By Scott Shaw
Since the
Asian martial arts began to be integrated into western society, the concept of
Ki has been one of the most hotly debated topics. Does it exist? Will it give an individual superhuman
power? Or, is its just a bunch of
hocus-pocus?
This
ongoing debate over Ki has left many western martial art practitioners in a continued
state of question. This lack of definition is enhance by the fact that Ki and
it usage is oftentimes referenced by Asian born instructors. Yet, many of these
instructors never discuss how an individual can come to consciously interact
with this ancient understanding.
Certainly,
Asian martial art films have fueled the fire by detailing that the practitioner
who knows how to tap into Ki possess unmatched power and the ability to overcome
even the largest opponent. But, perhaps that is the sourcepoint where the true
understanding of Ki has truly been lost. Ki is not just a metaphysical protein shake
that provides you with added adrenaline to allow you kick the butt of somebody
you don’t like. Ki is an energy which is much more subtle than that. But, its
mastery is a complex and complicated subject that takes focused understanding
to comprehend. In this article some of the understanding of Ki, what it
actually means, how it is actually developed, and how it can be used will be
discussed.
Ki in the
Korean Martial Arts
Martial
artists continually hear about the mystical power of Ki energy and how people
who have mastered this science possess superhuman strength and can debilitate
an opponent with a single touch. Though Ki is continually spoken of -- in most
Korean martial arts dojangs the ancient techniques designed to harness this
amazing energy are completely absent. There are, however, other systems of self-defense,
such as Aikido, which teach their students the components of Ki understanding
from the beginning stages of their training.
It can
certainly be understood that a novice student must master the physical elements
of their body before they can hope to move forward into successfully
incorporating the much more subtler aspects of internal energy. Yet, even among
the Korean systems of self-defense that, by their very name, supposedly embrace
this knowledge, very few instructors teach their students the methods of
harnessing Ki.
As the ever-evolving
worldwide martial art culture has continued to move forward with exchange and
integration of varying systems of self-defense, it is important that students
of even hard style martial arts come to embrace the understanding of Ki. From this, they make themselves not only more
complete martial artists, but more well rounded human beings, as well.
The
Foundations for Ki
The understanding of Ki was
first documented over two thousand years ago in Chinese during the Warring
State Period. A text written entitled, Huang Ti Nei Ching Su Wen, described Ki
as the Universal Energy that nourishes and sustains all life. It flows through
the universe and thus, through each individual. An abundant, non restricted,
flow of Ki in the body allows one to remain healthy; while a diminished or
impeded flow of Ki in the body lead one tgo illness. From China this knowledge
was passed onto the Korean Peninsula is approximately 200 B.C.E.
The reason Ki is helpful to
one’s self defense is two fold; first of all, the Ki practitioner understands
how Ki energy flows endlessly throughout the universe and will enter the
willing, unhindered body in unlimited supply.
From this, the martial artists become a conscious participant of this
unyielding strength and energy.
Secondarily, the advanced martial artist understands how Ki progresses
along the meridian pathways of the human body.
From this knowledge, the Ki practitioner possesses the ability to strike
an attacking opponent in vital Pressure Points,
(Kup Sul in Korean) and disrupt the flow of Ki energy in his body.
Physical
Strength verses Ki
Physical
strength is not a universal strength.
Thus, it should be unnecessarily feared. Physical strength, such as heightened
muscle development, is a process of body enhancement that is easily achieved by
prescribed physically orientated weight lifting exercises. This type of strength development is,
however, quickly lost when the exercises are discontinued. Muscle development
is, therefore, a temporal form of strength.
The individual who develops internal strength through the use of Ki, on
the other hand, never loses his understanding of how to effectively access Ki.
Thus, this form of internal strength and energy is always available to him.
Understanding
Ki Energy in the Human Body
Ki flows
through the human body along invisible circulation channels known as Meridians.
There are a total of twelve Primary or Constant Meridians in the human bodyC.
Two other Meridians pathways exist, known as secondary Meridians.
Pressure
Points
Kup Shul, Pressure Points are precise access
sites along a Meridian. These Kyusho when properly stimulated by Acupuncture or
Acupressure enhances the flow of Ki along a specified Meridian. Thus, exacting pressure to Kyusho aid the
body in recovering from Ki blockage or Ki deficiency.
Ki
stimulation of a specific meridian is commonly understood to aid in adding Ki
flow to a specific meridian of the body; additionally, if these Kyusho are
impacted with a precise and specific offensive strike they can also hamper the
flow of Ki in an individual. This is
where the martial artist begins to utilize Ki in the realms of self-defense.
