WARNING

The information and techniques presented herein are extremely dangerous and could result
in serious injury or death. The author, publisher, and distributors of this book disclaim any
liability from any damage or injuries of any type that a reader or user of information
contained within this book may incur from the use of said information. This book is for
academic study only.
by
N. Mashiro, Ph.D.
Foreword …………………………….. 7
Introduction ………………………….. 9
Vital Points of the Head ………………… 13
Vital Points of the Neck and Throat ………. 25
Vital Points of the Upper Trunk ………….. 41
Vital Points of the Lower Trunk ………….. 49
Vital Points of the Hand and Arm ………… 57
Vital Points of the Leg and Foot …………. 73
Vital Points of Pistol Shooting …………… 83
Further Reading ………………………. 91
The title Black Medicine is a word play on “black magic.” Just as white magic does good,
and black magic specializes in evil, there is a white medicine which cures and a black kind
of medical and anatomical knowledge that is used to produce injuries and death. Black
medicine is the study of the “vital points” of human anatomy for the purpose of disrupting
the structure and physiology of the body in the most rapid and deadly manner possible.
This manual is devoted to the discussion of one hundred and seventy parts of the human
body where a minimum amount of force will produce a maximum impact on a person’s
ability to fight. The study of these vital points is basic to all branches of the martial arts.
This particular discussion is oriented toward the karate or self-defense student, the police
officer, and the military combat specialist to whom a thorough grounding in the details of
human anatomy may make a life-or-death difference someday.
There are several reasons for studying the vital points of the body. Self-defense students,
because they expect to use their skills only against high odds (or not at all), need every
advantage they can get. Karateists, with their highly developed power and accuracy, can
obtain amazing results by utilizing the vital points as targets and therefore have a
responsibility to be familiar with these weak points of the body if only to avoid injuring
their friends during practice sessions. Law officers have a serious responsibility to study
the vital points carefully because such knowledge makes a small amount of force go a
long way, minimizing cries of “police brutality” and increasing an officer’s chances of
survival in the street. Members of the armed forces, remembering some of the lessons of
Viet Nam, study the vital areas as a kind of close-quarters insurance. After all, the M-16
doesn’t always fire when you want it to….
There will be some people who will suggest that the macabre material in this manual
should not be made public because of the use to which is might be put by criminals. My
reply is that they already know … from cruel and gruesome experience. It is the rest of us
who are morally restrained from acquiring firsthand knowledge who need instructions. To
those of you who read this manual with a sense of shock, horror, and rising nausea I
dedicate this book. Someday it may save one of your lives.
N. Mashiro
May 1978
Power of blows: A few words of introduction are in order, particularly for those readers
who are not very familiar with the martial arts. Although many of the vital points listed in
this manual would obviously be effective when attacked by anyone, there are others which
only a highly trained martial artist can use. The reader will note that occasionally a vital
point is designated for “an extremely powerful blow.” This refers to the punch, chop or
kick of a black belt who can break three one-inch boards with a punch, or crack a brick
with the side of his hand. The author has occasionally amused his friends by neatly slicing
coconuts in two with the “knife edge” of his hand, and he has no doubts about what would
happen if he applied the same blow to the side of someone’s head. If you do not have the
ability to deliver such attacks you should either restrict yourself to the targets which
require less power or learn to use hand-held weapons.
Speed of blows: A second factor which seems almost incredible to those not involved in
the martial arts is the speed with which blows can be delivered by a trained fighter. Even a
mediocre karateist can stand with his hands at his sides and without warning deliver an
incapacitating punch to his opponent’s groin in 1/25 of a second. Flurries of punches to the
face and body can be generated at upwards of six punches per second. There are even a
few gifted individuals who can get off six kicks in one second!
Hand-held weapons: The weapons referred to at various places within the text are the
pistol, hatchet, machete, bowie knife, stilletto, bayonet, ice pick, nightstick and yawara
stick. Most of these are self-explanatory. The bayonet is presumed to be fixed on the end
of a rifle. The yawara stick, for the uninitiated, is a short rod about the size of a ballpoint
pen which is clenched in the fist with both ends protruding.
General comments: Basically, the goal of attacking the vital points is to make the
opponent stop what he is doing. You attack his vital points to force him to stop trying to
injure you - stop choking you - stop holding you - stop raping you - or stop hurting
someone else. There are three general ways to accomplish this:
(1) Make him lose his concentration. If he stops thinking about hitting you he will stop
trying to hit you.
(2) Interfere with his control over his body. If he has a bruised nerve in his arm and cannot
forma fist, he can’t hit you.
(3) Destroy the integrity of his body. If his forearm is broken, he won’t try to hit you
whether he can form a fist or not!
If the thing the enemy must stop doing is “stop living,” which will be the case for some
readers, there are again three ways to accomplish the end:
(1) Destroy the central nervous system. Damage to the brain, brain stem, or spinal cord is
usually fatal and always incapacitating.
(2) Destroy or interfere with circulation. Draining the circulatory system of blood is an
indirect attack on the brain, as is closing off the carotid arteries. Injuring the heart is
another approach.
(3) Interfere with breathing. Either strangulation or injury to the lungs, filling them with
blood, is effective.
The reader should be aware that the terms “fatal” and “lethal” have a special meaning in
some military manuals. In the military context a knock-out blow is “fatal” because it
makes the enemy helpless under circumstances where the victor could not afford to show
any mercy. Under such circumstances, the difference between being helpless and being
dead is just a matter of seconds. In this manual these words are employed in their
conventional meanings.
One of the most important lessons which a study of the vital areas reveals is that there are
vulnerable targets almost everywhere on the body. If any part of your opponent is close
enough to strike, you can hurt him, (Figure 1).
This discussion is oriented toward the adult male body. The targets are 99% similar in the
female. The difference lies in that the breasts are much more sensitive to injury in the
female, and of course a woman has no testicles. In addition, the bones of the female are
smaller and lighter than those of the male, and are easier to break.
Figure 1
The diagrams were prepared under the assumption that the reader would not need any help
finding his eyeball, nose, lip, fingers, testicles, etc. Therefore, most of the illustrations
concentrate on the vital points which are harder to locate. In the event that both the text
and the illustrations fail to convey a clear description of the location of the target, the
reader is advised to consult a standard medical anatomy text such as Gray’s Anatomy.
Figure 1 is a general diagram of all the vital points covered by this manual. By carefully
reading the description in each paragraph of the text, you should have no difficulty
locating the appropriate point on the diagram. Figure 1 has been left without identifying
labels partly for clarity, and partly so that copies of the diagram may be used as
examination sheets in self-defense and karate classes.
Notice that although the concentration of vital points in the head and neck Is very high, the
overall distribution is fairly even throughout the body. It Is Important to know this,
because it means that if any part of the opponent Is within reach, you can hurt him.
FIGURE 1
Hair: There are several releases and throws which depend on tearing or pulling at an
opponent’s hair. The pain can be used as a distraction, or a grip on the hair may be used to
control the motion of the head. An example would be to grasp the opponent’s hair with
both hands and pull his head down sharply into your rising knee.
Bregma: The point near the top of the skull where the frontal and parietal bones meet. A
violent, hammer-like blow from a fist dislocates the frontal bone, causing severe damage
to the motor areas of the brain which lie immediately beneath. There is a ranger trick
involving hitting a sentry over the head with his own helmet which uses this striking point,
(Figure 2).
Coronal suture: The posterior edge of the frontal bone, passing from the temples
diagonally up to the bregma; the joint between the frontal bone and each parietal bone.
