# Would the 'Vulcan Grab' Really Work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197 "2013-08-14T06:47:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/21 "2013-08-14T19:55:28Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I thought I’d seen a previous thread on this topic - [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=655082)it is… same OP. Weird. Must’ve done a little too much LDS at Berkley… ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/22 "2013-08-14T20:01:07Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I thought I’d seen a previous thread on this topic - [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=655082)it is… same OP. Weird. I’m presuming this thread was inspired by an article on Cracked today - “5 Classic Pop Culture Moments (that actors made up on the fly)”, one of which is the Vulcan nerve pinch. Includes the line “Despite being given a golden opportunity to punch William Shatner right in his enormous head, Spock declined, saying it was out of character.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/23 "2013-08-14T22:49:09Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Of course it works, but you have to be Vulcan. IIRC Data was able to do the nerve pinch, but McCoy tried to do it (Star Trek III, when he was possessed by Spock) and failed. > [@chrisk](#): > > …The fact that it apparently worked the same way on every species is total Star Trek BS, though. Vulcans would have to study a new race of humanoids for a little while before they figured out a technique that would incapacitate them. According to Trek all humanoids are descended from the same ancient humanoid race that seeded the Milky Way billions of years ago with bacteria that was programed to eventually evolve sentient humanoids with extremely similar biology (regardless of whether they’re mammals, reptiles, or birds). ---
**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:** [August 14, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/24 "2013-08-14T22:57:10Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > According to Trek all humanoids are descended from the same ancient humanoid race that seeded the Milky Way billions of years ago with bacteria that was programed to eventually evolve sentient humanoids with extremely similar biology (regardless of whether they’re mammals, reptiles, or birds). They’re not always terribly consistent about the ‘extremely similar biology’ though, are they? IIRC there was a humanoid race that had no differentiated organs - they were just humanoid-shaped blocks of the same kind of general purpose cell. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/25 "2013-08-14T23:32:45Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Must’ve done a little too much LDS at Berkley… Someone’s been doing too many Mormons at Berkley? Lucky them! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/26 "2013-08-14T23:39:58Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > IIRC Data was able to do the nerve pinch Well, he \*was \*programmed in multiple techniques. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/27 "2013-08-15T00:45:02Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > IIRC Data was able to do the nerve pinch, but McCoy tried to do it (Star Trek III, when he was possessed by Spock) and failed. Picard was able to perform it but apparently only after the mind meld with Sarek. _Starship Mine_ was on cable just last week where he used it on guest star Tim Russ (later to play Tuvok). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/28 "2013-08-15T01:12:36Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It’s been a long time since I’ve read any, but I vaguely recall Doc Savage being able to do something similar. Anyone remember? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/29 "2013-08-15T04:19:13Z")
Well I tried out just now on myself and I fe ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/30 "2013-08-15T06:12:20Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Fanwank - it is not just the physical pinch, but includes a variation of the Vulcan tactile telepathic ability. I could have sworn that was actually canon. The idea is that their touch telepathy involves electricity. I’m sure I read Nimoy himself say that somewhere. Picard being able to do it throws everything out of whack, in my opinion. If it were just Data, it could still be electricity or even just take a large amount of force (as both Data and Vulcans are stronger than humans). But it seems that humans can do it too, and McCoy only couldn’t because his brain was so mixed up at the time. Then again, Picard is the most Vulcan-like of the captains–maybe that counts for something. Maybe he’s slightly telepathic himself. (Of course, that would mean Deanna Troi could do it…) ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/31 "2013-08-15T06:59:51Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The idea is that their touch telepathy involves electricity. I’m sure I read Nimoy himself say that somewhere. As mentioned previously, It’s in the [Cracked article](http://www.cracked.com/article_20576_5-classic-pop-culture-moments-actors-made-up-fly.html) today: > [@Cracked writer Jacopo della Quercia](#): > > Instead, Nimoy suggested that Vulcans should have the power to shoot energy from their fingertips, and that