Pressure Points – A Realistic View.

I first wrote this article for Fighters Magazine back in the early 90’s before the MMA and UFC revolution that changed many people’s perception of Martial arts forever.

 A former student of mine recently gave me a copy of the magazine which I had incidental lost somewhere over the years.

I read it again and slightly re-wrote it from a grammatical point of view, but the content stayed the same as my belief all these years on is still the same on this subject.

Many Martial Arts techniques have been shrouded in mystery for centuries. When the arts first hit the Western world, tales emerged of super-human feats that these Martial Arts masters could perform, some greatly exaggerated, others that could not be proven.

 I think one of the all-time ‘grey’ areas are the use of pressure points or dim mak, as the Chinese refer to it. That deadly secret death touch that can drop your opponent instantly is an elusive technique that many still, currently, seek to discover.

 Were the ancient masters privy to some magical formula that we, in modern times, are not clever enough to find?

Or is it just a load of sensationalised hype to sell the Martial Arts? All smoke and mirrors with a sprinkle of the power of suggestion thrown in for good measure.

In recent years, many videos and books have appeared on pressure point fighting or Kyusho Jutsu/Dim Mak. Also, some very well-known European and American Martial artists have flooded the seminar market on this subject, allegedly dropping students like flies with their mystical one touch knockout!

In this article, I am going to give my humble opinion on the subject based on my 40 plus years of experience in the Martial Arts field.

 I am a 7^th Dan Instructor in Ju Jutsu, but also have an open and receptive mind to all arts and have practised or sampled most.

 I have also fought at a prominent level in the cage and on the mats, as well as having some real-world experience of violence.

 My findings have been obtained from experience and not based on theory or talk. It’s all been hands on practice.

Firstly, the use of pressure points has been around in the art of Japanese Ju Jutsu since its origins. If you view a video, read a book or participate in Ju Jutsu, somewhere along the line, you will be exposed to Kyusho Jutsu or pressure point atemi-waza.

 It may have been a hidden secret in Karate-do Katas for centuries but not so in Ju Jutsu! In Europe, you can trace books back to before the 1900s that show these points, so somebody previously had to be passing on the knowledge!

The Mystic in the subject increases when a lot of the points are referred to particularly in Chinese Martial arts by their acupuncture/acupressure names.

Striking stomach 9 meridian sounds so much more exciting than striking the carotid artery on the neck or pressing the Governor Vess. 1 26 is much more impressive than the base of the nose/upper lip (philtrum)!

This type of Martial Arts/oriental terminology always arouses the interest and gets the would-be ninjas flocking to the training halls!

Also, the claims of knockout by striking on the arms and legs raise great curiosity and disbelief. This, I have never seen happen and I have struck and been struck on pressure points on the limbs. Although some of them can be highly painful and crippling, to some extent, I have not experienced a complete knockout (i.e. unconsciousness).

I have seen a few people, however, drop like a stone and lose their desire to continue fighting with limb strikes, but usually the perpetrator is armed with a baseball bat or the Muay Thai equivalent, the shin round kick!

Now, there may be individuals in the world that can perform these incredible feats, but they have got to be in the smallest minority and the exception to the rule, and I am still sceptical.

My theory is that there is no mystic to pressure point striking. I suspect any doctor or medical student could tell you the weakest and most vulnerable points on the human body without any Martial Arts training.

I have profound respect for a lot of Martial arts methods/training, as I have initially come from traditional background and trained under many great Japanese masters, but again, I think that too much can be read into the methods. All things Asian are not always correct. Just as today that all things Brazilian aren’t gospel either.

If you ask me about knockout points on the human body, I will tell you that I can think of five.

I call these Manstoppers.

They will work when you land a good, focused, powerful and accurate strike, not touch pressure.

 The points are: Chin/jaw, temple, base of skull, throat/neck.

 That’s it. That’s all of them. Remember, we are talking bare-handed strikes. I realise that a knife stab to the heart, a hammer to the skull or a shotgun blast in the face can do the trick, but this is all based on empty hand atemi, no weapons.

The jaw/chin when hit with a solid punch, palm heel or elbow will cause severe brain shaking inside the cranium, hence the knockout.

The temple area is the bony tip of the sphenoid bone and is quite thin. A strike here with a heavy punch or elbow can again jar the brain and damage important underlying arteries and nerves, causing a KO.