The Basis
of Ki Self Defense
For the
martial artists to effective utilize Ki at will, he must be able to readily
access this universal energy. To achieve this possess an astute mental focus,
developed through meditation (munyum) and an expanded understanding of how Ki
interact with the human form.
Ki Gong,
(Ki skill) is the first step in obtaining the ability to consciously focalize
your Ki energy for external use. Ki Gong
is initially accomplished by concentration on your Center Point. The Center
Point is generally referenced, in the martial art world, by the Japanese term,
Hara.
The
Center Point
The
Tanden, (Burning Place of Energy), is the center of balance of the human body.
It is additionally the bodily location where Ki energy congregates.
The
Tanden is located approximately four inches below the navel and extended two
inches in each direction from this central point. This bodily location is the
source point of all usable Ki in the human form and is, therefore, a highly
revered bodily location.
The
martial arts practitioner who desires to utilize Ki energy efficiently must
first define this location. This can be
readily accomplished by performing the Center Point Defining Exercise and the
Opening and Closing Exercise.
Center
Point Defining Exercise
Stand
with your legs separated, approximately even with your shoulders. Allow your knees
to be slightly bent. Your feet should be
pointing forward, in a natural pattern.
Bend your elbows slightly. Extend the fingers of your hand naturally
straight. Do not tighten the muscles of your hand, but allow your fingers to be
semi relaxed and naturally separated. Bring your two hands in front of your
Center Point Separate your thumbs from your forefingers; allow them to form an
inverted triangle with approximately one inch of separation between both of
your thumbs and forefingers.
Once you
have achieved this stance, close your eyes and breathe slowly, yet deeply. Allow
your breaths to go deep into your abdomen. Once you achieve a relative state of
calm, after approximately ten natural breaths, begin to visualize the location
of your Center Point.
Now,
pivot your wrists, until your open palms face upward. Bring your fingers
together and allow then to point towards one another. Breathe deeply in through
your nose, as you visualize your breath entering your body in a golden flow
through your nose and finding its way to Center Point. As you perform this
exercise, bring your hands slowly up your body, accompanying your breath, until
they reach your chest level.
Once you
have taken in a full breath, hold it in naturally for a moment. Embrace its
golden essence and power as it congregates in your Center Point. Now, release it; pivot your palms over to a
downward facing positioning and allow the golden breath to naturally leave your
body. See it flow from your Center Point
in a golden flow and exit through your nose. Witness this as your hands travel
downwards to their beginning positioning.
From this
exercise, the exact individual location of your Center Point will clearly come
into focus and you will develop the ability to easily direct Ki throughout your
body, from it. You should perform this Center Point breathing technique at
least ten times, any time you need to refocus your body, mind, or Ki energy.
The
Opening and Closing Exercise
The
Cosmic Mudra of Opening and Closing Exercise not only focuses the mind on the
location of the Hara but additionally is a movement meditation as it focuses
the movements of the body with the human breath, thus forming a conscious link
to the meditative mind.
To
perform this exercise, stand with your legs separated, approximately even with
your shoulders. Allow your knees to be
slightly bent. Your feet should be pointing forward, in a natural pattern. Bend
your elbows slightly, allowing your arms to fall naturaly at your side. Extend the fingers of your hands naturally
straight. Do not tighten the muscles of your hand, but allow your fingers to be
semi relaxed and naturally separated.
Close
your eyes and begin to observe your breath as it enters your body naturally.
Observe the in-flow and the exhale of your breath for a few moments. When you
feel comfortable in your standing positioning and your mind has become calmed,
begin to visualize Ki entering your body through your breath in a golden flow.
Witness it entering through your nose and progressing to your Hara. With each in-breath, see the golden flow of
Ki enter your body, filling your Hara with Ki energy. With each out-breath
witness the expelled Ki engulfing your surroundings in a golden flow of Ki
energy.
Now,
bring your hands up into prayer positioning in front of your face. Observe
three complete breath cycles of golden Ki energy entering your body. As your
exhale your third breath, bring your hands above your head, allowing your
thumbs and your first fingers to touch; your other fingers are extended
naturally. With your next golden Ki
filled in-breath, mentally say the Mantra, “Om,” as you circularly bring your
hands down, uniting your thumbs and first fingers again in front of your Hara. With the out-breath send your hands above
your head again. With each new in-breath, repeat Om, as your hands travel in
front of your Hara. With each out-breath direct your hands above your head.