Strictly speaking this includes the bregma, and the mechanism of injury is much the same,
except that the lateral aspects of the coronal suture are vulnerable to a blow from the side
such as a karate chop or a blow from a nightstick, (Figure 2).
Temporal bone: The side of the skull above and around the ear is fairly thick and not a
very good target. Most people have an instinctive tendency to strike this region, however,
if they are called on to use a club or nightstick. There is some evidence that this is an
innate behavior pattern over a million years old, and self-defense students have to learn to
overcome the impulse. There are much better places to apply a nightstick if necessary. On
the other hand, a hatchet can make quite an impression on the temporal bone, (Figure 2).
Sphenoid bone: The sphenoid bone is a small patch of bone on the side of the head about
an inch back from the eye. A relatively thin bone, it is the only bone of the brain case
which is concave inward, making it structurally weak. A potentially lethal target, the
sphenoid bone can be attacked by a variety of blows, and is very vulnerable to a yawara
stick or ice pick, (Figures 2 and 3).
Temporal artery: A knife slash to the side of the head over the sphenoid bone can sever the
temporal artery. This is a serious injury if the bleeding is not attended to within a minute
or so. The copious amount of blood spurting from the wound and running down the
opponent’s face may unnerve him completely, especially if the blood runs into his eyes.
Figure 2
Figure 2 is a diagram of the head, throat, and part of the upper shoulder. The location of
the letters on the drawing represents the location of the point to strike. The reader should
realize that many structures have been left out of this diagram for purposes of clarity,
particularly in the region of the throat.
a. Bregma
b. Coronal suture
c. Temporal bone (the large bone above it is the parietal bone)
d. Sphenoid bone
e. Orbital bones (the entire area around the eye)
f. Glabella
g. Nasal bones
h. Nose
i. Philtrum (or intermaxillary suture)
J. Mouth (just below the lower gum line)
k. Mandible
1. Point of chin
m. Occipital bone
n. Vertebral artery (note rings of bone)
o. Carotid sinus (in the carotid artery. Note the position of this point relative to the angle
of the jaw and the level of the thyroid cartilage. The vagus nerve and the jugular vein run
parallel to this artery, between it and the skin.)
p. Thyroid cartilage
q. Trachea
r. 3rd intervertebral space
s. Brachial plexus
t. Subclavian artery (behind collar bone)
FIGURE 2
Orbital bones: The circular ridge of bone around the eye socket. A solid punch to these
bones will communicate its force directly to the frontal lobes of the brain. Loss of
consciousness can result, (Figure 2).
Eyeball: The layer of bone behind the eyeball which separates the eye from the brain is
paper-thin, and the brain case can be penetrated at this point by a knife, pencil, or even
stiffened fingers. In general, any finger poke or foreign substance in the eye will serve to
distract and temporarily blind one’s opponent at the very least. Permanent blindness is also
quite possible, (Figures 4 and 5).
Glabella: This is the lethal striking point which is frequently mis-identified as “the bridge
of the nose.” The correct target is about half an inch above the bridge of the nose, directly
between the eyebrows. A heavy blow here communicates directly to the frontal lobes of
the brain, causing concussion, unconsciousness and possibly death. Originally, this target
was used only by skilled karate fighters due to the amount of power required to be
effective, but modern military training manuals simply suggest delivering the blow with
the butt of a rifle. Times have changed, (Figure 2).
Bridge of the nose: The thin nasal bones, directly between the eyes, can be easily shattered
by a punch, chop or glancing club blow. It is not a serious injury, but can be very painful
and releases copious amounts of blood which can interfere with breathing. It can also
produce permanent disfigurement, (Figure 2).
Nose: The nose is heavily loaded with nerves, due to its sensory function. A light slap to
the nose will cause no serious damage but will produce stunning pain, and temporary
blindness due to watering of the eyes. The nose is a particularly good target because of its
prominence. It can be struck equally well from five directions (left, right, above, below,
straight in), and its position in the center of the face makes it a good target for a blow
delivered with the back of the head against an opponent who is trying to pin one’s arms
from behind, (Figure 2).
Nostrils: Jamming your finger up to the second knuckle into your opponent’s nostril is a
sure way to distract him and make him let go of you. For maximum effect bend your
finger into a hook before yanking it back out! (Figures 2 and 5).

Figure 3
The yawara stick strike to the sphenoid bone (temple). Almost any small rod-shaped
object can be used as a yawara stick.

Figure 4
An extremely effective attack is to spray deodorant, insecticide, oven cleaner, hair spray or
paint into an opponent’s eyes, blinding him.
Philtrum or Intermaxillary suture: This is the upper lip just above the gum line, or about
one quarter inch below the nose. A blow at this point commonly results in broken upper
teeth, possibly some disruption of the nasal bones, and concussion to the brain since the
upper jaw bones (maxilla) are firmly attached to the brain case. Less frequently a powerful
karate punch to this point can generate shearing forces strong enough to fracture the dens,
a small finger of bone which helps keeps the skull in place on top of the vertebral column.
Trauma to the brain stem causes instant death, (Figure 2).
Lower lip: By twisting the lower lip between the thumb and index finger, twisting it
through a half turn and pulling roughly you can make a drunk follow you anywhere.
(Make sure he’s drunk first!)
Mouth: Taken here to mean the point in the center of the mandible about one half inch
below the lower lip (i.e., the gum line of the lower incisors). A blow here will cut the lip
against the teeth or break off the lower teeth altogether, with the shock of impact being
carried to the balancing organs in the inner ear through the mandible itself. Fossil evidence
in vertebrate paleontology shows that the three tiny bones of the ear mechanism were once
part of the mandible, hence the close relationship between the jaw and the ear. The shock
to the ear disrupts balance and results in disorientation, dizziness, or unconsciousness,
(Figure 2).
Mandible or Jaw: The lower edge of the jaw, about two inches from the point of the chin.
Depending on the direction and force of the blow, the jaw may absorb the shock itself by
dislocating or fracturing, or it may communicate the shock upwards through the teeth to
the brain. The jaws lends itself to being attacked from below, as in the case of an uppercut,
but its shape and size make it one of the most resistant bones in the body. A punch to the
jaw always carries with it the possibility of injury to the attacker’s fist, (Figures 2 and 6).
Point of chin: The point of the chin is vulnerable to a rising palm-heel attack or a rising
elbow blow, either of which can be powerful enough to cause whiplash injury to the neck.
It is also possible to dislocate the skull from the top of the spinal column, causing instant
death, (Figure 2).

Figure 5
A finger jammed into a nostril is very painful. As the photo shows, this attack can easily
be an attack on the eyes at the same time. A person subjected to this attack immediately
tries to break away.

Figure 6
The heel-kick to the rapist’s jaw illustrated here is an extremely powerful attack which
involves no risk of injury to the woman. Had she tried to punch him in the face she might
easily have broken her hand or wrist in the process.
Occipital bone (cerebellum): The attack point is in the center of the back of the head at the
point where the trapezius muscles attach to the occipital bone (where you can feel the
dome of the skull disappearing into the neck muscles). A blow to this area will cause
concussion to the cerebellum, which is the portion of the brain concerned with the
coordination of muscular movements and posture. This is a favorite target of assassins
who specialize in hatchet work, (Figure 2).
Tympanum or Eardrum: The ear contains a high concentration of sensory nerves
associated with hearing and balance. Striking the ear with a cupped hand sends a shock
wave down the ear canal which ruptures the tympanum and shocks the delicate inner ear
mechanisms, producing severe pain, dizziness, or unconsciousness. A pencil, ice pick or
stilletto rammed into the ear has an even more dramatic effect.