 The base of the skull houses the cerebellum and medulla, as well as the brain stem and spinal nerves. The medulla/brain stem controls breathing, blood pressure and heart beat. Heavy striking to this area, as with the other, not only carries knockout capability, but also lethal results.

Throat/neck, we all know how vulnerable these areas are, as they house our breathing and blood flow needs to the brain in the shape of the windpipe, carotid artery and jugular vein.

A knife hand blow, arc hand, fore knuckle or choke and strangle can cause unconsciousness or worse.

These are the only reliable knockout points on the body for serious combat

 No- where else?

Well a hard, accurate blow to the solar plexus can empty the lungs of air and paralyse the diaphragm, making it difficult for the person to get oxygen into the body.  It can incapacitate but not knockout.

What about attacking the groin or eyes or slapping the ears?

 Yes, they are highly vulnerable and can be fight stoppers, but rarely can you knock out someone through these points. Remember, this is what we are concerning ourselves with at present.

I previously mentioned that these points were the only reliable ones in serious combat and this takes important understanding.

Most of the pressure point striking or touching when demonstrated is done with a stationary and compliant partner.

In this instance, with a certain working knowledge, you can easily find and work many of the vital spots and get a reaction. Remember, it is easier to apply any technique when the opponent is either expectant or has had the power of suggestion imposed on them.

 Plus, if they are stationary, it is easier to find these small and hard to hit targets. It is a much different story if your opponent is psyched up, adrenaline filled and ready to fight you.

 He will be a moving, elusive and highly aggressive adversary. He will certainly not be allowing you the time to pinpoint some of the targets that are usually promoted as being effective by some experts.

Also, bearing in mind that some of the pressure points are meant to be no bigger than a one penny piece or smaller, it will take a hell of a lot of accuracy to find them in a ‘live pressure’ situation.

Another point worth bearing in mind is that some of these manipulating points are usually shown on the torso or arms of a person wearing no bodily clothing. This is fine to learn where the points are situated, but then, if you work on reality, most of these areas will be covered by heavy shirts, jackets, coats etc, nine. The clothing will nullify their effectiveness, if not stop it altogether.

All these things must be considered if we are looking at practical application of atemi touch pressure points.

Through practical experiment and experience, I am going to list the controlling or manipulating Kyusho Jutsu points that I have found to be accessible and workable under combat conditions. Remember though, it still takes considerable training and understanding of the human anatomy to make them work effectively.

I learnt these points all from my jujutsu instructors as a matter of course and didn’t have to undergo any specialise training or live like a hermit in the Tibetan mountains for 5 years.

Out of the 370 or so acupuncture/acupressure points recorded on the body, I will list 16 that I feel are workable, not counting the previously mentioned areas.

1. Philtrum (base of nose/upper lip)
Highly sensitive point for striking with palm heel or knifehand or pushing up or in with edge of hand or palm heel. Can also be effectively attacked from rear with bony thumb side of forearm in a face bar. Excruciatingly painful!

2. Mastoid Process (cavity behind ear lobe)
Best attacked with a gouging middle knuckle, screwing into this area can gain a release from a close quarter grapple.

3. Hypoglossal Nerve/Facial Artery 
Poking or gouging under the jawline into the soft underside can cause sharp pain and you can manipulate the head from there.

4. Zyomatic/Trigeminal Nerve         
These points are best located under the cheekbones. Gouging with a knuckle or clamping the points between fingers and thumb and squeezing causes severe pain and discomfort.

5. Temples     
Located on the side of the head roughly one and a half inches from the eyes. As mentioned earlier, striking can be fatal to this point. Knuckle gouging can instantly break up a close quarter grapple.

6. Suprasternal or Jugular Notch     
Indentation at the base of the windpipe. A finger poke or spear or a thumb gouge activates a gag reflex here, causing opponent to cough and splutter gasping for breath. Can also be a lethal point but requires pinpoint accuracy.

7. Subclavial Artery  
Situated down below collarbone. I have found this point works best on people with prominent collarbones. Gouge fingers in and down behind the bone. It causes a sickening sensation and the person drops to their knees to get away from the pain.

8. Carotid Artery       
Classic knockout point on the beck. More accurately, it is the carotid sinus that you attack. The sinus monitors blood pressure in the head. If struck with a knife of squeezed in a stranglehold, the sinus incorrectly sends a signal to the brain telling it that blood pressure is too high. The brain then sends a signal to the heart and the heart slows the blood flow. Result = unconsciousness. You have cleverly fooled the body’s safety switches. Some ‘experts’ in the field say that to open up this point, you must first touch two other points on the wrist. I leave that open to debate. I have KO’d two people in training (accidentally) by just striking the carotid sinus on its own with moderate fore. Please beware. Do not strike this area in fun; it is very dangerous.

