Principles of Kyusho Jitsu

The meridians and vessels

Yin and Yang polarities
Cycle of destruction
Diurnal cycle
Stances and methods of attack
Arm points
Leg points
Body points
Head points
Pinan Sandan
Bunkai

Kyusho is the study of the human body and its nervous system from an eastern
medicine perspective. Kyusho Jitsu is the study and application of Kyusho for
fighting.
The aim of Kuysho Jitsu (pressure point theory) is to attack the opponents nervous
and energy system to create pain, impede motor nerve function and to
overstimulate the brain.

Kyusho Jitsu should always be practised in the presence of an instructor. Kyusho

Jitsu is dangerous and can lead to permanent injuries. DO NOT apply Kyusho Jitsu to
anyone over the age of fifty or anyone with heart conditions.
What is a pressure point?

A pressure point is a place on the body where either nerves overlap or where a
nerve branches off or where a nerve ends. Pressure points are about the size of a
pin head, but can be activated if you are within half an inch from it. Pressure points
are used in conjunction with other techniques as a means to make them more
effective, they are not intended to be stand alone fighting systems.
Depending on the anatomy of the pressure point, it can be activated by one or more
methods:
Hit
Rub
Press

Principles of Kyusho Jitsu:

Attack along the meridian
Attack Yin and Yang
Attack in accordance with the Diurnal Cycle
Attack in the Cycle of Destruction
Use of Alarm Points

The meridians and vessels

According to Eastern medicine our body has an electromagnetic field that corresponds to our
nervous system. This field or energy is called Chi and it travels in pathways called meridians. Every
pressure point lies on one of these meridians and shares its attributes. The meridians are named
after the corresponding organ they are linked to. There are also vessels, which are pathways of
energy that act as a main supply line and interact with the 12 meridians. When the meridians are
attacked it also has an affect on the bodys nervous system, resulting in overstimulation of the brain
and pressure points having a more pronounced effect when simply manipulated.
The meridians are grouped into polarities and elements, so that we can systematically attack them
and predict the effect.

Yin and Yang polarity

Each meridian has a polarity, it is either Yin (negative) or Yang
(positive). Disrupting a meridian is more effective when attacking
meridians with alternating polarity. This is done by attacking a
positive meridian with a negative or alternating the meridians
attacked (attacking the lung meridian followed by attacking the
small intestine meridian).

The cycle of destruction and the cycle of creation

The two cycles represent the way the meridians interact with
each other. When we combine two different frequencies they
either amplify (creation), or become distorted (destruction).
When attacking meridians it is important to follow the cycle of
destruction; Fire melts Metal, Metal cuts Wood, Wood
penetrates Earth, Earth dams Water and Water quenches Fire.
This can be used by either attacking a meridian with another
in the cycle (striking metal with fire) or attacking meridians
within the cycle (attacking metal then wood).

The diurnal cycle is the direction of flow of our chi. Once the energy has flowed through a meridian it
continues on to the start of another. Meridians that flow away from the body are called centrifugal
and energy that flows towards the body are called centripetal. It is also good to note that there is
more energy in one meridian than all the others at any specific time.

The time period of heavier energy flow and the order in which the energy cycles through the
meridians is as follows:
Lung meridian
Large intestine meridian
Stomach meridian
Spleen meridian
Heart meridian
Small intestine meridian
Bladder meridian
Kidney meridian
Pericardium meridian
Triple Warmer meridian
(relates to the endocrine system)
Gall bladder meridian
Liver meridian

03:00 05:00
05:00 07:00
07:00 09:00
09:00 11:00
11:00 13:00
13:00 15:00
15:00 17:00
17:00 19:00
19:00 21:00
21:00 23:00
23:00 01:00
01:00 03:00

The diurnal cycle is used to maximize the disruption along a meridian. It can be applied by attacking a
meridian such as the lung meridian and following up by attacking the next meridian in the order of
flow, in this case the large intestine meridian. The attack to lung disrupts the large intestine meridian
making it more vulnerable to attack, giving us a greater affect from the pressure point. It can also be
used to create a stagnation of energy in one particular meridian to make it more vulnerable. Ie:
attacking the stomach meridian then the lung meridian crates a blockage which pools energy in the
large intestine meridian, making it sensitive to attack.