Ear lobe: Under certain circumstances, the ear lobe can be seized in the teeth and even
torn off,severely distracting the opponent. Women can use this technique to dissuade a
drunk from amorous advances, (Figure 7).

Figure 7
When a woman finds herself in an unwelcome embrace it is usually difficult for her to
break free but very easy to get closer. Clamping on to the masher’s ear with her teeth turns
the tables … he then tries to push her away!
Facial nerve: The facial or seventh cranial nerve emerges from the skull just beneath the
ear canal, from which position it branches out to supply the muscles of the face which
control facial expressions. A knuckle blow to the soft spot immediately beneath the ear
will bruise this nerve, producing startlingly severe pain and possibly some disorientation
due to the shock to the inner ear. This point is frequently used as a “releaser,” in that a
coordinated attack on the left and right facial nerves will disconcert a masher or strangler
sufficiently to allow his victim to escape. A gouge at this point with a yawara stick is very
effective, (Figure 8).
Vertebral artery: There is a rare but always fatal injury which can accompany a blow to the
side of the neck, especially if the blow lands just below the mastoid process of the skull,
below and behind the ear. The vertebral artery, an important supplier of the brain, runs up
the side of the neck through rings of bone attached to the cervical vertebrae. If struck in
exactly the right way, this artery can be severed where it passes through a bone ring. The
result is immediate unconsciousness followed by certain death. Surgical aid cannot come
in time to prevent the death of the parts of the brain supplied by this artery, (Figure 2).
Hypoglossal nerve: This cranial nerve lies just inside the lower edge of the mandible
slightly forward of the angle of the jaw. A sharp jab under the jaw at this point (as with
stiffened fingers or yawara stick) will cause considerable pain.
Sternocleidomastoid muscle and the Accessory nerve: The accessory nerve is the eleventh
cranial nerve, which innervates the sternocleidomastoid muscle and trapezius muscles.
The first is the muscle which extends from the mastoid process behind the ear down to the
clavicle and the sternum; the second is the muscle running between the top of the shoulder
and the vertebrae of the neck which is used in shrugging the shoulders. A jab or gouge
which catches the sternocleidomastoid about halfway down its length (about an inch
below the angle of the jaw), will bruise both the muscle and accessory nerve, resulting in
pain and partial temporary paralysis of the neck and shoulders.
Figure 8
Car keys can be used to attack the facial nerve where it lies against the back of the
jawbone.
Figure 9
The jugular vein and the carotid artery are vulnerable to knife attack from about the
position illustrated up to the level of the jaw. The slash should be about one and one-half
inches deep to catch both vessels.
Jugular vein and the Carotid artery: A knife slash or saber cut across the side of the neck
directly below the angle of the jaw will sever the jugular vein and, if deep enough, the
carotid artery as well.
Fairbairn’s timetable indicates unconsciousness within five seconds, and “death” in twelve
seconds for this injury. This requires some qualification. Cutting off the blood supply to
the brain for twelve seconds will not produce death or even brain injury, as every serious
judo student knows. Brain deterioration requires one and one-half minutes or more of
oxygen deprivation. Fairbairn’s twelve second figure may indicatethat after that period of
time the victim has lost too much blood to be able to recover. If any first aid is to be
applied it must come before this time limit, (Figures 9 and 10).
Carotid sinus and Vagus nerve: This is one of the most interesting of the karate striking
points because of the sophistication of the effect which a light blow to this area can have.
Since the brain is probably the most delicate organ in the body, and since it requires a
constant and uniform flow of blood in order to function properly, the body has developed
extraordinary safeguards to insure that the flow of blood to the brain is not interrupted.
Similarly, the blood pressure to the brain must not be allowed to rise to too high a level
because of the danger of cerebral hemorrhage. To maintain this status quo there have
developed special nerve cells in the carotid artery called baroreceptors whose sole
function is to monitor the blood pressure in this important artery. If the pressure suddenly
rises to a high level, these baroreceptors respond by sending immediate signals to the
central nervous system. Within a fraction of a second the central nervous system has acted
in turn to decrease blood pressure in the body by causing four things to happen:
(1) The heart immediately slows down.
(2) With each beat the heart is able to pump out less blood.
(3) The artereolar smooth muscle relaxes, which greatly increases the volume of the
arterial system, drawing blood away from the head.
(4) Venous dilation, which increases the volume of the venous system, greatly decreases
the amount of blood which can get back to the heart.
The net result is an almost instantaneous four-way reaction to decrease the flow of blood
to the brain. This is the reason that the side of the neck is such an effective striking point,
because shock to the baroreceptors forces the central nervous system to react (mistakenly)
as if the blood pressure in the head had suddenly risen to a dangerously high level. The
central nervous system responds with a drastic drop in blood pressure, and within a second
or two the blood supply to the brain is cut off completely. Fainting is immediate and
unavoidable, and yet the helpless victim has actually suffered no more than having a
slightly bruised neck.
Figure 10
This is a reproduction of Captain W. E. Fairbairn’s table of arterial targets for knife
fighting as it appears in his combat manual, Get Tough!The source of Fairbairn’s
information is not clear, and the meaning of the times listed under the “Death” column
apparently stand for the amount of time that can pass before the victim has lost too much
blood to be able to recover. Death follows within minutes, much less rapidly than
indicated in the table. The “Loss of Consciousness” figures seem quite reasonable,
however.
Figure 11
The blow to the bifurcation of the carotid artery is easy to apply and produces fainting,
dizziness or disorientation without permanent injury.
Figure 12
The thyroid cartilage can be crushed by a strong grip or by any of a variety of blows. Light
pressure is extremely painful, and heavier pressure is extremely dangerous.
The vagus nerve, which runs beside the carotid artery at this point, is also involved in this
reaction as it controls or affects the function of the pharynx, larynx, bronchi, lungs, heart,
esophagus, stomach, intestines and kidneys. The blow momentarily disrupts control of all
these organs at once, (Figures 2 and 11).
Thyroid cartilage: The thyroid cartilage can be crushed by a relatively light blow, after
which the resulting hemorrhage swells the soft tissue of the throat until the windpipe
swells shut and the victim dies of suffocation. Only immediate medical aid can prevent a
horrible death in this case, (Figures 2 and 12).
Jugular notch: This is the “soft spot” in the front of the neck just above the manubrium. At
this point the trachea is exposed to attack, being covered only by the skin, with no
protective bones or muscles. A finger poke here will result in pain; a more powerful attack
can crush the trachial cartilages and result in death by strangulation. A jab by a knife or
bayonet into this spot spills blood into the trachea, which due to a reflex seizure makes it
impossible for the victim to breathe. He chokes to death on his own blood, (Figures 2 and
13).
Third intervertebral space: The striking point is the center of the back of the neck where
the column of vertebrae is least supported by surrounding tissues and is therefore weakest.
A blow to this region produces severe trauma to the spinal cord, resulting in
unconsciousness or death. TV heroes make free use of the chop to the back of the neck to
knock out the bad guys, but in real life the technique is frequently fatal, and is never
harmless. This spot is another hatchet or machete target, (Figures 2, 14 and 16).
Seven cervical vertebra: This is the last vertebra of the neck, resting immediately on top of
the first thoracic vertebra. The first thoracic vertebra is braced into position by the first
pair of ribs and by the muscles of the shoulder girdle, while the seventh cervical vertebra
is not particularly braced in any way. For this reason the spinal cord may be attacked
relatively easily at this point because the immobility of the first thoracic vertebra
predisposes the system to a shearing injury between the two vertebrae. The seventh
cervical vertebra also possesses an unusually long dorsal spine, which is vulnerable to
painful fracture. This isthe part of the neck under attack during a violent application of a
Full Nelson hold, but is best attacked by a sharp, hammer-like blow of the fist, (Figure
16).