9. Brachial Artery      
Located on inside of upper arm, roughly situated where the seam of a jacket would run. Pressing on this point, you will feel a pulse beat. Gouging with a knuckle can cause pain enough to gain a release from a lapel grab. Punching this point with knuckles can send a ‘pins and needles’ feeling right down to the finger tips and in some cases, paralyse the arm for some while.

10. Radial Nerve        
Best found on the mound of the muscle on top of the forearm. Again, if you are grabbed by the lapel or wrist tightly, this area will be taut. A hard knife hand blow to the target can gain a release and a numbing of the arm with inability to open and close the fingers.

11. Tricep Tendon     
Sometimes referred to as ‘Golgi’s point.’ This is a favourite attack point of the late great Ju Jutsu master, Wally Jay. The actual spot is just where the triceps head on the back of the upper arm disappears into the elbow joint. If you strike here or knuckle gouge/rub when the arm is straight, it causes extreme discomfort and controlling effects. Overlooked but highly effective point.

12. Femoral Artery/Nerve    
Located high on the inner thigh by inguinal fold (crease of upper thigh and groin). Spear finger attack and gouges will have an instant effect. Can break up ground grappling positions and from standing can buckle the leg. Must penetrate deeply for maximum effect.

13. Peroneal/Femoral Nerve
Favourite spot for the Muay Thai shin roundhouse kick. Outer edge of thigh, midway between hip and knee. You may remember this spot from old school dead leg of ‘Charley horse’. A hard shin kick or an elbow whilst kneeling can collapse opponent’s leg and take the fight right out of them.

14. Inner Thigh (Femoral/Cutaneous Nerve)          
Open to the same attack as above with related results.

15. Sciatic Nerve       
Right in the centre of the bicep’s femoris muscle on back of thigh. Best attacked with a heel stomp when opponent is face down on the ground. Will paralyse leg for some time.

16. Tibial Nerve                     
Centre of calf muscle. Open to the same attack with equivalent results as number 15.

So, there you have it. The pressure points I feel will work in ‘pressure’ situations. Remember though, there is no 100% guarantee.

 Some people, you can touch on these points and they will writhe immediately in shock and agony; others may only feel minor discomfort. But it is horses for courses. If it gives you an opening for one of the ‘Manstoppers points’, then it has served its purpose.

Pressure points must not be your main arsenal of weapons, nor must they be relied on to the point of forgetting other techniques. Also, currently with the selling of stronger alcoholic drinks and unfortunately the use of pills, tablets and various other forms of drugs, your attacker may be immune to these points!

In closing, I just want to recap on the fact that we are dealing with barehand techniques alone. Some of these points and others can have a more dramatic effect if struck or jabbed with weapons like batons or Yawaras. Also, areas like the elbow joints and knee joints can be smashed and dislocated with blows and kicks, but I don’t class these as pressure points. They can be termed as ‘structural damage’. I have just isolated the ‘pain points’ of the body for discussion.

I am sure that some of you out there may disagree with the things I have said, but that is your privilege. You are entitled to your opinion as I am mine. But remember, I have based my knowledge on a lot of pressure training scenarios and real-world experience. This is a far cry from the dojo teaching scenarios with a willing and compliant partner.

Finally if you are a true believer in the pressure point knockout theory, why haven’t we seen these skills in the Octagon?

I don’t feel there is any magic to this subject, just knowledge of anatomy and physiology and the weaknesses of the human body, plus ‘know-how’ on how and where to attack THE points!

What really are Martial Arts?

What really are Martial Arts?

We see social media flooded with examples of Martial Arts, good and bad and everybody will have their opinion on what they feel will work in the real world and what won’t. It always makes for a highly entertaining debate.

But is practising a Martial art just about what works and what doesn’t and isn’t that just an opinion anyway? Can we generalise stuff that well?

I am playing devils advocate in this piece and hopefully you will find it thought provoking.

From my many years of experience in the field of Martial arts I have come to some conclusions on the subject which I would like to share with you, if you indulge me.

Firstly most ‘fighting’ systems we know about are not truly martial arts at all.

I am going to address this from the Japanese arts as they are the most popular plus this is were most of my experience comes from.

