# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/21 "2006-05-11T14:58:58Z")
> [@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. There is a similar area located in a gentleman’s groin. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/22 "2006-05-11T15:29:50Z")
Bilateral stimulation of the carotid bulbs in the neck will cause a vagal discharge, dropping heart rate and often causing loss of consciousness. This can be done with very modest pressure. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/23 "2006-05-11T17:13:41Z")
personal experience event: Don’t know what my sifu did exactly, since he said it was too dangerous to let us try it but here is the layout. He came up and LIGHTLY (I stress this, I have no recollection at all of any contact even) and slowly touched me in the chest. Someplace near the solar plexus but I don’t think it was on it precisely. (Again, not sure, so may have been). I immediately passed out. Total REM sleep. Woke up seconds later, from the middle of a dream, wondering what all these people were doing in my bedroom and feeling like I’d had the nicest refreshing sleep (actually remained wired and rested for the rest of the day. Like I’d had a long nap or something). The two other students with me at the time told me afterwards that I just collapsed and started to twitch/spasm. Freaked them right out. Again, no idea what the guy did, all I know is it wasn’t a punch/strike, it was specific (localized) to a single point, he used his palm (not fingers), and I was out immediately. So, do pressure points exist? I’d say yup. ---
**Author:** ![em28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@em28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/em28)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/24 "2006-05-11T22:26:34Z")
I think I once heard that you could make yourself go unconscious by pressing very hard under your tongue inside your mouth… obviously not useful for attacking others. I googled it and couldn’t find anything so maybe it’s not true (google being the source of all knowledge). Secondly: “mind, body and kick-ass moves” I have seen and I thought it was meant to be a joke, kind of in the style of Louis Theroux documentaries. but apparently it’s supposed to be taken seriously. I’m not suggesting its hoaxed but all the mysticism and pseudo-religious stuff is total BS. in my expert opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/25 "2006-05-11T22:36:08Z")
> [@BadBadger](#): > > 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) How would this work, considering that he would be unable to teach someone to do it after he died, and if only one person at a time can do it, no one would be able to learn it while he was alive. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/26 "2006-05-11T23:10:05Z")
There are numerous points on the human body that can be struck to cause unconsciousness or incapacitation, and they’re generally no more mystical than a kick to the groin is. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s illegal in combat sports, there’s probably a good reason. Just off the top of my head: **Head/Neck** : Eyes – self explanatory. Ears – clapping a hand on the ear can cause pain, disorientation, and burst the eardrum. Back of the head/base of the skull – a rabbit punch can cause an unconsciousness or damage the spine. Windpipe or trachea – self explanatory. Blow to the brachial artery, or brachial slap/stun – as mentioned/linked to above. Knife hand or forearm strike causes a spike and sudden drop in blood pressure and can trigger a fainting response. Jaw – a blow to “the button” can cause knock recipient unconscious. Filtrum or Philtrum – area between lip and nose, sensitive to pain. Bridge of the nose – also sensitive to pain. Base of the ear/mastoid process – can cause pain and unconsciousness. **Trunk** Armpit – the armpit is more sensitive than most people realize. A very sharp blow to a small target area in the armpit can cause immobilizing pain. Sternum – take two fingers and press into your pectoral muscle, then take those same two fingers and press into your sternum and compare the sensation. There’s not much tissue directly over the sternum. Liver – A left hook to the abdomen can send a shockwave through the liver that causes immobilizing pain. Bernard Hopkins put Oscar De La Hoya on the mat with this one, and even though De La Hoya wasn’t knoced out he was in too much shock and pain to stand up (props to **Trunk** for this example). Solar plexus – causes pain and temporarily paralyzes the diaphragm. Spine – self explanatory. Kidneys – immobilizing pain. **Below the waist** : Bladder or public bone – causes excruciating pain. Groin – ditto. Perinium – also known as the “taint,” also causes excruciating pain. Trust me on this one. Clavicle – can be gripped to cause pain and immobilization, or struck with a hammer fist and broken. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/27 "2006-05-11T23:13:45Z")
> [@Kat](#): > > How would this work, considering that he would be unable to teach someone to do it after he died, and if only one person at a time can do it, no one would be able to learn it while he was alive. He teaches you all the moves to do it except one, and when he dies his attorney forwards you a key to a safety deposit box with the last move in it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/28 "2006-05-11T23:25:20Z")