Figure 13
The three-finger strike to the throat. The tracheal cartilages lie just beneath the middle
finger. (The index and ring fingers help locate the target in the dark.)
Figure 14
The blow to the third cervical vertebra administered to the back of a sentry’s neck by the
butt of a rifle.
Figure 15
Figure 15 is a diagram of the vital points of the rib cage. The ribs are numbered downward
from the top. White areas represent bone, while striated areas represent bands of elastic
cartilage.
a. Manubrium
b. Sternal angle
c. Body of the sternum
d. Intercostal spaces (knife thrust to heart)
e. Xiphoid process
f. 5th and 6th ribs
g. 4th intercostal space
h. 7th intercostal space (costal cartilages)
I. Floating ribs
j. 1st lumbar vertebra

FIGURE 15
Figure 16
The diagram is of the entire spinal column as viewed from the left side of the body.
a. 3rd intervertebral space
b. 7th cervical vertebra
c. 1st thoracic vertebra
d. 5th thoracic vertebra
e. Area occupied by the rib cage, shown here for reference
f. 1st lumbar vertebra
g. 5th (last) lumbar vertebra
h. Sacrum
i. Coccyx (tailbone)

FIGCRE 16
Brachial plexus: This is beneath the muscle reaching from the top of the shoulder up to the
vertebrae of the neck. A downward blow here can inhibit the muscles of the neck, shoulder
and arm, severely limiting the opponent’s ability to fight. In addition, a man can be forced
to release a hold by pinching and gouging deep beneath this muscle with the thumb and
fingers. Note: One should not expect the spectacular results obtained by Star Trek’s Mr.
Spock, (Figures 2 and 17).
Subclavian artery: A stilletto forced downward into the top of the shoulder in the soft spot
behind the collarbone will sever the subclavian artery. The victim bleeds to death in
seconds. This is a very difficult area to reach with a knife because it involves holding the
weapon above the victim’s shoulder and stabbing downward, an approach not widely
endorsed by knife wielders, (Figure 2).
Clavicle or Collar bone: This is the prominent horizontal bone in the front of each
shoulder. A heavy fist blow or sharp tap with a nightstack can snap it in two, effectively
destroying the opponent’s ability to fight with his hands, and in most cases completely
putting him out of the fight. The jagged ends of the fracture may even be driven backward
to penetrate the subclavian artery, which lies just behind the bone. Damage to this artery
can be fatal, depending on the nature of the internal wounds.
Sternal angle: This is the point where the manubrium and the body of the sternum come
together, about two inches below where the collar bones meet at the base of the throat. It is
a weak point in the sternum, and if attacked with a powerful blow to the sternal “shield”
over the heart, bronchus, lungs and thoracic nerves can be broken, producing pain and
shock to the circulatory and respiratory systems. This crushing of the chest should produce
unconsciousness at the very least and can be fatal. This injury is the reason automobiles
are now supplied with collapsible steering columns to avoid chest damage in collisions,
(Figure 15).
Intercostal spaces: There are four intercostal spaces next to the body of the sternum
through which a stilletto point can be inserted into the heart. These are below the third,
fourth and fifth rib on the left side, and below the fourth rib on the right. The blade should
be angled in toward the midline of the body and jerked back and forth for maximum
effect, (Figure 15).
Figure 17
A very deep pinch into the trapezius muscle can bruise the bracial plexus, temporarily
paralyzing the arms and shoulders. It is usually used as a release.
Xiphoid process: A finger-like tab of cartilage hanging off the lowermost edge of the
sternum. This is the insertion of the rectus abdominus muscle on the sternum. A powerful
karate blow which strikes the xiphoid process while traveling upward at an angle toward
the heart causes severe bruising to the liver, stomach and heart, resulting in
unconsciousness or even death. This is also another knife route to the heart, (Figure 15).
Fifth and Sixth Ribs: The target area is about one inch below the nipple on either side. A
powerful punch or a sharp kick at this point will breach the rib cage and inflict injuries on
the lungs. This is the point where the fifth and sixth ribs articulate with the costal
cartilages, the articulation being at the very tip of the bony part of the rib. Hence a blow at
this point exerts maximum leverage against the ribs, fracturing them relatively easily,
(Figure 15).
Sympathetic trunk: The striking point is the head of the third rib, right between the spine
and the top of the shoulder blade. A powerful blow here will dislocate the rib, forcing it
into the chest cavity. This tears the thick bundle of sympathetic nerves which lie next to
the spine, and the rib may penetrate a lung. The result is a disruption of the activity of the
heart and lungs and agonizing pain, to say the least, (Figure 18).
Fifth and Sixth Thoracic vertebrae: This striking point is squarely in the center of the
back, at about the level of the lower ends of the shoulder blades. The spinal cord, and
indirectly, the thoracic organs are under attack. This area is frequently attacked by a blow
from a rifle butt used to stun or kill a sentry, (Figures 16 and 19).
Side of chest: The target area is the side of the rib cage just below the armpit, at about the
same level as the fourth intercostal space. There is no particularly weak structure here, but
a very powerful attack will break and dislocate the ribs, possibly driving them into the
lungs. Karate blows directed to this point are almost exclusively kicks, which can be
slipped in when the opponent raises his arm to ward off a high-level hand technique,
(Figures 15 and 20).
Figure 18
Figure 18 is a diagrammatic cross section of the spine at the level of the third rib. The
striking point is shown by the black arrow. Struck forcefully from behind, the rib tears
away from the vertebra (white arrow) and into the chest cavity. In the course of this, the
rib head severs a spinal nerve, and damages the sympathetic nerve trunk.
a. Thoracic vertebra
b. Spinal cord
c. Spinal ganglion
d. Sympathetic nerve truck (a cord of nerve tissue which runs down the length of the
backbone, seen here in cross section.)
e. Rib
00 d. CL .~ :L
Figure 19
A potentially lethal blow to the spine (5th and 6th thoracic vertebrae) administered with
the butt of a nightstick.
Figure 20
The kick to the side of the chest can be slipped in under a raised arm, jarring the thoracic
organs and bruising several important nerves in the armpit.
Celiac (solar) plexus: The soft spot just below the stomach. A relatively light blow to this
area will shock the diaphragm, momentarily paralyzing it, which makes breathing
difficult. Pain and giddiness result, especially in an individual who has been exercising
heavily and therefore is breathing hard. A powerful blow directed straight in (rather than
upward as in the case of the xiphoid process) can injure portions of the liver and stomach,
producing internal bleeding, shock to some of the thoracic ganglia and unconsciousness.
This striking area is not protected by either bone or muscle which makes it singularly
vulnerable even to finger pokes. The end of a nightstick can produce a very dramatic
effect here, (Figure 21).
Seventh intercostal space (liver): About four inches to the right of the solar plexus. The
target area is the combined costal cartilages of the seventh, eighth, nineth and tenth ribs
above the liver. Trauma to the liver can cause internal bleeding and possible fatal long-
term metabolic dysfunction. A blow at this point will also paralyze the diaphragm
temporarily, (Figure 15).
Seventh intercostal space (stomach): About four inches to the left of the solar plexus. As
in the case of the previous striking point, the target is the combined costal cartilages of the
lower ribs, but on the left side they overlie the stomach and spleen. The stomach may be
forced to regurgitate its contents by a blow to this region. The spleen is one of the blood
reservoirs of the body and can be injured relatively easily, producing internal bleeding.