Martial arts or Bujutsu as the Japanese called them were specifically arts of Warfare.

For example, the Samurai Warriors were exponents of true Bujutsu.

They trained in bow and arrow, spear, bladed pole, sword, knife and finally unarmed combat. Normally in that order. All the techniques learnt had one purpose and one purpose only to kill the enemy period.

This in general translates to any military force in the world today.

The tactics of kill or be killed are being only applied in times of war. That was their purpose. They weren’t self -defence techniques they were combative fighting techniques which are a different thing.

The Japanese term Bu roughly translates as War or Martial. Jutsu roughly means, science technique or skill.

So, Bujutsu reads as Martial skill or science.

Martial arts were 99% predominately fighting with weapons much the same as our present military.

You are not going to enter a sword fight or fire fight unarmed. It would be total madness and instant suicide.

In the case of the Samurai they mainly fought off horseback with bow and arrow. They were masters of this ‘long kill’. Foot soldiers used a spear or naginata (a bladed pole).

Swords were only employed when horsemen were pulled off their mounts. But again, in close combat even the sword could be cumbersome and fighting with a knife was probably the preferred method. 

As this ensured standing grappling came into play known as Kumiuchi or Yawara which eventually by the 17^th century became Jujutsu the term we are more familiar with. This form of combat in the Samurai era consisted mainly of grappling skills as striking to a full armoured bodied opponent would be ineffective. Joint breaks and trips and sweeps were commonly used.

So, in my research and observations of Japanese Martial arts in their true form they were for warfare with weapons and had little or nothing to do with unarmed fighting skills at all.

Later when the wars had ended, and Samurai were redundant, they entertained themselves with one on one challenges and duels. It was a way of maintaining some of the skills they had learn.

In my eyes this is what can be truly termed as Martial arts.

Very few people really practise martial arts as they were intended unless you are in the special operations military e.g. (SAS, SBS, DELTA, NAVY SEALS or top- level police/security).

The opinion being the public do not need these skills.

So, what are a big percentage of the public training in?

Karate-do, Judo and Aikido that most people refer to as Martial arts are in fact Martial Ways, so they are referred to as ‘Do’ methods.

The term ‘Budo’ is a relatively modern and historically meant a way of life encompassing physical, spiritual and moral dimensions with a focus on self- improvement, fulfilment or personal growth.

These ‘Martial arts’ are really a pale imitation of their original ‘jutsu’ counterparts.

Karate Jutsu v Karate -do

Jujutsu v Judo

Aikijutsu v Aikido

The Do systems main emphasis was not practical application for combat they were more a way of preserving the old school bujutsu methods but in a more acceptable way.

The more brutal, dangerous and pure combative techniques were eliminated to make way instead for a conducive form of ‘Martial art’ that all members of the public, men, women and children could train in for health, fitness, self-discipline and enlightenment and self-defence.

The Self defence aspect wasn’t emphasised over any of the other components.

When the decline of feudal Japan came about, and the end of the Samurai rule things changed dramatically. Times became more peaceful and Japan especially as it became more westernised wanted to bury their violent warring past so the bujutsu arts went underground or disappeared completely.

They felt there was no longer the need to teach killing methods with weapons or with the bare hands.

‘The Martial arts’ re- appeared as sporting contests, ways of fitness and health with elements of self-defence. If you like they had been watered down somewhat to cater for the public.

So rather than the true martial arts dying out totally they were reinvented and re packaged to suit the changing times.

 What most westerners learnt from their travels to Japan over the decades were the ‘do’ methods not the ‘jutsu’ ones.

I always suspected the Japanese kept the ‘real’ stuff a secret for themselves and not give it out to the Gaijin or foreigner!

When World War 1 and eventually World War 2 broke out the combative techniques resurfaced because suddenly we needed to arm soldiers with the quickest and most brutal methods of killing with their bare hands if need be.

They didn’t have years to perfect techniques, it was more like weeks. They needed to train something fast and workable. Elements of the arts of Japanese jujutsu, Chinese Kempo and Karate jutsu re-appeared along with what renowned C.Q.C   instructor Captain Edwart Fairbairn would refer to as gutter fighting. (gouging, biting, butting, stamping etc). These unarmed methods of combat were still always a back up to weapons.

When the two world wars ended close quarter combat instructors such as the fore mentioned Edwart Fairbairn, Rex Applegate, John Styers, Anthony Biddle and Charles Nelson amongst others brought their skills back home with them and set up schools of self defence teaching the close quarter fighting methods they learnt in the military but adapted them slightly for civilians.

