Top 10 Pressure Points of the Middle Section

In any fight situation, possible body weapons include short jabs and strikes with elbows, knees, and hands. The key to winning any confrontation or street fight is to be aggressive and concentrate your attack on the opponent's vital points in order to end the fight as soon as possible.

One way to accomplish this is to focus on your opponent’s most vital areas, or pressure points. A body is separated into three main sections: high, middle and low. Each of these sections contains vital targets. The effects of striking these targets could be brutal. In this article, let's take a look at the pressure point of the Middle Section. The middle section extends from the shoulders to the area just above the hips. Most blows to vital pointsin this region are not fatal but could have serious, long-term complications that range from trauma to internal organs to spinal cord injuries. Areas for attack might include:

(1) Armpit. A large nerve lies close to the skin in each armpit. A blow to this nerve causes severe pain and partial paralysis. A knife inserted into the armpit is fatal as it severs a major artery leading from the heart.

(2) Spine. A blow to the spinal column could sever the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis or in death.

(3) Heart. A jolting blow to the heart could stun the opponent and allow time for follow-up or finishing techniques.

(4) Diaphragm. A blow to the lower front of the ribs could cause the diaphragm and the other muscles that control breathing to relax. This causes loss of breath and could result in unconsciousness due to respiratory failure.

(5) Kidneys. A powerful blow to the kidneys could induce shock and could possibly cause internal injury to these organs. A stab to the kidneys induces instant shock and could cause death from severe internal bleeding.

(6) Biceps. A strike to the biceps is most painful and renders the arm ineffective. The biceps is an especially good target when an opponent holds a weapon.

(7) Nipples. A large network of nerves passes near the skin at the nipples. A blow here could cause extreme pain and hemorrhage to the many blood vessels beneath.

(8) Abdomen below navel. A powerful blow to the area below the navel and above the groin could cause shock, unconsciousness, and internal bleeding.

(9) Back of hand. The backs of the hands are sensitive. Since the nerves pass over the bones in the hand, a strike to this area is intensely painful. The small bones on the back of the hand are easily broken and such a strike could also render the hand ineffective.

(10) Floating ribs. A blow to the floating ribs could easily fracture them because they are not attached to the rib cage. Fractured ribs on the right side could cause internal injury to the liver; fractured ribs on either side could possibly puncture or collapse a lung.

Effective striking with the weapons of the body to the opponent’s vital points is essential for a victorious outcome in a hand-to-hand struggle.