And, again, the diaphragm can be adversely affected by a blow to this area, (Figure 15). It
is possible to force the fingers up behind the costal cartilages at this point, grasp them, and
yank them outward. The sensation is indescribably unpleasant.
Eleventh intercostal space (floating ribs): The eleventh and twelfth ribs are the “floating
ribs,” so-called because they are not connected to the sternum by costal cartilages. They
lie very low on the side of the abdomen, about four inches above the hip bones. These ribs
can be broken by a relatively light blow damaging either the stomach or the liver as in the
case of the previous two striking points. Such a blow is commonly delivered from the side,
traveling in toward the center of the body. This is a favorite nightstick target, (Figure 22).
Figure 21
An elbow blow to the celiac (solar) plexus can knock the wind out of even the strongest
attacker.
Abdominal aorta and Vena cava: A knife wound anywhere in the abdomen can cause
enough shock to put a man down, but this depends on the man and his state of mind. A
deep thrust followed by jerking the blade sideways can sever the aorta or vena cava which
lie along the backbone, resulting in massive internal bleeding and instant death, (Figure
10).
Lower abdomen: This vital point is just below the navel. A punch directed downward into
the bowl of the pelvis will injure the bladder, the lower large intestine, the genitals, the
femoral arteries and a profusion of spinal nerves. The pain and shock caused by a blow to
this complex area is stunning.
Iliac crest: A thrust kick which lands squarely on the hip bone will badly jar an opponent,
possibly injuring the nerves of the lower back. Breaking this bone, as with a heavy club,
immediately puts the opponent on the ground.
Kidneys: The striking point is just to the left or right of the eleventh thoracic vertebra,
partially covered by the last rib. The kidneys are very delicate organs richly supplied with
blood. Their proximity to the abdominal aorta makes them particularly prone to massive
hemorrhage when injured. Damage to the kidneys can cause shock and even death. This is
a primary knife target since the kidneys and the renal arteries are very close to the surface
and can be reached by a shallow thrust, (Figure 23).
First lumbar vertebra: There are several combat karate techniques which involve lifting an
opponent up into the air and then dropping him across your bent knee, snapping his
backbone at the level of the first lumbar vertebra, (Figure 16 and 24).
Fifth lumbar vertebra: This is the last vertebra above the pelvis. It articulates with the
sacrum, which is essentially fused to the pelvis, so all coordinated movement between the
upper and lower halves of the body pivots upon this joint. Any damage to the spine at this
point will serve to weaken an opponent even if no serious damage to the spinal nerves
should result, (Figure 16).
Testicles: The genitals are very delicate and are so loaded with sensory nerves that even a
glancing blow to the groin can be completely debilitating. A full power blow to the
scrotum and testes will crush these organs against the pubic bones and can result in actual
castration. The drawback in using this target is that street fighters universally expect the
attack and learn to defend against it. Fathers who advise their daughters to “knee the
bastard in the crotch” usually haven’t taken this into consideration.
Figure 22
A knee-kick to the floating ribs is a persuasive method of keeping a grounded opponent
down.
Figure 23
The stab to the kidney is the classic example of an effective, skillfullyexecuted knife
attack.
Figure 24
One of the more brutal unarmed defense techniques consists of breaking a man’s back
over your bent knee. The victim has been forcefully dropped across the knee from
shoulder height.
The reader should be cautioned that there is a slight delay between this injury and the
resulting agony. Some combat karate schools train their students to make use of the second
or so between injury and collapse to catch the attacker offguard and kill him before
becoming helpless. A full second to work with is more than enough time for a desperate
karateist to land several potentially lethal blows.
Coccyx: This is the tailbone, located at the tip of the spinal column beneath the sacrum.
The coccyx overlies the sacral plexus where nearly all of the major nerve trunks of the
hips and legs originate. In addition, the coccyx is a vestigial part of the spine and as such
is innervated directly by a spinal nerve which descends from the extreme tip of the spinal
cord. Fracture of the coccyx affects all the above mentioned nerves, producing agonizing
pain. Fracture of the coccyx requires corrective surgery but does not endanger the life or
health of the injured party.
Healing, even after surgery, is delayed and painful because the anal muscles attach to the
coccyx, and pull against the fracture whenever the victim has a bowel movement, (Figures
16, 25 and 36).

Figure 25
A knee kick to the coccyx is extremely painful and the injury takes a long time to heal.
Shoulder joint: Under the proper circumstances the humerus can be twisted and torn
entirely out of its socket in the shoulder. The dislocation takes the fight out of an opponent
immediately.
Subaxillary bundle: There is a target located high on the inner side of the arm, about an
inch down from the fold of the armpit. The brachial artery can be felt at this point, and
within a fraction of an inch of this artery lie portions of several major nerves, including the
radial, ulnar, and medial nerves. A sharp blow or pinch at this point will damage these
nerves and temporarily paralyze the arm. A slashing cut with a knife will sever the artery
and the nerves, causing permanent paralysis at the least, and death within minutes if the
bleeding is not stopped, (Figure 26).
Radial nerve (lateral aspect): About halfway down the outer side of the upper arm the
radial nerve is exposed where it crosses the humerus on its way from the shoulder down
into the forearm. The striking point is immediately beneath the insertion of the deltoid
muscle. Bruising the nerve at this point produces much the same effect as that of striking
the “funny bone,” i.e., a general weakening of the arm and a peculiarly debilitating pain in
the arm and shoulder, (Figure 27).
Triceps muscle: The muscle on the back of the upper arm which causes the straightening
of the arm at the elbow. A sharp blow, such as a knuckle blow, to the belly of the muscle
will cause temporary paralysis of the arm making it very difficult for the opponent to use
hand techniques effectively.
The mechanism for this is rather complex. Most of the muscles of the body operate in
opposing pairs and pull against each other at all times. By stimulating one muscle and
inhibiting the opposite muscle the body achieves movement. But most muscles are
actually strong enough to tear their own tissue if they attempt to contract at full power
when no movement is possible, such as in the case of a man trying to lift a very heavy
object. To prevent injuries of this sort the body has nerves within the muscles and their
tendons which sense this sort of self-inflicted damage and react by paralyzing both the
injured muscle and the opposing muscle. This inhibition of the strained tissue makes it
impossible for the muscle to contract strongly enough to do itself any further damage. The
karateist can take advantage of this protective reaction by striking at the bellies and
tendons of large muscles. This triggers the paralyzing reflex which then weakens not only
the muscle which was attacked, but other muscles as well.
Figure 26
Front of the arm.
a. Subaxillary bundle (arteries, nerve and tendons)
b. Insertion of the biceps muscle (cubital fossa)
c. Superficial branch of the radial nerve (in the mound of the forearm)
d. Inside of wrist (radial artery, flexor tendons, and medial nerve)
Figure 27
The back of the arm.
a. Radial nerve (just below the insertion of the deltoid muscle)
b. Triceps muscle
c. Ulnar nerve (“funny bone”)
d. Superficial branch of the radial nerve (in the mound of the forearm)
e. Ulna (about one and one-half inches above the wrist)
f. Nerve pressure points of the hand
The triceps muscle and the radial nerve are also very vulnerable to a knife slash, as when
one fighter lunges for the kill but his opponent sidesteps and slashes at the extended arm,
(Figure 27).
Biceps: The belly of the bicep muscle can be bruised, or slashed with a knife, temporarily
paralyzing the arm.
Cubital fossa (insertion of the biceps): The thick bundle of tendons extending down from
the bicep into the hollow of the elbow can be injured by a chop, or severed by a heavy
“sabre cut” with a Bowie knife. Both attacks render the arm useless, (Figure 26).