This
exercise should be performed approximately ten times a day as a method to
define the location of your Hara and to link your body and mind with cosmic
infinite energy. Once your Hara is
clearly located, this exercise can then be performed as a movement meditation
to consciously link your body and mind with the universal Ki force entering
your body and congregating in your Hara.
The Four-Phase
Ki Breath Exercise
Once your
Hara is clearly defined, you can take Ki Kokyu ho, (Breath Control Practice),
to the next level in order to consciously link the intake of Ki to your
breath. Begin by being seated in Seiza,
Kneeling Posture. Focus your mind by watching your natural breathing patterns
for a few moments.
You will
now begin the technique known as the Four Phase Breath Control Exercise. The
Four Phase Breath Control Exercise is accomplished by first, inhaling deeply in
a continuous flow through your nose. Allow the intake of your breath to be
silent. Never force the intake of breath; this only causes resistance from the
body. As in the previous Aum no Kokyu Exercise, visualize Ki entering your body
in the form of golden light, with each in-breath. Allow the breath to fill your lungs. Witness
the Ki breath reaching to your Hara and illuminating this region.
Once your
intake of air has been naturally completed, allow this Ki breath to remain in
your body. Do not exhale it immediately. Instead, witness the Ki, in the form
of golden light, emanating from your Hara and engulfing your being.
When you
feel it is time to exhale, do not allow the Ki breath to leave your body in a
broken flow. This disrupts the natural pattern of Ki. Guide your breath to exit
in a natural consciously continuous motion.
As your breath
exits your body, visualize any impurities your body may possess leaving you
with the exhalation. All which remains,
is pure golden Ki light.
Once you
have completely exhaled, do not attempt to immediately refill your lungs. This
may take a bit of practice, for many people panic from the initial feeling of oxygen
emptiness. Instead of immediately breathing, feel how light your body has
become from the absence of air. Observe
the emptiness and the purity it possesses.
When it becomes necessary to breath, do so. Allow the consciousness of
Ki, to again enter your body.
The Four
Phase Breath Exercise can be used, simply as described, to enhance Ki
visualization and circulation in your body. When you first begin to use this Ki
breath control method, allow each phase to last approximately five seconds, or
whatever amount of time feels natural to your body. At the outset, do not
attempt to hold any phase longer than you feel comfortable with, as this can
cause you to disrupt the natural flow of Ki in and out of your body and may
even cause you to pass out. As you continue with your further development of Ki
energy, however, you will find, due to the increased amount of Ki energy
circulating throughout your body, the time period of each phase of this breath
control will naturally increase until each phase may last as long as one
minute.
Ki orientated
Kokyu ho, (Breath Techniques), such as the previously described, Aum no Kokyu
and the Four Phase Breath Exercise instructs the subconscious levels of your
mind that Ki enters your body through breath.
Thus, through breathing in a prescribed manner access to Ki is
unlimited. From this understanding, the martial artist brings his body and mind
to a new level of cohesive interrelationship with universal Ki energy.
The
Center Point and Ki Self Defense
Once the
location of the individual’s Hara is firmly delineated, all Ki orientated
strikes and self defense applications are accomplished by initially focusing on
this Center Point. The Korean word, “Ki Hap,” means the meeting together of
energy. These terms defines the yell that is associated with the unleashing of
all martial art techniques. This expression signals the fact that the
practitioner is pulling Ki up from this Hara and then releasing it as any offensive
or defensive technique he is unleashing.
Extending
your Ki in Self Defense
The first
level of Ki self-defense that must be mastered is how to effectively extend
your Ki. By extending your Ki, in a directed fashion, you will add enormous
power to any self-defense technique you employ.
Ki Breath
Movement Exercise
Assume a
natural standing positioning, breath naturally for a few moments, meditatively
observing your breath. Now, perform the Four Phase Breath Control Exercise for
a repetition of five full Four Phase Breaths. With your new in-breath, pivot
your palms upwards at your waist level. As your new breath comes in, visualize
Ki entering your body and traveling to your Hara. As your Ki breath come in,
bring your palms upwards until they are at your head level. With the completion
of your in-breath, hold them in position for five seconds. Visualize Ki
emanating from your Hara and traveling up your body, through your arms to your
hands. Now, as you exhale, pivot your body directly behind yourself, invert
your palms so they are facing downwards, and slowly lower them to the ground in
association with your breath. As you do so, witness the golden Ki energy
emanating from your palms.