placing said fingers on a prominent nerve would cause the enemy to receive a moderate shock and be knocked harmlessly unconscious. OK, it’s not very scientific (although lightning fingers would certainly make masturbation more interesting), but it adheres to the central rule of sci-fi: Nobody will care as long as it’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/32 "2013-08-15T07:30:02Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > If it actually worked, MMA bouts would be very, very short. Well, a choke hold is one way to end a bout, though generally people tap out before they lose consciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/33 "2013-08-15T07:31:52Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Someone’s been doing too many Mormons at Berkley? Lucky them! > > 😉 The point is that that was a direct quote from the film with the whales in it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/34 "2013-08-15T10:44:39Z")
A Vulcan Grab to the testicles incapacitates a man every time. For tv the censors insisted Spock squeeze something a little more family friendly. Now you know the rest of the story. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/35 "2013-08-15T11:33:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I could have sworn that was actually canon. The idea is that their touch telepathy involves electricity. I’m sure I read Nimoy himself say that somewhere. > > Picard being able to do it throws everything out of whack, in my opinion. If it were just Data, it could still be electricity or even just take a large amount of force (as both Data and Vulcans are stronger than humans). But it seems that humans can do it too, and McCoy only couldn’t because his brain was so mixed up at the time. > > Then again, Picard is the most Vulcan-like of the captains–maybe that counts for something. Maybe he’s slightly telepathic himself. > > (Of course, that would mean Deanna Troi could do it…) An ancient enough fanwank is indistinguishable from canon. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/36 "2013-08-15T20:32:33Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > The point is that that was a direct quote from the film with the whales in it. Except it wasn’t an exact quote. But I still got it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/37 "2013-08-15T21:53:47Z")
By the way, the correct name for this little maneuver is, “The Spocko”. It can also be spelled “SpockO”. ---
**Author:** ![cdnirish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@cdnirish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdnirish)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/38 "2014-01-01T16:03:45Z")
There are points on the body that when hit can render a person unconscious for a few minutes. Don’t know if the shoulder has one of them, but I know from personal experience there’s one on the leg. Many years ago, I accidentally hit the side of my leg on a low table at work. Next thing I know, I’m on the ground, my manager is bent over me telling me I’d passed out and they had called an ambulance for me. They took me to hospital, checked me over and found that other than being groggier than hell, my heart and other vitals were fine. The doctor asked me what happened, and when I told him, he said I must have hit the “vaso-something-or-other” nerve in my leg. When you hit this nerve, it causes a rapid drop in blood pressure which causes you to pass out. When the blood pressure begins to return to normal, you come to. (Like I said, this was years ago. I may not have the explanation exactly right.) I went home, and was groggy for hours. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/39 "2014-01-01T16:35:00Z")
> [@cdnirish](#): > > There are points on the body that when hit can render a person unconscious for a few minutes. Don’t know if the shoulder has one of them, but I know from personal experience there’s one on the leg. > > Many years ago, I accidentally hit the side of my leg on a low table at work. Next thing I know, I’m on the ground, my manager is bent over me telling me I’d passed out and they had called an ambulance for me. They took me to hospital, checked me over and found that other than being groggier than hell, my heart and other vitals were fine. > > The doctor asked me what happened, and when I told him, he said I must have hit the “vaso-something-or-other” nerve in my leg. When you hit this nerve, it causes a rapid drop in blood pressure which causes you to pass out. When the blood pressure begins to return to normal, you come to. (Like I said, this was years ago. I may not have the explanation exactly right.) I went home, and was groggy for hours. This claim definitely calls for a cite, I think. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197/40 "2014-01-01T17:02:49Z")
> [@cdnirish](#): > > There are points on the body that when hit can render a person unconscious for a few minutes. Don’t know if the shoulder has one of them, but I know from personal experience there’s one on the leg. If this is true, then one would think that MMA fighters would be exploiting these “pass out” points or, conversely, that MMA would be banning such moves as they ban groin strikes and eye gouging. Since neither has happened, color me skeptical. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-the-vulcan-grab-really-work/666197.md?page=3)