Ulnar nerve: There is a soft spot in the back of the upper arm about an inch up from the
point of the elbow, beneath which lies a portion of the ulnar nerve. This is the point
commonly called the “funny bone.” A sharp blow at this point produces a paralyzing kind
of pain in the arm and shoulder. Many armlocks depend on pressure applied to this point,
(Figure 27).
Elbow joint: The striking point is the back of the straightened arm at the elbow. A
relatively light blow to this spot will dislocate the elbow, breaking the arm.
Olecranon: Point of elbow. When the elbow is bent, a sharp blow on its point from a
nightstick can shatter the end of the ulna, (Figure 28).
Superficial branch of radial nerve: This is the branch of the radial nerve which passes
through the mound of the forearm, the muscular bulge in the top of the forearm about
three inches down from the elbow. A blow to this nerve will produce a dull aching pain in
the forearm and hand that results in a weakening of the muscles which control the fingers
and hand. Once struck in the mound of the forearm an opponent will experience difficulty
in forming a fist or grasping a weapon. This nerve center is commonly a target for a knife-
hand block (chop), (Figures 26 and 27).

Figure 28
A nightstick blow on the tip of the elbow can chip or break the end of the ulna,
immobilizing the arm.
Figure 29
A club blow or karate chop to the inside of the wrist can shock the median nerve, making
it difficult for the opponent to control his hand. A sharp blow here can force the hand to
open involuntarily, releasing the weapon.
Median nerve: The inside of the wrist about an inch and a half up the arm from the heel of
the hand. The striking point is the soft area between the radius and ulna. A blow at this
point produces damage to the underlying median nerve. Digging lightly into this area with
a knuckle produces an unusually intense and sickening kind of pain in the forearm,
(Figures 26 and 29).
Radial artery and Flexor tendons: A knife slash across the inside of the wrist will sever the
radial artery and several of the tendons which pull the fingers into a fist. The opponent
loses the ability to grasp anything with his hand, and will pass out within thirty seconds,
(according to Fairbairn) if he does not use his other hand to stop the bleeding. Therefore, a
slashed wrist will effectively “disarm” an opponent. It takes about two minutes to bleed to
death from this injury, (Figures 26 and 30).
Back of the wrist: About two inches up the back of the arm from the wrist joint. The
median nerve can be shocked by a sharp blow at the back of the wrist, such as a knifehand
chop.
Ulna: A sharp blow to the ulna, about one and one-half inches above the wrist, such as
with a nightstick, will snap it in two and immobilize the arm. (The author speaks from
painful experience), (Figures 27 and 31).
Wrist joint: When bent in certain ways, the wrist will lock painfully and can be broken or
used as a controlling pain. Aikido students in particular are fond of wrist locks, (Figure
32).
Back of the hand: There are three vulnerable areas. The radial nerve and the ulnar nerve
form a loop of nerve tissue which runs out the thumb side of the hand, across the back of
the hand just behind the knuckles, and back down the little finger side of the hand. These
nerves are particularly vulnerable at three points: (1) between the thumb and the index
finger where the radial nerve is exposed against the side of the second metacarpal bone,
(2) between the knuckles of the middle and ring fingers where the two nerves meet, and
(3) along the little finger side of the fourth metacarpal where the ulnar nerve is exposed. A
sharp digging blow with a yawara stick or gouging with the fingernails at these points will
produce surprisingly severe pain in the hand and arm. These nerve points are usually used
to break the opponent’s grip on a knife or other object, (Figures 27 and 33).
Figure 30
In this photo one fighter has tried to grab the other but has been blocked by a slash to the
inside of the wrist.
Figure 31
Baton attack to the ulna. The smaller of the two long bones of the forearm is easy to break
just behind the wrist.
Figure 32
The wrist joint can be locked painfully and used to control an opponent with the threat of
dislocation. When the wrist is forced into this position the opponent’s hand involuntarily
opens and drops any weapon he may be holding.
Fingers: The fingers can be “jammed” or sprained very easily, a frequently used tactic
being to strike the opponent’s hands to hurt his fingers and make it difficult for him to
make fists. Many releases depend on spraining or breaking one or more of the opponent’s
fingers, (Figure 34). In knife and bayonet fighting the fingers are primary targets, and a
heavy blade can actually sever them. Once the hands have been muli- lated in this manner
the enemy is defenseless.
Figure 33
The nerve pressure points of the back of the hand. The dotted lines show the paths of the
nerves, and the arrows indicate the three locations where the nerves can be squeezed
against underlying bones by gouging with the fingernails.
Figure 34
In a fist fight a fast punch to the opponent’s relaxed fingers can sprain, break or dislocate
them making the hand useless.
Inguinal region: The inside front of the upper thigh, at the fold where the thigh joins the
trunk. The striking point includes the first few inches of the path of the femoral nerve, the
femoral artery and vein, and the genitofemoral nerve at the point where they exit the
abdomen and enter the thigh. Of primary importance is the femoral nerve, which
innervates the sartorius and quadriceps femoris muscles. Trauma to this nerve will
paralyze or greatly weaken the thigh muscles, preventing the use of any coordinated foot
techniques by the opponent. In addition, the pain generated by a blow to the femoral nerve
can be sufficient to take the fight out of an opponent even if loss of muscle control does
not occur. A deep gouging of the opponent’s inguinal areas with your thumbs is a quick
release from a bear hug even when both your arms are pinned to your sides.
A knife or bayonet injury to this area is extremely serious because of the large size and
exposure of the femoral artery. Unconsciousness and death follow in seconds. Note that
some military manuals have mistakenly shown this point as being almost halfway down
the thigh. The true target is no lower than the level of the testicles, (Figure 35).
Sciatic nerve: The striking point is the center of the back of the thigh just below the fold of
the buttocks. The largest nerve of the body, the sciatic nerve, is vulnerable at this point.
The sciatic nerve gives rise to the peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve, hence a kick to the
gluteal fold will interfere with muscular control of the back of the thigh and the entire
lower leg and foot. The blow also produces relocated pain in the abdomen as well as pain
and cramping at the point of impact, (Figures 36 and 37).
Femur: There are karate techniques, mainly kicks, which purport to snap the thighbone in
two, but this takes tremendous power, (Figure 37).
Vastus lateralis: The large muscle running down the outside of the thigh. This is one part
of the quadricips femoris, the alliance of four large muscles which extend the leg by
straightening the knee. This and the next striking point …
Figure 35
The front view of the leg.
a. Inguinal region (femoral vein, artery and nerve)
b. Vastus lateralis
c. Rectus femoris
d. Patella (kneecap)
e. Knee joint (strike anywhere on the front and sides)
f. Deep peroneal nerve (shin)
g. Arch of the foot (right against the shin)
h. Lateral plantar nerve
Figure 36
The rear view of the leg.
a. Coccyx
b. Sciatic nerve (within or just below the told of the buttocks)
c. Hamstrings
d. Popliteal fossa
e. Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles
f. Achilles tendon
g. Lateral malleolus
h. Tibial nerve and artery
Rectus femoris:… are both areas where a kick or club blow to the belly of the muscle will
cause temporary paralysis and cramping, making it difficult for the opponent to maneuver
and impossible for him to use foot techniques, (Figure 35).
Back of the thigh (the hamstrings): The biceps femoris, the semitendinosus, and the
semimembranosus are three specialized muscles of the back of the thigh which
collectively are known as the hamstrings. Although they are located in the thigh, these
three muscles actually are attached to the bones of the pelvis and the lower leg, and do not
attach to the femur at all. For this reason the hamstrings are able to both straighten the hip
and also bend the knee. These are the muscles which athletes spend so much time trying to
lengthen, because when the hip if fully flexed, as when attempting a high kick, the
hamstrings are normally too short to allow full straightening of the knee at the same time.