You could say that they were modern ‘jutsu’ arts as the emphasis was on defending yourself against all manner of attacks and adapting the techniques to face the threats of the street predator at that time.

Karate, Aikido and Judo also flourished but they were now mainly taught as sporting combat or the Do ways of physical and mental fitness and enlightenment.

It’s not to say these DO systems cannot work in a real situation but they would have to be adapted and trained in that manner which takes time. In their sporting forms they can come up short in a self defence situation.

These arts all carried the grading structure which would get you to black belt where the close quarter combat training didn’t.

To try and put these two different methods into another context lets take the example of two painters.

One can paint your front door beautifully with a nice undercoat and a gleaming gloss finish that you will be really pleased about.

The other can paint you a fantastic family portrait that would not only grace the walls in your house but also any art gallery.

Now both persons are painters but only one is truly an artist and that is the latter one.

Followers of the Do or the way of Martial arts trained beyond basis self defence skills they trained for perfection of their technique in a quest for the then coveted black belt. Laborious repetition was the order of the day. Endless hours of drilling basics. They were methodically painting their own masterpiece.

They were attempting to transcend technique and reach a higher level of understanding just like a PHD student, Professor or any individual striving for a higher level of academia.

This is how you should view the genuine black belt practitioner. They have put as much time, work and effort into their art as the Surgeon, lawyer, sculpture, artist or author.

One of my early Japanese Sensei would often say you can be a black belt in anything if you reach a certain level of competence not just combat techniques.

Those training in just practical combat techniques could be likened to the painter of the front door. Their main interest is a functional and effective job well done. They are not going and philosophise about the merits of the paint and brush stroke they have used no more than the combat exponent will sit and overly examine the merits of a good kick in the balls. As one of my old instructors Dave Turton would say ‘It doesn’t matter about the colour of the cat as long as it catches the mouse.’

I guess in a way MMA brought back what the ‘Martial Arts’ were originally about. Functional techniques to dispatch another person without wrapping it all up in mystic, tradition or ritual. It brought back a rawness and honesty and sorted out what really worked and what didn’t in that one to one Gladiatorial arena.

Yes, it had its comparisons to the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome and Greece and I am sure if some country sanctioned it they would have been fighting with swords, axes, knives and all sorts of other shit but in the ‘civilised world’ we had to settle for fists, feet, knees, elbows etc. Hell, we even got rid of bare knuckles, headbutts, groin strikes and head stomping which was allowed in its earlier days.

Many Martial arts purists hate MMA but many Martial arts pragmatists love it saying this is what real Martial arts is all about.

It really comes back down to the question are you a ‘jutsu’ person or a ‘do’ person. Do you view Martial arts techniques as a means to an end or a way of life?

There are many modern self defence systems that practice the practical and street efficient ways whilst denoting the more traditional arts.

But what some of them forget their systems would not exist without the traditional arts. No, you haven’t got to live in the past, but you do need to respect it and reference it when using its techniques, no matter how far they may have come from the original.

Nobody has got the patent on an armbar, punch or kick.

So here is the next question. How long do you think you will train in a modern street system before you get bored?

To be honest you could write what you need to know about the practical side of self defence on a postage stamp.

Let’s face it there is only so many times you can hit somebody before you start looking for some thing else to add in the mix.

Suddenly these all ‘new super practical urban streetwise combat systems’ start to incorporate techniques of Judo, BJJ, wrestling etc.

So, are they still super new and modern or are they just rehashing old stuff?

I believe there may well be new concepts and new methods of teaching but there are no new techniques. The past is our future. I suspect it has always been this way.

I believe Self- defence techniques are a personal thing. Normally your personalised self-defence moves come out of the art you trained in. What works for one will not work for another.

E g.  A wrestler may advocate a low single or double leg? A karateka may emphasis a punch or kick. You get the idea?

An individual looking for some quick to learn self defence moves without devoting years of training in a ‘Martial art’ may seek out these systems but usually only for a short while until they feel they have achieved what they are after and that is all good. They will not make a life time study of them unless of course there are belts, or levels awarded. As human beings like reward for our efforts.

Many people in security have adapted their karate, judo etc for the ‘doors’ or added to it to round out their knowledge. Why?

Well not every situation requires you to rip some body’s throat out, blind them or kick their balls up into their throats.

You may have to control an individual with a lock or hold. You, may have to trip, throw or takedown.

