Questions and Answers
Questions mount continuously in Kyusho as new enthusiasts come into the science, long time enthusiasts want to improve and new discoveries are made (yes many with more to come).
This post will at first list a few questions and answers, then stay open for your new questions... so let's take a few of the more popular questions...then hand it over to you:
Q: What is "Kyusho"?
A: Kyusho translates into many descriptors, all with the same context... the weaker and more vulnerable areas on the human body.
Q: What is the difference between Kyusho, Dim Mak, Dim Hsueh, Atemi, Kupso and others?
A: The difference is mainly dialectic, however there are variations on the theme. As example Atemi is more nerve shock to set up for a following and more devastating attack. Dim Mak is more related to attacking the blood (however the nerve is also attacked simultaneously due to proximity of nerve and vascular structures. Kyusho is all of these and more but again each attack the same areas and of course the same proximal structures.
Q: Is it real?
A: If there are real nerves, blood vessels, organs, joints that can be damaged with efficient and deliberate attack, then of course Kyusho is real. We all realize that if we stop the blood flow to the brain, or an organ... or we sever a nerve, that there is severe health ramification including physical dysfunction, altered states of shock or consciousness, physical, emotional and mental ramifications up to paralysis and death.
Q: Can you use this to heal people?
A: No it does not heal people, nor does the practitioner. It works in health applications to balance and open the individuals nervous system so that their body regenerates and rejuvenates itself as a normal unimpeded system would.
Q: How does Kyusho work?
A: Kyusho causes in balance (or in health.... balance) in the physiological function of the body. When we disturb the balance (physiological systems), we can solicit physical dysfunction and overload per say to shut the body down (this is an automatic reflex that the body will go through to normalize itself).
Here are some typical Q&A, but let's now here your question, just comment below.
-ep
Great Idea , Lets hope it gets well used
Can we ask anything about kyusho eg. Techniques or point problems
Billy,
This would be better suited for more general questions such as Leffe’s Below. Technique and point issues would be difficult to refine without seeing it actually performed.
When making a straight strike (not diagonal) i.e. my right side to opponents left side.
How much will the effect diminish, if one not at the same time
and same side, raise the foot/ heel from ground?
Leffe:
It only matters that the heal is up if you are tapping lightly in a stationary Position. If you are moving as in a real situation, drill or fighting it will not matter. It will also not matter when striking with greater force.
Martial v Health when working on the health or revivals is it important for accuracy on the points or can the MSC and GTO be used.
Sir the MSC and GTO can be used in health applications and are in some. Using them still requires accuracy in access and or triggering the respective reflex.
For example the hiccups recipe are working nerve and a bit of MSC. As you draw down the particular area of the forearm, you are stimulating both to solicit a muscle release or relaxation. However if you do not work the correct structures and work nearby structure instead you will not get the same result.
You have mentioned the variations of dialectic themes, e.g., kyusho, atemi, dim-mak etc. The main ones seem to be either chinese, japanese or korean.
Are there records you are aware of similar to the works of the bubishi and secret notes of Hohan Soken for example that are an account of vital point science from areas such as India and/or Indonesia?
Dean the charts and information from India is there, but far more rare and to be honest a bit more convoluted and confusing. I believe the Chinese culture simplified the Indianic work and Japanese further simplified the Chinese.
Here is an image that may help you a bit: http://www.kyusho.com/Nadis.jpg
On the MSC video an attack to ST15 has an effect on the breathing. My question : is it the Dermatomes causing the reaction of the lungs as ST15 is on the Thoracic 3 level of the dermatomes or have they no relation at all
Ken,
It is more related to the attacking of that nerve to constrict the Bronchial Tubes and trigger the MSC… which adds the effects mentioned in that video.
Am I right in thinking then that dermatomes are more for the surface nerves
and therefore have limited effect for kyusho
They are both Ken as most nerves start at the spinal column, what is more important to look at is whether they are somatic or autonomic, or both.
They would be useful to know more out of curiosity, what nerves come out from between what vertebrae.
Disclaimer: For the average Kyusho enthusiast it will not be important as long as they realize they get better effect and efficiency by using weaker structures. They need not know all the details of the Human anatomy.
By the way, slowly but surely we will make this the primary paradigm of Kyusho, not the TCM based model… we will see more and more instructors change over as they can not ignore the realities of the anatomical approach. However the longer they take the more ground they will stand to loose.
Thanks for the pointers
Understanding and knowing the path of the nerves seems obviously important. However, is there a need or advantage in knowing which ones are somatic, autonomic or both?
That depends on the skill level you wish to attain.
You can achieve a bit more affect by thinking and using the points as many (and many do not), overlay vital structures… so by using points you can attain 50% reaction (this is why most do not stick with Kyusho, low success rate using that paradigm).
By understanding just the nerves and how they lay in the body, you will dramatically increase your potential.
By understanding what this or that nerve does or how it affects what in the body, again you gain more potential.
I was wondering if there were any future plans to produce more digital instruction. I enjoy the DVDs, but the instant downloads from Amazon make it possible to watch older videos that are no longer available in DVD format. The great thing about this is that there is limited downloads, and it’s difficult to pirate the videos. I know Mark Kline has made some of his older work available in instant video format. I was wondering if anyone else in the near future would be moving in this direction.
Ron, I first accomplished this in 2005 (Official Public Release 11/05/2005) with http://learn.kyusho.com but have recentkly replaced it with better technology.
Look at http://www.kyusho.com/cutting-edge-technology/ on this site.
Theo DeGalen has a lifesize acupuncture model in his videos or school. It’s difficult to find these in the U.S. Also, the cost alone is $600 or more, not counting shipping. Does any one know of where they can be purchased in the U.S.?
I had an idea of using a lifesize store mannequin where acupuncture points and meridians could be drawn on to best illustrate point location. Lifesize mannequins can be purchased for around $150, a fraction of the cost. Or purchased from a department store that’s going out of business.
Wondering if anyone has considered this. Possibly an excellent source of income, even at kyusho conventions.
I purchased a mannequin at my first school and dropped it in lieu of using real people in motion.
A personal preference is to train on a Mook Joong to condition the tools, but for Kyusho Targeting nothing compares to live spontaneous practice.