Dangerous Parts - The Body

1 - Kidneys

2 - Solar Plexus

3 - Groin

4 - Patella {Knee cap}

5 - Tibia {Shin}

6 - Phlanges & Metatarsus {Toes}

7 - Ulnar Nerve {Wrist Nerves}

8 - Radial Nerve {Elbow Nerves}

1 - Kidneys

The hand shape when striking to separate the uke's arms from his/her sides is quite important. Generally when the technique is demonstrated, the hands form fists to punch through the gap between the uke's arms and torso. However if the gap is small and the uke strong this will not succeed. Instead using knife/shuto hands (fingers straight out, palms facing each other) allows the jitsuka to slip through the gap and as the jitsuka is pushing through, the increasing diameter of his/her arms increases the gap between the uke's arms and body.

When the jitsuka strikes into the kidneys, they can either hold the strike there (demonstrating accuracy), or carry on drawing the arms through until the fists are taken back level to the jitsuka's own sides (demonstrating the power in the technique). The preferences on which approach to take appears wholly dependent upon who the technique is being requested by, and all jitsuka would benefit from practising both variations of the strike.

Striking the kidneys should produce at least a slight grimace of discomfort from the opponent. The kidneys are sensitive organs, and it is often a tactic in many martial arts to strike these as they are afforded relatively little protection by the body. They are found between the hips and the level of the rib cage towards the back of the torso, one on either side of the spine. A hard blow to a kidney, can be very painful.

The strike demonstrated here is strange and would be unlikely to be used in a more active real world situation, but if an opponent opens up their leading side in a side stance, the jitsuka could strike with a fist, elbow or foot to the kidney.

The kidneys are often what is meant to be targeted when a jitsuka is striking at the ribs. The floating ribs are not particularly 'dangerous'. They feel very sore if cracked or broken, but any serious opponent would continue to fight almost unaffected by such an injury. Why strike at the floating ribs when a couple of inches more movement can give the solar plexus (see below) or kidneys?

2 - Solar Plexus

At some time or other almost everyone seems to have been winded by a punch to the stomach. This is rather a punch to the solar plexus. A solid punch to this network of nerves sends nerve impulses to the abdominal viscera thatb cause a rapid expulsion of air from the lungs. This sends can often cause opponents to panic as they have a lack of oxygen. Relaxing and focusing on trying to draw a shallow rather than deep breath can help combat any panic and return normal breathing - of course a lack of air seriously hampers any opponent.

3 - Groin

The strike is oriented towards the genitalia of the opponent, and although the pain not be quite so intense as for a man, this strike is still extremely effective to women as well. The groin contains the reproductive organs for humans, and to promote reproduction, there are a lot of nerve centres concentrated here so that the experience of intercourse will be pleasurable. This also makes them susceptible to attacks which will induce extreme pain. The man's reproductive organs are on the outside of the pelvis and are thus particularly prone to this attack which soon positions them into the safety of the man's throat!

Warning: this is the old standby for all novices (particularly women). A man attacks a novice with a simple punch, but the novice only just avoids the punch and ends up in an awkward position where they can't do any of the throws they know. Moments pass as the novice begins to panic. From the back of the dojo comes the call... "Just do anything!" This is immediately translated in the novices brain - the voice of a thousand experienced yellow and orange belts reverberate into a single voice - "Kick him in the balls". On behalf of all the men whom this has happened to (myself countless times), and their future families, please try to think of something a little more creative for drilling into novices for doing in an emergency.

4 - Patella

The strike is aimed to dislocate the knee cap by hitting it up and off with the top of the foot. This causes a severe amount of pain and will disable the opponent by rendering that leg unusable. In fact most people who suffer a dislocated patella never regain the full use of the knee again or at least not without the added niggling pain. Again caution should be used when performing this technique.

When using this technique from the previous one, the jitsuka should maintain balance, and not place his/her right foot down on the floor between the techniques.

5 - Tibia

A little bit of light nastiness. This technique is effective in making a mess of someone's leg, but otherwise seems fairly nice for a 'dangerous part'. The technique is only really effective if the skin is scraped away leaving the shin tender to the touch and quite possibly bleeding. All in all this is probably the weakest of the dangerous part strikes.

As before this move should be performed without the jitsuka placing his/her right foot down, if it is performed straight after the previous technique.

6 - Phlanges & Metatarsus

The toes are fairly painful, but why strike them instead of say the fingers? The answer is in that effectiveness in combat requires movement or the reflexes of a cat. Breaking toes will hinder a combatant's movement - enough perhaps to allow the jitsuka to withdraw from the fight.

The toes do however provide a simple known quality to the jitsuka. Toes are on feet, and feet like to be on the ground. When combined with the shin, it is simple to see how a strike towards the opponents lower limbs may contact the patella, or at least the shin, from which it is a simple scrape down to stamp on the toes. Painful and restricted movement will then distract the opponent allowing evasion or the use of another technique.

If the attack is followed through from a scrape down the shin, the jitsuka should not put his/her foot down on the floor between the two strikes. In addition to the stamp, more force can be obtained by shifting the body weight forwards into the stamp. Beware however of people with steel toe-caps - the technique will be unlikely to be effective!

7 - Ulnar Nerve

These nerves are located just below the wrist approximately where someone would wear a wristwatch. These are the nerves that are often caught when blocking a knife attack to the groin. In that case the nerves are on the radius bone of the forearm, but the nerves struck here will have the same effect. A hard strike will cause the hand to open up if it is a fist and a wonderful tingling sensation will travel into the opponent's fingertips. This essentially constitutes a distractive strike.

8 - Radial Nerve

The nerves being aimed for are immediately above the opponent's elbow. These nerves are the ones that tingle when you knock your 'funny bone' (humorous). This strike should cause the same tingling sensation through the arm as striking the elbow with a substantial object. This essentially constitutes a distractive strike.

Combined strike: Wrist and Elbow Nerves