Methods of attack

Pressure points are more susceptible to specific types of striking. The angle of direction is paramount,
if you do not overstimulate by pressing the nerve ending or pushing two nerves into each other, you
will not get the effect. The way meridians should be attacked is grouped by the elements.

Fire
Metal
Wood
Earth
Water

Slap
Vibrate
Chop
Penetrate
Grasp

Slap the pressure point

Rub along the meridian
Strike the surface of the pressure point
Strike through the pressure point
Press the pressure point

Stances
Our energy is affected by the way we are grounded to the earth. It changes with the way we stand, sit
or lay on the ground. Here are the stances that are most effective against specific meridians:

Cat stance
Sitting stance (toes out)
Neutral stance
X stance
Walking Stance
Sitting stance (toes in)

Metal
Earth
Heart and small intestine meridians

Water
Pericardium and triple warmer meridians
Wood

METAL, YIN, 11 POINTS

METAL, YANG, 20 POINTS

EARTH, YANG, 45 POINTS

EARTH, YIN, 21 POINTS

FIRE, YIN, 9 POINTS

FIRE, YANG, 19 POINTS

WATER, YANG, 67 POINTS

WATER, YIN, 27 POINTS

FIRE, YIN, 9 POINTS

FIRE, YANG, 23 POINTS

WOOD, YANG, 44 POINTS

WOOD, YIN, 14 POINTS

YIN, 24 POINTS

YANG, 28 POINTS

Blue belts are required to memorize the following 31 pressure points along with their angle of attack,
their element and polarity.
Each point is named after the meridian it falls on and counted from the start of the meridian, ie. L-1 is
the first point on the lung meridian.

Extraordinary points are pressure points that have been found with new technologies. They have a
completely different naming convention. It is important to remember that they do fall on a meridian
and share the meridians attributes.

Naming convention for points on the 12 meridians and two vessels:

Lung meridian
Large intestine meridian
Stomach meridian
Spleen meridian
Heart meridian
Small intestine meridian
Bladder meridian
Kidney meridian
Pericardium meridian
Triple Warmer meridian
Gall bladder meridian
Liver meridian

L
LI
ST
SP
H
SI
B
K
P
TW
GB
LV

Conception vessel
Governing vessel

CV
GV

Location:
Radial on the anterior of the forearm, just below the crease of the elbow
Method of Attack:

Strike scooping towards the hand

Effect:
Head comes forwards and knees buckle
Element/Polarity:
Metal/Yin

Location:
Radial on the anterior of the forearm, halfway between the elbow and the wrist
Method of Attack:

Strike towards the hand

Effect:
Releases the grip of all fingers less the index finger, which tightens
Element/Polarity
Metal/Yin

Location:
Radial on the anterior of the forearm, just before the end of the radius bone
Method of Attack:
Press, rub or strike in towards the radial bone and hand
Effect:
Weakens the hand

Element/Polarity:
Metal/Yin

Location:
Ulnar on the anterior of the forearm, just below the crease of the wrist
Method of Attack:

Press in towards the posterior of the radius on a 45 degree angle

Effect:
Releases the wrist
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yin

Location:
This extra ordinary point lies on the heart meridian, it is found ulnar on the anterior of
the forearm, halfway between the wrist and the elbow
Method of Attack:
Strike this point up and in against the ulna bone on a 45 degree angle
Effect:
Release the wrist
Element/Polarity:

Fire/Yin

Location:
Radial of the posterior of the forearm, before the bend in the elbow
Method of Attack:

Strike or press in and towards the hand

Effect:
Causes the head to come forward and the arm to go numb, motor nerve point
Element/Polarity:
Metal/Yang

Location:
About an inch above the elbow on the back of the arm
Method of Attack:

Rub this point up and down along the arm

Effect:
Causes pain and the immediate relaxation of the shoulder and elbow
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yang

Location:
Found on the middle of the triceps
Method of Attack:

Strike against the bone

Effect:
Releases the shoulder
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yang

Location:
On the inside of the thigh in the inguinal crease
Method of Attack:

Strike in and downwards on a 45 degree angle

Effect:
Causes the body to bend forward
Element/Polarity:
Wood/Yin, Earth/Yin

Location:
Where the middle finger reaches on the outside of the thigh with relaxed shoulders
Method of Attack:

Strike straight through to the inside of the thigh

Effect:
Causes the leg to cramp and the body to drop
Element/Polarity:
Wood/Yang

Location:
Found on the middle of the inner thigh, halfway between the knee and the groin
Method of Attack:

Strike in a line that would penetrate through the outside of the thigh
Effect:
Causes the leg to buckle
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yin

Location:
About 2 inches above the top inside corner of the kneecap
Method of Attack:

This point is struck diagonally to the bottom outside corner of the knee
Effect:
Knocks the opponent down, a hard enough strike will dislocate the knee
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yin

Location:
Two inches below the kneecap on the inner aspect of the knee
Method of Attack:

Strike diagonally upward through to the opposite corner of the kneecap

Effect:
Will knock the opponent to the ground, or dislocate the knee with enough force
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yin

Location:
Three inches above the kneecap on the outside of the thigh
Method of Attack:

Strike downward to the opposite corner of the kneecap

Effect:
Will knock the opponent to the ground, or dislocate the knee with enough force
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yang

Location:
This extraordinary point lies on the stomach meridian, three inches below the knee on
the outside of the shin
Method of Attack:
Strike diagonally upwards to the opposite corner of the kneecap
Effect:
Will knock the opponent to the ground, or dislocate the knee with enough force
Element/Polarity:

Earth/Yang

Location:
Three inches above the prominent bone on the inside of the ankle
Method of Attack:

Press or strike through and upwards

Effect:
Collapses the ankle
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yin

Location:
Located in the depression where the fourth and fifth metatarsal meet the ankle
Method of Attack:

Press or strike down and twisting to the outside of the foot

Effect:
Causes pain
Element/Polarity:
Wood/Yang

Location:
Behind the collar-bone directly above the nipple
Method of Attack:

Press downwards behind the collar-bone

Effect:
Causes pain and collapses the legs
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yang

Location:
Where the chest and shoulder meet, halfway between the armpit and the top of the
shoulder
Method of Attack:
Strike down and inwards
Effect:
Disrupts the respiratory system
Element/Polarity:

Metal/Yin

Location:
Directly on the opponents side, found in the seventh intercostal space
Method of Attack:

Strike through to the opposite side of the body

Effect:
Causes the body to bend sideways and intense pain
Element/Polarity:
Earth/Yin

Location:
Found on the costal cartilage between the sixth and eighth rib
Method of Attack:

Strike diagonally upwards into the ribs

Effect:
Causes the body to bend forward
Element/Polarity:
Wood/Yin, Wood/Yang

Location:
At the end of the eleventh rib
Method of Attack:

Strike diagonally upwards to the opposite shoulder

Effect:
Causes the knees to bend and the body to bend forwards
Element/Polarity:
Wood/Yin

Location:
Found one to four inches below the belly button
Method of Attack:

Strike either diagonally upwards or downwards

Effect:
Folds and incapacitates the opponent
Element/Polarity:
Yin

Location:
Found on the depression between the end of the nose and the upper lip
Method of Attack:

Rub laterally
Effect:
Causes intense pain
Element/Polarity:
Yang

Location:
This point is found on the outside edge of the eyebrow in the depression of the temple
Method of Attack:

Strike this point from the side to the opponents front

Effect:
Causes dizziness and will break the orbital bone
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yang

Location:
An area from one inch above the centreline of the eyebrow, to the hairline to one inch
towards the opponents side
Method of Attack:
Strike with a palm twisting to the outside
Effect:
Causes motor impairment, disorientation or unconsciousness.
Element/Polarity:

Wood/Yang

Location:
Found by tracing a line from the outside edge of the eye down to the bottom of the jaw
Method of Attack:

Strike towards the opposite corner at the back of the head, spinning through to the
outside
Effect:
Causing disorientation, loss of motor control or loss of consciousness
Element/Polarity:

Earth/Yang

Location:
Behind the jaw in the depression below the ear
Method of Attack:

Strike or press towards the opposite corner towards the face

Effect:
Causes pain and releases the neck
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yang

Location:
Found centred of the side of the neck
Method of Attack:

Strike through and towards the front of the body

Effect:
Causes intense pain
Element/Polarity:
Fire/Yang

Location:
Where the neck rises from the body, in the hollow where the two muscles meet
Method of Attack:

Strike diagonally downwards

Effect:
Weakens the legs and causes uncontrollable coughing
Element/Polarity:
Metal/Yang

Location:
Found directly below the ear on the side of the neck
Method of Attack:

Strike or press to the opposite bilateral pair

Effect:
Causes pain and releases the neck
Element/Polarity:
Metal/Yang

Pinan Kata
The Pinan katas are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many martial art styles as a foundation to
more advanced forms. The Pinan katas originated in Okinawa and were developed by Anko Itosu, who
introduced Karate into the Okinawan education system in 1901. Pinan means peaceful mind. When
Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Japan, he renamed the kata to Heian, which is the Japanese
pronunciation.
In certain styles Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan are inverted believing Pinan Nidan to be the easier, more
beginner-friendly kata.
The five Pinan kata are:
Pinan Shodan
Pinan Nidan
Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yondan
Pinan Godan
*Shodan means first level, Nidan means second level and so on.

Anko Itosu

Opening:
Feet together, big toes
touching
Left hand over right, lining up
TW-4 with H-8
Fingertips lined up, thumbs
tucked into side of hands

Hands slide down, toes slide

outwards

Hands retract

Press fists to waist level with

dynamic tension

1:
Turn left 90, Cat Stance

Reverse Middle Block

2a:

Step forwards, feet together

Right hand Middle Block, left
hand Low Block

2b:

Left hand Middle Block, right

hand Low Block

3:
Turn right 180, Cat Stance

Reverse Middle Block

4a:

Left hand Middle Block, right

hand Low Block

4b:

Right hand Middle Block, left

hand Low Block

5:
Turn left 90, Cat Stance

Reverse Middle Block

6:
Step forward, Walking
Stance
Fingertip Middle Straight
Thrust

7a:

Shift into Rooted Stance

Right hand Parry

7b:
Turn left 180, Sitting Stance

Hammer-fist Side Strike

8:
Step forward, Walking
Stance
Middle Punch, Kiai

9:

Turn left 180, left foot moves

in, feet together
Superman Block

10:
Right foot steps forward,
Sitting Stance
Superman Block

11:
Hammer-fist Side Strike

12:

Superman Block

13:
Left foot steps forward,
Sitting Stance
Superman Block

14:
Hammer-fist Side Strike

15:

Superman Block

16:
Right foot steps forward,
Sitting Stance
Superman Block

17:
Hammer-fist Side Strike

18:

Superman Block

19:
Left leg step forwards,
Walking Stance
Middle Punch, Kiai

20a:
Right leg steps forwards and
across
Hands retract

21b:

Turn left 180, feet shoulder

width apart
Right hand Hooking Punch

22:
Left hand Hooking Punch

Closing:
Feet together, big toes
touching
Left hand over right, lining up
TW-4 with H-8
Fingertips lined up, thumbs
tucked into side of hands

Hands slide down, toes slide

outwards

Bunkai, or pattern interpretation, is an essential part of traditional martial arts. It is the creation
of self-defence techniques and drills from the movements we practice. Some schools have rigid
explanations behind the techniques, others are flexible and promote the creation of new
techniques. The number of techniques that can be derived from a pattern are all but limitless.
Following the principles of Hapkido Students are encouraged to apply the mechanics they have
learned to develop their own interpretations. Interpretations are only limited by ones ability,
preferences and effectiveness. Blue belts are required to produce Bunkai from the first two
Pinan Kata: Pinan Shodan and Pinan Nidan.

Below is an example of Bunkai from the first two movements of Pinan Sandan:

From an across hand grab

Middle block to release the grab

Press the opponents lead arm down,

Back-fist Front Strike to the face

Low block, striking ST-25 (alarm point for

LI), Back-fist Front Strike to LI-20