This Ki
orientated Breath Control in association with movement will initially train
your body how Ki can enter and exit your body in association with movement.
Boulder
Push Exercise
Begin in
a standing position, with your hands loosely at your side. Focus your attention
and begin to breath very consciously, watching your breath extend downwards
from your nose into your Center Point in a golden flow. Once you feel calm and
possess a good sense of your Hara, take a new breath through your nose, and
move your left leg forward, as if you were about to take a step. Remember to
maintain conscious focus on your breath as it enters your nose in a golden
flow, proceeding to your Hara. This breath enters as your step is taken. As you
step, bend both of your elbows slightly and turn your wrists until your open
palms are facing upward, at approximately your waist level.
Once your
intake of breath is complete, allow the golden breath to remain locked in your
Hara. Feel the Ki energy radiate, as you
bring your upward facing palms, along the side of your body, to your chest
level. Once at chest level, allow your open palms to turn outward and face in
front of you.
As you
exhale your golden Ki breath, tighten all of the muscles of your shoulders,
back, arms, and hands. Powerfully push
forward with your open palms, visualizing the golden Ki energy exiting your
palms into a large boulder in front of you.
The boulder moves with the power of your push. As your arms extend,
allow your left arm to remain slightly in front, your right arm slightly
behind; pushing forward.
Once your
breath is completely exhaled, observe the emptiness for a moment, as your arms
remain extended. Feeling the Ki
radiating from them.
When it
becomes time to take a new breath; breath in, a golden Ki breath and gracefully
returning to your original standing position with your hands loosely to your
side. When the breath is complete, feel
how full of Ki your arms and hands have become. Allow the breath to naturally
exit, feeling the Ki remaining.
As is it
becomes time to take your next breath, step forward with your right leg this
time, and perform the same exercise on your right side.
The
Boulder Push Exercise is ideal for focalizing Ki into your arms, shoulders, and
hands, when you are anticipating the need to perform strenuous physical
movements with them. This is due to the fact, this exercise stimulates the
meridians of these limbs, thus providing additional Ki power to them.
As you
practice these two extension exercises, witness how first your upper arm, then
your lower arm, and finally your hand and fingers begin to feel more and more
strength with each out breath; which travels from your Hara out to your
fingers. Experience the strength your hand feels as Ki energy permeates from
your fingers.
Once you
begin to feel the power and energy that you have consciously directed from your
hand, with these two Ki extension exercises, you can begin to focus and then
extend this same Ki energy from any part of your body. Simply focus your mind,
concentrate on your Hara and breath your Ki energy to extend from any location
of your body you desire.
Extending
Ki through the Straight Punch
As all
martial artists understand, at times of self-defense, it may be necessary to
aggressively strike out at an attacking opponent. To simply allow the wild
emotion of the moment and the force of adrenalin, to guide your defense, you cannot
consciously take control of the altercation. For this reason, Spiritual Warrior
learns to consciously extend Ki while striking out in times of battle.
The first
form of a forward offensive strike, which most novice martial artists are
taught, is how to deliver the Straight Punch. The Straight Punch is a refined
punching technique. This is because it follows a very linear path to its
target. From this, it is not only a very rapid striking technique, but
successfully blocking this style of punch becomes much more complicated, as
well.
The basic
Straight Punch is launched from the Front Stance. A Front Stance is
accomplished by extending your right leg forward, a couple of feet in front of
your rear, (left), leg. Your forward knee is bent and your rear leg remains
substantially straight. Your forward foot faces straight ahead and your rear
foot is placed at a forty-five degree angle. Once you have achieved this
positioning, find a natural balance with approximately seventy percent of your
weight on your forward leg and thirty percent on your rear leg.
Once in
the Front Stance, form your hands into fists.
Extend your left hand slightly in front of your body, with your fist
parallel to the ground. Place your right hand at waist level, with your fist
inverted upwards.
As you
begin the Straight Punch, slowly extend your right fist forward, directly in
front of you. As its name implies, the Straight Punch travels, “Straight
ahead,” to its target, which, in this case, is at your solar plexus level,
central to your body.
As you
are performing this forward punch, at the same time, bring your left hand back
to your hip level. As your fists travel, they pivot at wrist level; so your
retreating fist ultimately rests in an inverted position, as your punching fist
finishes its movement parallel to the ground.
It is
important not to practice the Ki orientated Straight Punch fast, as if you were
in an actual confrontation. In fact, it is better to perform it slowly in the
beginning, as this gives you the ability to consciously witness the entire
movement of your punch: how it is extended, how your muscles react, and how you
best stay balanced while performing it. From this, you will become much more
consciously aware of how your body actually feels as the Straight Punching motion
is taking place.
