Radial Nerve
Let's call it what it is.
This is a great Kyusho target to start new Kyusho enthusiasts on as it is not only benign (less fear and apprehension from novices), but very versatile in martial and control aspects.
Start by finding a point on the wrist which is located 3 finger widths from the inside crease of the wrist, just in the indention of the Radial Bone (thumb side), this is where the Radial Nerve forms a Y shape split. To use it properly it must be compressed against the bone and stretched toward the thumb. This can be accomplished 3 ways, each more painful than the next with more body dysfunction possible.
Press: By pressing this point against the bone as you slide it up toward the thumb it will cause pain and weakening of the hand. If you intensify the pain and will start to weaken more of the body, all the way down to the legs. The quicker the press the better the reaction will be, possibly causing the hand to loose all strength and spring open.
Rub: If you use your knuckle or other hard object to rub the point against the Radial Bone and toward the thumb, the increased speed and kinetic energy that is generated will cause much more reaction. The hand will spring open as the legs buckle and the body looses strength. This will also increase the pain dramatically so that the mental functions are now impaired.
Strike: When struck toward the thumb with a deep penetrating attack, the kinetic energy is read more intensely causing even more dramatic results. The pain is intense and can be felt up the arm and sometimes into the ear. The hand springs open but may also be paralyzed so that further use of the limb is severely impaired. The legs will actually lift off the ground as the body tries to coil into a fetal position. This action attacks the somatic nerve system that is responsible for muscle control.
So as we can see this simple point on someone’s wrist is capable of so much control, dysfunction and pain inducement with no permanent damage. But now comes the question of how you could train with it to make it plausible in a real situation. Please keep in mind that while practicing this and all points that if you place too much intent into each move, your practice time will be very short due to pain and dysfunction. So prior to the training process it will be necessary to use all 3 methods above separately to see, feel and fully understand the effects. By feel means you must also actually have these applied to you so you personally can feel all of the levels possibilities. After realizing these levels from giving and receiving ends, you will have developed belief, understanding and a respect for the point and method. Now with the respect in place you can train safely not having to apply it as intently so that practice sessions will be longer and accessibility is enhanced.
One training idea is have a designated attacker that is to continuously grab at the defender. The defender is required to access this point in all grab situations and variations. This should be calm at first and build in intensity as the allotted time period continues. This will increase the defenders focus, coordination and targeting under spontaneous attack. The attacker should get more and more aggressive and use more strength as the time goes on. The next possibility is to increase the number of attackers so that even more pressure and difficulty is applied. The need for rapid and accurate targeting of this point under increasing pressure is essential for actual skill development.
Another drill that really puts both people to the test is live grappling, where the attacker is told to submit the other in any manner. The defender is only allowed to fend off the submission using this point effectively intercepting a grab, releasing it or just causing so much pain as to get control of the opponent. Both start from a face-to-face position and is initiated by the submitter entering and trying to get hold for a takedown or standing submission.
Both of these drills will be difficult for the defender in the beginning but will quickly turn in their favor with practice. Of course it will always depend on the skill level of both people as well as the perseverance to work it through, but this single point is a great addition to anyone’s arsenal, no matter what style they teach.
If you study or practice Kata you will begin to see many postures emerge where this point can be added to work or enhance your Bunkai. Say for example the catch position where the both hands are held stacked by your side… this may be trained for a same side arm grab, much like an Adult would do to a Child or a Male assailant initiating an attack on a Female victim. If the attacker were to grab the same side wrist the natural reaction of the victim would be to pull their hand back to their side to get away. The stacking hand would reach over to attack this point to release the grip and weaken the attacker, or done well drop their legs out from under them. This can be seen done with this type of intent in the first Kyusho Jitsu video available through this publication.
For Law Enforcement and Correction Officers this is a very valuable point for control, extraction and grip release. A strong caution however is that this point will cause a momentary contraction of the index finger prior to grip release and hand dysfunction, meaning it should not be used for Gun Disarms. It will work for any other object from knife to bottles, as well as to release someone’s grip on another individual. Other ideas would be in an extraction from a vehicle where the perpetrator will not release the steering wheel of the vehicle. By just grabbing their wrist and applying the point manipulation their hand will release the wheel and subsequently loosen their other hand in a sympathetic nerve reaction. Or possibly used in an extraction from a cell where the prisoner has latched onto the cell bar, the applications are endless once the method is understood and made into a skill with practice.
For the doorman at a club it may be used to escort the individual out the door or release their grip on that bottle or chair. Applied quickly and subtly leaving no damage further protects the doorman as well as the club itself. Again here the applications are innumerable depending on the individual’s skill level with it. One thing for sure is that this low profile method is very well suited for this profession.
Escalation is a possibility in any defensive method whereas increased aggression is forwarded by the attacker. So it is also very important to understand the further worth of any point you use in control or protection based incapacitation capability. This point will affect the entire radial nerve as the neurological message is sent to the Central Nervous System and then onto the brain and other areas of the body. By understanding that this weakens the motor skills of the arm, neck, head and or legs, if an escalation of control is needed, by just attacking this target well will cause further body dysfunction and levels of incapacitation.
And the true benefit is all this is still possible without physical damage, brute strength in a low profile manner.
-ep
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