A blow to the bellies of these muscles will partially paralyze them, temporarily weakening
the leg. Beneath these muscles lies the sciatic nerve which may also be affected by a blow
to this area. Under rare conditions, the hamstrings may be presented as a knife or bayonet
target. Severing them produces immediate collapse of the leg and permanent crippling,
(Figures 36 and 37).
Patella or Kneecap: The patella is a small piece of bone which carries a tendon across the
knee joint from the rectus femoris to the tibia. When the leg is extended fully and relaxed,
the patella can be grasped and manipulated from side to side and up and down over the
surface of the knee joint. This looseness makes the patella vulnerable to dislocation by a
skillful kick which catches the lower edge of the bone at either side and drives it upward at
a forty-five degree angle across the face of the knee joint. Once dislocated, the patella
requires surgery before it can be relocated, and permanent injury to the mobility of the leg
may result, (Figures 35 and 38).
Front or side of the knee: The knee is a very weak joint since it is held together by a
number of small ligaments and little else. In addition, the knee joint connects two of the
longest bones in the body, the femur and the tibia, which makes it vulnerable to blows
falling anywhere in the central third of the leg. When the knee is bent it can be broken by
a kick against either side of the joint, and when the knee is completely straight in toward
the patella. The knee is particularly vulnerable because in most fighting stances this is the
part of the body closest to the opponent.

Figure 37
The photo shows an attack on the sciatic nerve and hamstring muscles intended to insure
that a temporarily downed opponent stays down. In this position such a kick might easily
break the femur as well.
Broken knees have a reputation of not healing very well at all, and for this reason most
karate instructors refrain from allowing their students to direct practice attacks at each
other’s knees. This is a target where a slight error can cause severe injury and permanent
disability. Needless to say, in an emergency a kick to the knee will immobilize an
opponent, effectively putting him out of the fight, (Figure 35).
Back of the knee (popliteal fossa): The popliteal fossa is the indentation at the back of the
knee, bordered on either side by the tendons of the hamstrings. A light kick to this point
will almost invariably bend the knee, abruptly bringing the opponent to a kneeling
position. The tibial nerve is vulnerable at this point as well, (Figure 36).
Deep peroneal nerve: This nerve lies exposed on the surface of the tibia from a point about
seven inches below the knee all the way down to the front of the ankle. Also known as the
anterior tibial nerve, this nerve is vulnerable to any kicking or raking action against the
front of the tibia. An unusually sharp pain results, which in addition to weakening the
whole leg, also paralyzes the muscles which flex the foot and toes upward. This makes it
impossible for the opponent to perform tricks involving the ball, front, or side of the foot.
Severe trauma to this nerve will produce “footdrop,” a condition where the toes drag on
the ground with every forward step, greatly reducing the opponent’s mobility, (Figure 35).
Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles: These are the muscles of the back of the lower leg
which extend the foot and which support the weight of the body when one stands on one’s
toes. It is interesting to note that the gastrocnemius is another of the unusual leg muscles
which spans two joints, in this case the knee and the ankle joints. A kick to the back of the
calf will tend to weaken and paralyze these muscles, and the tibial nerve may be injured as
well, (Figure 36).
Achilles’ tendon (tendo calcaneous): Any kind of stomping or raking kick to the Achilles’
tendon is tantamount to a blow to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, since it is
through this tendon that these muscles act upon the foot. Stretching of the tendon
stimulates injury-sensing nerves which misinterpret the situation and inhibit the calf
muscles. An attack upon the opponent’s Achilles’ tendon will produce pain and weakness
in the opponent’s legs. A knife slash here will sever the tendon and bring the opponent -
permanently - to his knees, (Figure 36).
Figure 38
When embraced from behind it is very easy to attack the opponent’s knees, shins and feet.
Here a difficult dislocation of the kneecap is being attempted.
Lateral malleolus: This target area is the hard bony lump on the outside of the ankle, and
the side of the fibula for a few inches up the leg from the ankle. The superficial peroneal
nerve runs through the skin over the bone in this area, and a raking blow down the fibula
will damage it. This will inhibit the muscles which control the ankle. This makes it very
difficult to maintain one-point balance on the injured foot, (Figure 36).
Tibial nerve and posterior tibial artery: Immediately below the medial malleolus, which is
the hard bony lump on the inside of the ankle, the tibial artery and nerve are exposed to
attack where they cross the side of the first tarsal bone (the talus) on their way down into
the sole of the foot. Trauma to this area produces pain in the entire leg and hip and
paralyzes the posterior calf muscles, making it impossible to flex the foot downward. This
is turn makes it very difficult for the opponent to support his weight on the injured foot,
(Figure 36).
Arch of the foot: The target point is the instep of the foot at the base of the first and second
metatarsals, where the shin meets the foot. Trauma to the arch of the foot at this point will
also injure portions of the medial plantar nerve, the deep peroneal nerve and the
superficial peroneal nerve. The net result is loss of coordination in the entire leg plus
secondary pain in the leg and abdomen, (Figure 35).
Lateral plantar nerve: The striking point is about two inches from the point described
above, at the level of the fourth and fifth metatarsals. Dislocation or fracture of these
bones results in trauma to the lateral plantar nerve, another of the branches of the
posteriortibial nerves, producing severe pain and partial paralysis of the lower leg, (Figure
35).
Toes: The toes, like the fingers, are easily sprained by nearly any blow which brushes
across the end of the foot, such as any of a variety of blocks which might be used to
nullify an opponent’s kick. An untrained individual could be sufficiently distracted by this
injury that he might glance downward momentarily or in some other way lose his
concentration and make himself vulnerable to a more serious attack.
Why should a manual of vital points include a section on pistol shooting? There is a very
good reason illustrated by the following story.
In their classic combat text, Shooting to Live, W. E. Fairbairn and E. A. Sykes related the
tale of a sergeant of police who interrupted a Chinese robber as he was holding up a rice
shop in Shanghai.
The Chinese immediately opened fire on the sergeant with an automatic pistol at about six
yards, firing several shots until his pistol jammed. Fortunately, none of the shots took
effect, and meanwhile the sergeant returned the fire swiftly and effectively with a .45 Colt
automatic, commencing at about ten feet and firing his sixth and last shot at three feet as
he rapidly closed in on his opponent. Later, it was found that of those six shots, four had
struck fleshy parts of the body, passing clean through, while one bullet remained in the
shoulder and another had lodged near the heart. Yet, in spite of all this, the robber was still
on his feet and was knocked unconscious by the butt of the sergeant’s pistol as he was
attempting to escape by climbing over the counter.
The point of the story is that it is quite possible to shoot an attacker full of holes with a
pistol and yet not stop him! Although there are many confounding factors to take into
account, it turns out that the “stopping power” of a pistol bullet depends mainly on what
part of the body is hit. In other words, there are a certain number of vital areas of the body
which when hit by a pistol bullet will produce instant incapacitation. If these areas are
missed though, there is no guarantee that any bullet wounds inflicted will slow the man
down at all. Contrary to popular opinion, variations in bullet diameter, weight, speed and
energy have much less effect on the stopping power of pistol bullets than the placement of
the shot.
The previous statement calls for some justification. According to the Army Medical
Department’s Wound Ballistics, bullets of roughly the size used in modern small arms
require a minimum velocity of 120 feet per second in order to penetrate human skin.
