifies. If you get a straight on uppercut to the chin, there is a fairly high, but still human, amount of force that will kill most opponents, no? ---
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/4 "2006-05-11T08:58:58Z")
No, but I don’t mean hitting someone force, necessarily. I mean the moves that one sees in movies where the person strikes quickly (usually with just two fingers) and has a significant effect on their opponent. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/5 "2006-05-11T09:27:28Z")
> [@groman](#): > > I think the chin qualifies. If you get a straight on uppercut to the chin, there is a fairly high, but still human, amount of force that will kill most opponents, no? What exactly would be the cause of death from an extreme blow to the chin? ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/6 "2006-05-11T09:43:54Z")
If you can jab someone directly in the [solar plexus](http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0845836.html) you can cause some pretty severe pain, and possible halt of organ funtion. A good whack with two v. stiff fingers in just the right spot would possibly do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![fluffyemu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@fluffyemu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluffyemu)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/7 "2006-05-11T10:05:42Z")
I’d like to throw in my curiousity with regard to the frozen bit; Movies like Serenity depict calculated hits causing people to become frozen and incapable of almost any movement, usually long enough for the villain to circle the frozen person and make some dramatic speech. Is there anywhere on the neck/shoulder/etc where touching it a certain way can cause the person to remain standing, but unable to move? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/8 "2006-05-11T10:23:57Z")
There’s a small triangular section of the side of your neck where a lot of nerves are located, a light blow or pressure can cause a blackout if done correctly. ---
**Author:** ![gitfiddle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@gitfiddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gitfiddle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/9 "2006-05-11T10:45:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d like to throw in my curiousity with regard to the frozen bit; Movies like Serenity depict calculated hits causing people to become frozen and incapable of almost any movement, usually long enough for the villain to circle the frozen person and make some dramatic speech. Is there anywhere on the neck/shoulder/etc where touching it a certain way can cause the person to remain standing, but unable to move? That’s exactly what happens in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon… ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/10 "2006-05-11T10:48:49Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > There’s a small triangular section of the side of your neck where a lot of nerves are located, a light blow or pressure can cause a blackout if done correctly. The ‘brachial stun’. Here’s what it does to someone: [http://www.ebaumsworld.com/karatechop.html](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/karatechop.html) ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/11 "2006-05-11T10:51:37Z")
I’ve always been a bit dubious about this but there was interesting program on martial arts a couple days ago (BBC3 I believe). This fellow, a keen martial artist himself, specialising in chinese arts, went to the phillipines to check out their styles. Which was interesting. But then he went to China and met a Doctor of acupuncture. The doctor explained the concept of Chakras and energy flows in the body. Her husband was the Master of [Dim Mak](http://www.dimmak.net/). (Apparently there is only one person in the world at a time that can do this) A demo was setup where the master struck at a number of his students in turn, stopping just at point of impact. Each went down, rather unconvincingly imo. He then slapped each on back, and they were fine again… The master then turned to the presenter (who also looked a bit dubious) and said he could force Chi into the body and stop it where he wills. With that, he slaps the presenter in the chest. Didn’t look particularly hard, and this guy was pretty tough to all appearances. He staggered back and looked none too well, holding his chest. The master then slaps him on the back in a couple of places and he was right as rain… Made you wonder what would happen if he really meant it., ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/12 "2006-05-11T12:06:24Z")
Didn’t we have a brief visit from a guest who made a series of escalating claims about his ability in this regard, then flounced off when people asked pointed questions and/or laughed at him? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/13 "2006-05-11T12:10:27Z")
Ah! here is is: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346410](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346410) Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/14 "2006-05-11T12:26:00Z")
In response to the **BadBadger** … … dunno if you’ve seen any of Derren Brown’s programmes recently, but during [The Heist](http://www.derrenbrown.co.uk/news/heist) one of the exercises involved the subjects “summoning their inner chi” and making people fall over from across the room by thrusting their hands at them. He’s also done it with big-ass wrestlers - one tap on the shoulder and they became unable to lift up a 5" tall petite woman. A slap on the back and they were back to normal. This has got more to do with auto-suggestion that with pressure points - you could tap them anywhere and get the same result, as long as they are in a suceptible state. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/15 "2006-05-11T12:28:10Z")
> [@BadBadger](#): > > I’ve always been a bit dubious about this but there was interesting program on martial arts a couple days ago (BBC3 I believe). The programme’s called [‘Mind, Body and Kick Ass Moves’](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421164/) and the presenter is Chris Crudelli. He seems to accept as fact, just about any supernatural claim, so long as the claim is made by someone from South-East Asia. A lot of the stuff that was done on the show (the Chi stuff especially, causing people to fall or feel unwell) is done with far greater showmanship by Derren Brown, and he is quite plain in his assertion that he has no supernatural powers. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/16 "2006-05-11T12:29:46Z")
> [@e-logic](#): > > He’s also done it with big-ass wrestlers - one tap on the shoulder and they became unable to lift up a 5" tall petite woman. > > A slap on the back and they were back to normal. That trick is nothing to do with being susceptible to suggestion, it’s all about where you place the woman in relation to the wrestler. It’s physics through and through. ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/17 "2006-05-11T12:37:00Z")
I have experienced the ole weigh a ton thing myself when i used to practice aikido. But I guess we dont have to go looking for some mysterious energy flow so much as a frame of mind… I feel so used. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/18 "2006-05-11T14:25:18Z")
> [@Szlater](#): > > That trick is nothing to do with being susceptible to suggestion, it’s all about where you place the woman in relation to the wrestler. It’s physics through and through. I dunno, no matter where you place a woman who is 5 inches tall, I bet I could lift her. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/19 "2006-05-11T14:37:47Z")
> [@e-logic](#): > > He’s also done it with big-ass wrestlers - one tap on the shoulder and they became unable to lift up a 5" tall petite woman. It’s too good to pass up: > [@David St. Hubbins](#): > > I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem _may_ have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being _crushed_ by a _dwarf_. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object. ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/20 "2006-05-11T14:43:19Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I dunno, no matter where you place a woman who is 5 inches tall, I bet I could lift her. > > 🆒 Unless she was like Britney Spears, incredibly dense. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350.md?page=2)