To take
the Straight Punch to the level of a Ki technique, it must be performed in
conscious association with your breath. Therefore, settle into the Front Stance
and take a few deep breaths, watching the golden Ki breath enter your nose and
proceeding to your Hara. Once you are focused, begin the punching technique. As
you do so, exhale the golden Ki energy which you have stored in your Hara
through your nose, visualize this Ki energy extending from your Hara, up you
body and along your arm. As your punch reaches its climax, see the golden Ki
energy forcefully extending from your fist into an imaginary target in front of
you.
This type
of Ki extension practice is not limited to the Straight Punch. According to
your own martial art abilities, you can associate it with any punching,
kicking, or grappling technique desired. The ultimate goal of this type of Ki
extension training, is to allow you to become very cognitive of the fact that
Ki can emanate from your body in any location you desire it. In the case of self-defense,
you can, therefore, focus and utilize your Ki; consciously directing it to an
exact location on your opponent’s body.
Strike
Intercepts Ki
There are
numerous locations on the human body that will directly access Ki meridian
pathways. These Kyusho, Pressure Points can be employed to interrupt the flow of
Ki in an attacking opponent. By striking precisely to a Kyusho, you can
effectively stop the Ki flow along the specific Meridian pathway you are
impacting. Thereby, Ki to the element of the body that specific Meridian
effects are halted and your opponent will be hindered in his offensive
abilities.
Striking
to a Pressure Point does not necessarily immediately knock a person out or
cause a body part to become instantly numb, as has been propagated by many
martial art charlatans. What this type of self-defense does achieve, however,
is the interruption of the overall Ki force in an attacker. This type of self-defense
may be understood by the analogy of a body part that has fallen asleep, when
proper circulation has been cut off from it.
When
applying forced pressure to specific Pressure Point, your goal is not to
magically render your opponent lifeless. What you are planning to achieve,
however, is both short term and long-term interruption of your attacker’s Ki
energy.
In the
advanced martial arts, a focused Pressure Point strike is initially
accomplished by focusing your energy in your Hara, then, as your strike travels
towards its final Pressure Point impact point, you expel your focused Ki, with
a Ki Ai, and strike your opponent to one of these precise locations. From this,
his Ki will be interrupted and you can continue on with additional self-defense
as necessary.
Pressure
Point Strike Locations
The
Pressure Point which are ideally accessed by a single strike are: the top of
the skull, the central forehead, behind the ear, the back of the jaw bone, the
central chest, the ribs, and the top of the hand.
1. Top of the skull. This is a Pressure Point of
the Gall Bladder, Liver, Bladder, and Governing Vessel Meridians. Striking it
disorientates the opponent by interrupting Ki circulation to the brain.
2. Central forehead. This is a Pressure Point of
the Gall Bladder, Bladder, Triple Warmer, and Governing Vessel Meridians. By
striking it, you will substantially disorientate your opponent. This disorientation will last for several
minutes, in which time you can leave the scene of the attack or continue with
additional self-defense as necessary.
3. Behind the Ear. If you place your finger and
feel behind the back of your ear, you will notice a slight protrusion of the
bone. This is a Pressure Point for the
Gall Bladder and Triple Warmer Meridians. This Pressure Point additionally
affects the functioning of the inner ear.
As the inner ear directly affects balance, striking this location will
cause your opponent to lose his balance and become disorientated.
4. Jaw Bone. The Pressure Point to access on the
Jaw Bone is located at the point where the jaw arches; exactly at the point
where the jawbone curves and extends out towards your chin. This Pressure Point also affects the function
of the inner ear, and thus, the balance of the opponent. It is additionally a Pressure Point for the
Stomach, the Small Intestine, and the Triple Warmer Meridians. Striking it
disorientates your adversary and affects his balance.
5. Central, upper, chest This Pressure Point is
located on the Sternum. (The long flat chest bone, proceeding vertical, joining
the ribs). Its exact location is approximately one inch above the solar
plexus. It is a Pressure Point of the
Kidney and Conceptual Meridians. Due to
its close proximity to the heart and the lungs, striking it sets the
opponent’s breathing off balance. This
sporadic breathing will remain constant for approximately two minutes, or
longer, depending on the power of the strike.
