This is a podcast-style Q&A of just under 20 minutes where I answer a run of questions about pressure points and more. The questions cover how deep points are, how hard to press, my favourite points, whether kata bunkai is any good, how the basics work, drilling things like the top wrist lock, and the best way to learn self-defence.

It is for anyone interested in pressure point fighting, from complete beginners to experienced martial artists who want straight answers to common questions.

Depth and Pressure

Two of the most common questions are how deep the points are and how hard you have to press. People often imagine that pressure points are tiny dots on the skin that you have to find with perfect accuracy. The reality is more practical than that. What matters most is the angle and direction you strike or press in, and whether you have taken the person's balance first.

As for how hard: harder is not always better. A relaxed, well-aimed strike that travels through the target usually does far more than a tense, heavy one.

Kata Bunkai and the Basics

Kata bunkai comes up a lot, and it is a subject I care about. Good bunkai has to work in a real fight, against a real person, or it is not bunkai. The basics matter because everything advanced is built on them. If your stance, balance and structure are wrong, no amount of clever technique will save you.

Drilling and Learning Self-Defence

Drilling is how you make a technique automatic. Whether it is the top wrist lock or a simple strike, you need repetition, done correctly, then done under a little pressure. And the best way to learn self-defence is to keep it simple, train with a partner, and build up the realism gradually.

When you drill pressure points and locks, always work with control and a cooperative partner. Learn the location and angle first, then add speed and resistance.

Getting the Most From a Q&A

Listen for the principle behind each answer. A question about one point or one lock usually has an answer that applies across your whole training.

Take It Further

If you are new, start with the FREE Pressure Point Fighting Mini-Course. If the kata questions interest you most, Kata Unleashed shows how I approach bunkai that works.