No two situations are the same. If your answer to every potentially threatening situation is smash them into a gooey puddle on the floor you will probably be practising those skills regularly in one of her majesty’s hotels. (prison)

Let’s go back to the start of this article, shall we?

Firstly, forget the deluded looney tunes out there on face book and the crazy shit they pass off as fighting techniques. Also, let’s take out the Mac Dojo’s whose main motivation is making obscene amounts of money at the expense of gullible people and teaching questionable techniques.

The question is now do you follow the ‘jutsu’ principles of purely combative and functional combat techniques with one aim and one aim only to defeat an attacker in as many ways as you can think of and that’s it?

Or are you a person that enjoys the whole package of your chosen art and practise it way beyond just a handful of self-defence techniques. Is this element only a small part of your overall training? Mental, spiritual and physical development is your driving force?

Maybe you like the sporting aspects of your art and this is what you are interested in. You enjoy testing yourself in the controlled arena under a certain set of rules and like pitting your skills against another likewise trained individual?

All the above things are admirable. It is a matter of personal choice.

Many I guess float between one or more of these.

I guess the trouble begins when one individual crosses into another’s territory without the experience or skill in that arena. Now you are swimming in dangerous water.

At one time or another I have swam in all these arenas but never thought of myself as an all-knowing expert in any of them.

What I did do was work fucking hard in those different fields and learnt from the very best. I wasn’t afraid to don the white belt and go back before I went forward again. I then went away and drilled and trained the techniques inside out.

There are too many armchair warriors and would be ninja turtles in this pedalling rubbish. They are doing harm to the genuine people training and teaching the fighting arts.

I can honestly say with hand on heart I have never written, talked or taught about a subject in the martial arts that I had not experienced to some level of competence.

Why?

Firstly, it is about being honest with yourself and secondly being honest with your students and thirdly you will eventually be exposed as a fraud or an idiot somewhere down the line.

I have tried to work on the idea that not everybody may agree with me or like what I teach but hopefully they will at least respect me for my journey. I think that is all you can wish for.

I do firstly think there is a big misunderstanding about what Martial arts really are and secondly are you truly practising or teaching one?

In my opinion the terminology has been used incorrectly.

I suspect most of us aren’t or maybe we don’t want to be.

I feel martial arts have been mis- sold and mis- interpreted to the public. The public conception of Martial arts for many years was misguided and many drew their conclusions from film or tv.

Flying kicks and breaking boards and bricks were the order of the day. Nowadays it is the UFC.

Are any of these an accurate picture of true ‘Martial Arts’?

My thoughts are go and enjoy whatever path you follow and good luck to you who are anybody else to judge you on what you want to do if it is truly the path you want to follow?

Just be careful of instructors that preach that they know it all and are masters of every concept in world of combat. They are either liars or deluded. Such an all-encompassing Master does not exist outside of Hollywood or in some weird individuals mind in the crazy world of social media.

Always teach or talk from experience and know your subject. Do not cross into somebody else’s territory unless you really know what you are talking about and then be very clear what it is you are demonstrating and what it is for.

As usual it is horses for courses. No one combat system is better than another it just depends what you want it for. Be crystal clear about this.

If you seek out the correct sources, you will find an expert in their field.

Here in the UK you will find a sound network of reputable instructors who do know what Martial arts is and isn’t.

Here is Wikipedia’s definition of Martial Arts. Pretty close to what I have said.

‘Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices, which are practiced for a number of reasons: as self- defense, military and law enforcement applications, mental and spiritual development; as well as entertainment and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.

Although the term martial art has become associated with the fighting arts of eastern Asia, it originally referred to the combat systems of Europe as early as the 1550s. The term is derived from Latin, and means "arts of Mars", the Roman god of war.^[1] Some authors have argued that fighting arts or fighting systems would be more appropriate on the basis that many martial arts were never "martial" in the sense of being used or created by professional warriors.’

For more of my background and thoughts you may like to check out my autobiographical account of my 40-year journey in the combat arts entitled When we were Warriors. Available at Amazon or signed copies through www.kevinohagan.com.

Kevin O’Hagan 7^th Dan Combat jujutsu.

WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GRAPPLING ART?

WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE GRAPPLING ART?

What is the Ultimate grappling art?

Judo, it must be Judo? No? Then it must be Wrestling? No? It must be BJJ surely? What’s that you say. What about Russian Sambo?