6. Ribs. Take the tips of your fingers and follow
your ribs from the central portion of your body to the side, while applying
slight pressure. You will immediately feel a Pressure Point when you come to
the lower side of your ribs. This is the Pressure Point you desire to locate
when in combat. This is a Pressure Point of the Gall Bladder, Liver, Stomach,
and the Spleen meridians. All of these meridians, in one form or another,
affect the flow of blood throughout the human body. By striking to this
location, the blood flow of the individual is substantially interrupted.
7. Top of the Hand. Located at the exact center of
the top of the hand, in between the hand bones leading to the middle and third
fingers. This is a Pressure Point of the Triple Warmer Meridian. By striking
it, your adversary’s hand is numbed and its proper function is disrupted.
It is important to keep in mind when you
strike to these Pressure Points you are not attempting to simply win the battle
in a one strike victory, as a force orientated martial artist may hope to do by
striking to the knee joint or the temples of an opponent. To strike to any of
these precise locations, disrupts the Ki flow of the attacker and inflicts
momentary pain.
When a
Spiritual Warrior uses Ki interruption techniques, in the midst of self-defense,
he does not posses the time to exactly locate a specific Pressure Point. The extended time frame such as an
accupressurist would have when applying healing touch therapy. Equally, he does
not generally have the time to hold a pressure point for more than a few
seconds. It is for this reason, that a
martial artist must not only possess an exact understanding of Meridian
Pressure Points, to make Ki self defense effective, but also must possess the
ability to strike or apply debilitating pressure to them rapidly and precisely.
As the
Spiritual Warrior never enters into battle with the thoughts of annihilating
the opponent, these strikes serve as a warning to the adversary of what is to
come if he continues his attack. If the
attack does continue, by striking these preliminary strike points, you have disrupted
the opponent’s Ki flow to the point where overtaking him in physical combat
will be no problem.
Non-Forceful
Ki Interruption
The Ki
of an attacker is not only interrupted by forceful striking techniques. In
fact, the more advanced martial artist will not focus his defense on offensive
techniques, at all. Instead, he will choose to interrupt the Ki of his opponent
by far less obvious methods. In many cases, this may be achieved by applying
direct pressure to one or more of the opponent’s Pressure Point with a holding
or a grabbing technique.
The first
Pressure Point easily accessible in this fashion is found on the inside of the
central elbow region. To locate this Pressure Point take your thumb, reach
across your body, and apply pressure to the inside of your elbow. After a moment or two, of pressure, you will
begin to feel a strange sensation in your lower arm. What you have done, is inhibited the flow of
Ki along the Lung, Heart, and Heart Constrictor Meridian. By maintaining
pressure to this Pressure Point, your arm will begin to feel numb. Over longer
periods of pressure, your actual breathing process will become interrupted.
This
Pressure Point is an ideal Pressure Point to locate on an attacker who has
grabbed a hold of you. Of course, this
type of Ki self defense is not as instant and dynamic as a powerful striking
technique; (which can also be unleashed at this location in the form of a
Knuckle Strike). But, as each self-defense
situation is defined by its own limitations, simply by applying focused dynamic
Ki pressure to this Pressure Point may be the exact type of defense that is
called upon.
The next self-defense
Pressure Point is one located at the forward base of the neck. Take your middle
finger; follow the front of your neck downwards until it meets your Clavicle or
Collar Bone. Just before this bone ends, at the central region of your neck,
apply pressure downwards, as if you were pushing inside, behind this bone. (Note: this Pressure Point is equally
located on both side of the forward neck).
Hold pressure to this Pressure Point for a few moments and your breath
will begin to be interrupted. Held over
longer periods of time, the breath is substantially disrupted.
The third
and final of these locations is the Jaw Bone Pressure Point, located where the jawbone
curves. This Pressure Point is very close to the one that was discussed in the
previous section. Take your fingers and follow your jawbone down from your ear
to the point where it arches out to your chin. Now, apply pressure and push in
behind the bone. You will immediately feel the Pressure Point
This
Pressure Point is ideal to apply pressure to when you desire to quietly, yet
forcefully shove an attacker away. As
this Pressure Point affects the inner ear, long-term pressure to it, will cause
an attacker’s balance to be disrupted.
As you now understand, Ki
is a human body energy understanding that takes time, focus, and technique to
develop. Though Ki can be randomly accessed by the untrained individual, to put
Ki to conscious use takes dedicated focus instigated by the practitioners who
hopes to master all levels of human energy understanding. It is for this reason
that Ki energy is so commonly misunderstood as few people actually take the
time to master is understanding.
Copyright © 1987