:smack: Yes, I know the clavicle is not below the waist. That was supposed to go in the list above it. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2006, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/29 "2006-05-11T23:31:48Z")
Pressure Point Control Tactics are an integral part of the curriculum in my Taekwondo school, and in most martial arts schools overall. Pressure points are locations on the body where nerve or muscle “motor” points lie near the surface and are easily accessible. There are three main ways to attack a pressure point: 1. Constant pressure. This is used most often in pain compliance situation. If I need someone to move somewhere or do something, I hurt them until they do, then I let up the pressure. One of my favorites is the infraorbital pressure point, located under the nose. I can take a driver right out of a car through an open window using that one. 2. Touch penetration. Usually used to clear someone away or stop their motion toward you. A favorite there is the jugular notch, which is the hollow at the base of the throat. 3. Impact with time on target. Used as a stun, when you want to disorient or even cause the attacker to lose consciousness briefly. A favorite there is the brachial plexus origin, located on the side of the neck (think about the bolts on Frankenstein’s creature, the Karloff version). A hard slap with the back of the hand will disorient someone; a hard shot with the forearm will drop them on the ground. You then have about 5-10 seconds to get a whole lot of gone between you and them. But all the stuff you see in the movies about “the Death Touch” or paralyzing someone is just Hollywood movie-fu. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/30 "2006-05-12T00:40:35Z")
The Straight Dope on [Is the “ninja death touch” real?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040521.html) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/31 "2006-05-12T01:43:55Z")
I note of course these folks pass up the riches afforded by the UFC. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BadBadger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BadBadger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadBadger)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/32 "2006-05-12T08:38:40Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > He teaches you all the moves to do it except one, and when he dies his attorney forwards you a key to a safety deposit box with the last move in it. 😉 I suspect that when the master feels the time is right, he teaches the move to his most capable student. The student understandably is then rather miffed at there being two masters of DimMak and promptly puts his new found skill to test. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/33 "2006-05-12T13:10:09Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > What exactly would be the cause of death from an extreme blow to the chin? Coroners usually call it “Death by extreme blow to the chin.” hh ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/34 "2006-05-12T16:28:43Z")
[George Dillman](http://www.dillman.com/) is famous in martial-arts circles for his [pressure point](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1889267031/103-3611438-8567026?v=glance&n=283155) seminars. There are areas were relatively light blows can stun your limbs useless, or knock you out for a few seconds. Most of his stuff deals more with pain-points for compliance and submission, but is still very interesting. I have some friends that have attended his seminars, and many pressure point techniques are certainly real, but in practical use are not what is depicted in movies. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/35 "2006-05-12T17:14:17Z")
> [@em28](#): > > I think I once heard that you could make yourself go unconscious by pressing very hard under your tongue inside your mouth… obviously not useful for attacking others. > > I googled it and couldn’t find anything so maybe it’s not true (google being the source of all knowledge). This is the basis behind the famed Mandible Claw, the favorite submission move of the sock-wielding Mankind. In other words, it’s a completely fake (and ludicrous, might I add) pro-wrestling move. ---
**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 12, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/36 "2006-05-12T17:42:53Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Coroners usually call it “Death by extreme blow to the chin.” > hh Cite? An extreme blow to the chin would cause a shattered jaw. But I don’t see how it would cause the truma needed to cause death. The blow would have to be enough to go all the way through to the back of the skull. All but impossible for most humans to perform. It would take a fantastic amount of force to get through the jaw bone, and all the way through the cavity to the back of the skull. I would think that hitting the back of the head…say on a wall or on the ground… after getting smashed in the chin may cause death. But the strike itself? Improbable. Belief that it does sounds an awful lot like the urban legend that hitting someone up under the nose with an open palm will push the subjects schnoz bones into the brain and cause death. Bullshit on several levels. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/37 "2006-05-12T19:42:52Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > There are numerous points on the human body that can be struck to cause unconsciousness or incapacitation, and they’re generally no more mystical than a kick to the groin is. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s illegal in combat sports, there’s probably a good reason. Just off the top of my head: > > **Head/Neck** : > Eyes – self explanatory. > > Ears – clapping a hand on the ear can cause pain, disorientation, and burst the eardrum. > > Back of the head/base of the skull – a rabbit punch can cause an unconsciousness or damage the spine. > > Windpipe or trachea – self explanatory. > > Blow to the brachial artery, or brachial slap/stun – as mentioned/linked to above. Knife hand or forearm strike causes a spike and sudden drop in blood pressure and can trigger a fainting response. > > Jaw – a blow to “the button” can cause knock recipient unconscious. > > Filtrum or Philtrum – area between lip and nose, sensitive to pain. > > Bridge of the nose – also sensitive to pain. > > Base of the ear/mastoid process – can cause pain and unconsciousness. > > **Trunk** > Armpit – the armpit is more sensitive than most people realize. A very sharp blow to a small target area in the armpit can cause immobilizing pain. > > Sternum – take two fingers and press into your pectoral muscle, then take those same two fingers and press into your sternum and compare the sensation. There’s not much tissue directly over the sternum. > > Liver – A left hook to the abdomen can send a shockwave through the liver that causes immobilizing pain. Bernard Hopkins put Oscar De La Hoya on the mat with this one, and even though De La Hoya wasn’t knoced out he was in too much shock and pain to stand up (props to **Trunk** for this example). > > Solar plexus – causes pain and temporarily paralyzes the diaphragm. > > Spine – self explanatory. > > Kidneys – immobilizing pain. > > **Below the waist** : > > Bladder or public bone – causes excruciating pain. > > Groin – ditto. > > Perinium – also known as the “taint,” also causes excruciating pain. Trust me on this one. > > Clavicle – can be gripped to cause pain and immobilization, or struck with a hammer fist and broken. Add to this: Radial Nerve - smack that puppy just right and the hand will open up (good for getting opponent to drop a knife) or twist the wrist towards you and dude is going down. There’s also a nerve in the thigh (femurous?) that can cause an opponent to collapse if you hit it right. I’m just in the beginning stages of learning to spar but my instructor said too much kicking in the thigh can get you disqualified (it’s a no-point zone anyway). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/38 "2006-05-12T20:17:47Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > An extreme blow to the chin would cause a shattered jaw. But I don’t see how it would cause the truma needed to cause death. The blow would have to be enough to go all the way through to the back of the skull. All but impossible for most humans to perform. It would take a fantastic amount of force to get through the jaw bone, and all the way through the cavity to the back of the skull. I would think that hitting the back of the head…say on a wall or on the ground… after getting smashed in the chin may cause death. But the strike itself? Improbable. It’s not a common occurence, but a cross or uppercut to the chin apparently can cause brain injury, and maybe death. There was an an paper called “Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study of Parkinsonism Related to Boxing” in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry that hypothesized that uppercuts can cause the brain to impact against the sharp bones of the sinus, causing frontal lobe damage (lest anyone think I sit around reading these things for fun, it was quoted in “Men’s Health.”) As far as death, [this list of ring fatalities](http://ejmas.com/jcs/jcsart_svinth_b_0700.htm) shows a few deaths after blows to the chin or jaw (search for “chin,” “jaw,” or “uppercut”). Admittedly, probably some (maybe all) of these were the result of cumulative blows rather than any one, but a single cross to the jaw or uppercut to the chin can cause a knockout, and that can’t be good for you. I don’t know if death from a single blow would be possible, but I’m not sure it’s impossible, either. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/39 "2006-05-12T20:20:51Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > Admittedly, probably some (maybe all) of these were the result of cumulative blows rather than any one, but a single cross to the jaw or uppercut to the chin can cause a knockout, and that can’t be good for you. I don’t know if death from a single blow would be possible, but I’m not sure it’s impossible, either. Actually I wouldn’t put it outside of abilities of some people to snap your neck with a single punch to the face as well. The amount of physical strength required is great but not impossible. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350/40 "2006-05-12T20:32:33Z")
Xena seemed to have lots of success with the death delay touch, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-truth-to-all-that-ninja-pressure-points-stuff-in-movies/356350.md?page=3)