Wait hold on a minute. Now this is a question to really grapple with isn’t it. Whose camp are your in or maybe it is whose camp did your instructor convince you to be in?

Well in my own opinion there is no one style or system that can be called the best or indeed the ultimate.

Each one has something to offer. Each has its strengths and its weaknesses.

I have never lauded any one system as being superior to another.

Each is suited for a given situation or set of circumstances.

There are many combat systems worldwide that practise the grappling arts. In this article I am just addressing the main players so to speak that I have experienced.

If you are looking for a standing grappling art wearing a Gi you are going to be hard pressed to find a better system than Judo.

Most Judo people I have trained with were beasts. In my years on the mats I have been fortunate to train on seminars with the legends that are Brian Jacks and Neil Adams MBE.

Although the time was only a brief one on both occasions just to see these men first hand, perform their judo skills made you realise just how good they were/are.

Not only were they masters of grip, unbalancing and throwing their groundwork was awesome.

I believe back in the day members of the Gracie family attended a Neil Adams seminar in the USA to learn his newaza (groundwork) techniques. (Yes he was that GOOD).

Standing grappling without the Gi? Then it has got to be wrestling in its many forms.

Wrestling has been around forever. But for many years its effectiveness overlooked because most people couldn’t see past the WWF stuff.

Monsters in this sport were many but some of the legendary names from the past were Frank Gotch, George Hackenschmidt up to Dan Gable and UK’s own Billy Robinson.

Russian Sambo also certainly deserves a mention for its prowess with its many jacketed throws and take downs and its array of devastating leg locks.

You would probably have to live on planet Mars if you haven’t heard of Brazilian jujutsu. Renowned for its effective and classy groundwork and submissions. I would say it also revolutionised how to fight effectively off your back and took it to new levels.

Although not graded in the art I have experienced it many times. Firstly in 1997 when Carly Gracie held the first BJJ seminar in the UK to experiencing training and rolling with Renzo Gracie and John Machado back in the day.

Japanese submission wrestling is also massively popular of introducing more diverse and unorthodox submission holds and finishes. Many not legal in other grappling sports.

These are all mainly but not exclusively practised as combat sports which mean they carry with them rules and regulations.

As these rules evolve and change it can improve the art or indeed impede it. Depending on your point of view.

All of them in one shape or form have had immense success in the world of MMA and the cage.

Pioneers for these combat sports in the cage were the Gracie family (BJJ). Wrestling (Dan Severn, Mark Kerr, Dan Henderson and Mark Coleman are prime examples. Judo, (Ronda Rousey, Dan Kelly and Hidehiko Yoshida). Sambo, (Oleg Taktarov, Fedor Emelianenko. Japanese submission wrestling ( Sakuraba, Erik Paulson, Enson Inoue.)

Way before this in 1963 Gene LeBell an accomplished wrestler and Judoka fought boxer Milo Savage in what some call the first ‘MMA’ match ever in Salt Lake City, Utah and choked the boxer out.

Outside the realms of sport grappling then Combat forms of Jujutsu, Pankration, Dumog and San Shou are certainly worth looking into from a street perspective of grappling when you are fighting for your life and not just medals.

Where punching, butting, biting, eye gouging, groin striking, weapons and multiple attackers will come into play. This creates a different environment and mindset. In these circumstances choosing to roll around on the floor may not be the smartest option.

 let’s not also forget the obvious, to grapple another person they have got to be willing to engage in it with you or allow it to happen. They may decide to stab you is a better option.

If you are not experienced in the laws of the pavement arena you won’t even know you are in a fight until you are out of it. Tapping out does not exist outside the realms of sport. There will be no rules, time limits or referee.

Hence the need also for the striking arts such as Boxing, Muay Thai and Karate etc.

When the grappling arts entered the cage, they had to adapt to the fact that their opponent may not be mirroring their style, so a lot of experimentation went on. It was trial and error until the best techniques were found for that arena.

A few examples are, wrestling fared better than judo for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, most MMA fights were without a Gi or indeed any kind of jacket or top, so gripping was difficult.

Secondly the freestyle wrestling single and double leg takedowns were a more effective way of getting a striker to the floor than a hip throw or leg sweep as the latter required you to get hold of your opponent. Greco Roman wrestling also worked better up against the cage for the same reasons.

 As mentioned early it is a lot harder to grapple and throw when the opponent doesn’t want to engage but instead punch or kick you.

