Vital Point Strikes: The Art & Science of Striking Vital Targets for Self-Defense and Combat Sports

This book caught my attention due to having begun practicing the internal exercises of Nei Gong for health reasons. The better instructional books on the subject always emphasized the importance of the meridians. The meridians I'd heard about for many years but had always considered them to be an esoteric rationale for the practice of Qi Gong or acupuncture. Gradually I came to see the relationship between pressure points and the meridians. Pressure points could be used to heal or to harm and it was the former that interested me. To me the greatest unarmed combat skill was a raised awareness enabling avoidance of situations leading to it. So studying this book began with examining the the sections on the meridians and their related pressure points. Since the author has a thorough grounding in both Western neuroscience and Asian practical applications related to the nervous system, the book brought about understanding that the meridians were not simply mystic philosophy. Already I knew that concentration and accumulation of chi was a real physical phenomenon so this book served to deepen my understanding of it in accessible terms.Deeper into the book were combat applications of this knowledge based upon the ganglia and ther effects upon parts of the body sometimes distant from their locations, The efficiency of pressure applied to various points achieving reactions in excess of force used seemed a preferable means of getting out of a fix than some brute force techniques that often did as much damage to defender as assailant.Also encountered were techniques I'd known for many years but refrained from using due to their often fatal effects. They weren't ones to be practiced while roughhousing with rowdy friends. The author wisely cautions the reader about this when presenting some of the most effective techniques. You don't (at least I don't) want to leave some oaf dead or permanently paralyzed for coarsely characterizing your mama or dietary habits.The photo illustrations often clarify the points made better than simply the text alone. The author also gives alternative solutions to the same situation stating these are simply suggestions since reality seldom sticks to the script and Murphy never sleeps. Everything read so far is strictly to the point without wasted excursions into theory and philosophy. No book can ever substitute for real life instruction from an experienced teacher but this one comes close for an autodidact residing far from urbane population centers. The information is dense packed and encyclopedic, thus reinforcing and internalizing it makes for slow reading to maximize the benefits. However, this book rates high recommendation to those interested in the subject.

As a practicing martial artist for the past 25 plus years, this book is a phenomenal resource and one of the best I have seen on the subject.

This book is much better than I had expected. First of all this is a large and thick book. I expected a regular paperback sized book with some pictures included. This is a comprehensive manual on the arts of self defense via pain and pressure centers. It includes very well done diagrams and comprehensive photos.I found that some of the attack points that I thought were safe are potentially deadly. I won't use those. I actually bought this book to find pain centers for my walking cane self defense regimen. There is much more than a list of pain and pressure points in this manual.The author explains and demonstrates through photos and descriptions how these points are used. The in depth discussion of these include points of view including the classic Chi meridians and the modern medical nervous system.This book is more in depth than I expected or require, but if you want to learn how to access these points in real life situations this is the book for you. Not a light read, but well worth the effort. This book belongs in the library of every martial artist. There is much to be learned here for all.Well worth the price.

Wow. So many vital points, so little time. Kim throws down the challenge to all hose who think they know it all on vital striking points. He can hold his own there. The problem, however, is the plethora of striking points. Many are simply in spots that require far too deft a touch than could be expected to be applied in an actual street attack--not without years of deliberate and high tempo practice. Still, the book is informative and well-packaged. It is a good reference and one of the better works on striking points out there. Ample illustrations and discussion. THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS or the recreational, sport-type martial artist. It is geared more for the serious martialist...there is a difference. There are warnings throughout the book and they should be heeded. Please do not buy this book for a budding karate or kung-fu student--that would be a mistake.

I highly recommend this work for anyone who is serous about self-defense and learning martial knowledge. I do put out a caution, however, because one should not be going out hitting people to test in application the information they receive in this manuscript. You still need a qualified instructor to learn how to practice these techniques without doing serious harm to your partners. I added this book to my library of vital point strikes and it is one of my favorites, it sits right next to my Encyclopedia of Dim Mak by Erle Montegue (who, in my opinion, still rates number 1 as far as his material and presentation goes).This book deals mainly with vital points and application of those points for self-defense, and there's nothing wrong with that. I believe this was the author's intent, and he accomplished it very well. However, if you want to have a well rounded information base on both the healing and disruption base of each of the 12 meridian Dim Mak points, Erle Montegue's book would be an important addition to your library.