BJJ over the years adapted their guard game for Vale Tudo (anything goes) matches and the cage to deal with punches and elbows being thrown down at them whilst they were on their backs.

As stated each art or system in it’s pure form and abiding to its rules and purposes has its strengths but also its weaknesses.

Again, in my opinion here are my observations from experiencing at time or another all the above mentioned. I am talking about the arts in general across the board not discussing an individual of these sports.

Wrestling has great ground control and pinning but lack of finishing submissions.

BJJ lack of practising throws and take downs in favour of pulling the opponent to the floor or starting a match already sat on the floor.

Judo which is extremely strong on throwing and take downs but maybe do not allow the ground fighting to go on longer if it is not deemed as being progressive. Therefore, throws are favoured for winning a match. Also, there are a lack of leg locks in competition.

Sambo’s weakness maybe the omitting of chokes and strangles in most of its contest forms.

So what conclusions do I draw?

That no one art or system has all the answers, which is what Mixed Martial Arts has proved.

All MMA fighters these days practise many disciplines even if they have their own base art.

This was the idea of ‘cross training’ in the first place.

Every dog can have their day no doubt. But there is no conclusive evidence one system is constantly superior to another.

When I fought in MMA and some of its earlier hybrid versions and when I coached it I never recommended one style over another I encouraged practising from all sources just as Bruce Lee was promoting as far back as the 1960’s ‘absorb what is useful from any art’.

I have trained and fought with a Gi and without it and I loved both as well as the grapple and strike of MMA, the ‘Animal day’ sessions of Geoff Thompson and of course my base art of Combat jujutsu for Combatives.

I done all these things to increase my knowledge and step into other people’s arenas that weren’t my own and have a go.

So at least I could speak from first-hand experience about them rather than be a keyboard warrior with opinions based on nothing of substance.

I have many good friends and fellow instructors in most Martial art/sport systems and their chosen systems all have something to offer depending on what you are looking for and what your goals and priorities may be.

We have some superb Martial artists here in my home city of Bristol. I like to think we all respect each other for our achievements but also keeping martial arts alive and well, no matter that style or system.

As a business man I also know and understand how your Martial arts must be packaged and marketed to the public and how we might have to be allowed a little artistic license.

But I have always been a realist and will not buy in to the blinkered blind faith that some individuals preach which almost make them like a religion or cult were once you are in it is very hard to get out again or be allowed to also look elsewhere.

When I first got into grappling it was just well ……. grappling. I was on the mat at the same time as people from Judo, BJJ. Sambo, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo etc.

There was no thought of weight categories and no rules. All submissions were fine to use. Nobody knew any different.  That was what you did. Some wore a Gi, others didn’t. T shirts and hoodies were also worn. If their underpants were kept on, it was all good!

 It was just mix and match, get on with it and no fucking whingeing.

These days many people spend more time discussing what the rules are and what they can and can’t do.

For me personally this is all to limiting. Because my prime interest is grappling for real combat then I won’t be asking my attacker if I can do heel hooks or neck cranks on them or is it ok to reap the leg when I do an Achilles hold!

My thoughts are you should want to know how to apply every horrible fucking hold and know how to get out of every fucking horrible hold or have a good go.

If not in the real world you are broken or dead. Make no mistake. A tap out is a sporting way of living to fight another day. Outside of those parameters you are broken or dead.

If you get choked out on the street you may never wake up again. Now, that is a sobering thought.

If Bas Rutten chokes you out, you may possible wake up to find his trademark bottle of Tabasco sauce inserted up your arsehole as punishment. I kid you not! (No, I haven’t experienced it personally).

Its all about ‘horses for courses. ’What is it you want to get out of grappling?

What are your goals and preferences?

Don’t get overwhelmed or confused by all the decorative branches of the grappling tree. At the end of the day the trunk and more importantly its roots are what counts and what you personally are seeking to learn and achieve.

Enjoy your training and peace.

Kevin O’Hagan. Jan 2018.

‘’If you are interested in training in a totally unbiased and learning environment without any bullshit, then you may be interested in my up and coming seminar ‘Down and Out’ where I am going to re-visit the techniques and lessons I have learnt over my time in the grappling arts and how they have involved from the early days and their links to the past and the present.

Whether it be the cage, mat or street there will be something there for everyone. You are most welcome to attend. No politics and don’t worry you haven’t got to sign your life away to me, just come along and experience what I have to offer with no obligations’.

Check out my facebook page or message me at kevinohagansas@yahoo.co.uk for more details.