Another 200 feet per second of speed is used up in penetrating a layer of bone, such as a
rib, the breastbone or the braincase. Allowing a little more to account for damage to
internal structures after penetration we can make the generalization that just about any
kind of small arms bullet traveling faster than 400 feet per second represents a potentially
lethal projectile. That pistol bullets in general are potentially lethal with standard
velocities in excess of 700 feet per second is not in question. Even the lowly BB-cap
traveling at 400 f.p.s. has been known to kill.
For most pistol calibers the maximum velocity of the bullet does not exceed 1200 f.p.s. At
speeds between 400 and 1200 f.p.s. the bullet has a tendency to bore a hole through the
body, creating a wound channel that is about the same diameter as the bullet. Damage is
confined to this channel. At velocities higher than 1200 f.p.s. the bullet carries enough
energy that under special circumstances much more severe wounds can result, but
generally the bullet simply passes through the body. It is only after the bullet has been
accelerated above 2400 f.p.s. that the high-velocity “explosive” wound becomes typical, in
which a wide zone of tissue around the wound track is pulped by the passage of the bullet.
No defensive handgun approaches this level.
The most complete and comprehensive investigation of the effect of various pistol calibers
and bullet designs on the human body was conducted by John T. Thompson and Louis A.
LaGarde over seventy years ago on behalf of the War Department. (Note that pistol and
bullet designs have changed very little since then). It was their ghoulish task to fire
handguns at human cadavers under controlled circumstances in search of a pistol load that
would prove more effective in combat than the .38 caliber sidearm the Army was using at
that time. There was some thought that when an enemy soldier is swinging a machete at
your head it would be nice if your pistol would kill him instantly rather than just puncture
him.
Thompson and LaGarde tested a variety of pistols and bullet designs on the cadavers and
carefully evaluated the wounds produced. Their conclusions, confined to a discussion of
handguns, contradicted some of the more macho inclinica- tions of shooters then and
today.
According to Thompson and LaGarde, the vital points of pistol combat shooting consists
of the brain, spinal cord, and the long bones of the legs, (Figure 40). No other part of the
body can be wounded by a pistol bullet in such a way as to guarantee that the victim will
collapse immediately. Shots through the heart or major blood vessels can very quickly
prove fatal, but collapse may not come quickly enough to prevent injury or death to the
shooter.
Figure 39
In combat pistol shooting, the brain is the primary target for maximum stopping power.
Pistol wounds through the lungs, although commonly regarded as fatal, cannot be
depended upon to drop a man in his tracks. This is true also of wounds in other fleshy
parts of the body. To test for “shock” effects due to multiple wounds, which the cadavers
didn’t show very well, Thompson and LaGarde fired rapid bursts of shots into the chests
of living cattle. The idea was to determine what effect multiple shots through the lungs
had on “stopping power” as measured by the number of shots it took to make a steer
collapse. They found that ten .30 caliber Luger bullets (93 gr., 1420 f.p.s.) through the
lungs did not upset the steers at all. The animals turned their heads to see what had caused
all the noise, but showed no sign of distress. (This says something about the effectiveness
of small caliber sidearms and also about how stupid a steer is). .45 caliber and larger
bullets should drop the steers, but it usually took four or five shots.
As for “knock down,” there is probably no greater area of misinformation in the whole
subject of stopping power. According to Newton’s third law, the detonation of the powder
charge in a pistol must push the pistol backward as forcefully as it pushes the bullet
forward. Therefore, if the recoil transmitted to the shooter’s body from the gun is not
enough to knock him off his feet, then it follows that the energy absorbed by the victim’s
body when struck by the bullet will not be enough for a “knock down” either. In his
Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers, Julian S. Hatcher demonstrated this point with a series
of calculations showing that a standard military .45 ACP bullet carries only enough energy
to knock a man backward at a rate of a little less than two inches per second. This is next
to nothing. Fairbairn and Sykes, authors of Shooting to Live, related their attempts to
examine the “knock down” potential of pistol bullets by allowing themselves to be shot at
while holding a bullet-proof shield. They reported that in all cases the force transmitted to
them through the shield was negligible. The ability of modern kevlar body armor to stop
.44 magnum bullets at point-blank range without knocking the wearer off his feet is
further proof of this point, if any is needed.
Thompson and LaGarde concluded that any pistol load in general use could penetrate the
brain case and produce an instantly lethal wound of the brain. It was also found that
although some of the higher velocity bullets (comparable to today’s magnums) could
produce explosive brain wounds there was no need for the added destruction. A.22 bullet
in the brain will stop a man just as quickly as blowing his skull apart. Much the same
conclusion was applied to the case of explosive wounds of the long bones of the legs,
caused by high-velocity pistol bullets. Less energetic bullets were capable of fracturing
these bones and producing instant incapacitation, and the explosive effect contributed
little. In fact, the researchers tried actual exploding bullets, filled with black.powder and a
primer, but concluded that the wounds produced were not very different from those
produced by high-velocity bullets, and therefore did not contribute much to stopping
power.
The researchers found that larger pistol bullets in general produced more dangerous
wounds since the wound channel was large in diameter and did not close easily when the
various layers of skin and muscle re-arranged themselves after wounding. This promoted
greater bleeding in wounds caused by large diameter bullets.
Pistol bullets of all types including soft lead, hollow point, and dum-dum completely
failed to expand regardless of velocity unless they hit bone or solid cartilage. Soft lead
bullets in a flat-point (wadcutter or semi-wadcutter) shape were judged fractionally more
effective in producing wounds because they tended to catch on bones and cut into arteries
in circumstances where jacketed or round-nosed bullets would glance off.
In general, Thompson and LaGarde concluded that the available pistol ammunition they
tested did not differ much in terms of stopping power, although there were significant
differences in penetration and general killing power. Wounds in the brain, spinal cord, and
long bones of the legs would reliably stop a man regardless of the bullet employed, but for
non-vital areas they somewhat facetiously suggested that a three-inch diameter bullet
would be necessary for reliable stopping power.
Figure 40
This diagram illustrates the vital areas of combat pistol shooting as defined by Thompson
and LaGarde. For absolute “stopping power” only the brain, spinal cord and the long
bones of the legs can be wounded in such a way as to guarantee that the victim will drop
immediately to the ground. The heart and associated major blood vessels present another
vital target, but some individuals will be able to stay on their feet for several seconds after
being wounded in these organs. For the situation in which all resistance must be
extinguished immediately, the brain is both the most effective target and the largest.
The reader should bear in mind that in a gun fight when time is the critical factor the old
rule of firing into the center of the body is still good advice. These vital areas are for
occasions when the shooter has that extra split-second in which to take aim.

FIGURE 40
One aspect of pistol combat at close quarters that may have been overlooked is the
destructive power of the muzzle blast, which can produce a more serious wound than the
bullet itself if the pistol is fired in contact with the victim’s body. That is a tricky business,
admittedly, since there is always the possibility that the pistol will suffer a ruptured barrel
if fired with the muzzle against flesh. Still, after contemplating some of the ghastly
photographs in LaGarde’s Gunshot Injuries, it is a possibility that cannot be lightly
dismissed. One photo, for instance, is of a man who put the muzzle of a .30-‘06 rifle in his
mouth and committed suicide. It is a picture of a headless man.
The reader should not finish this essay without being reminded that stopping power is only
one aspect of pistol bullet effectiveness. Other considerations can have as much or more
importance as stopping power, depending on the circumstances. The effect of the various
calibers, powders, bullets and pistols on the ability to penetrate barriers, on accuracy, and
on the stability of the bullet in flight are quite important. The point of this discussion is
simply to emphasize that in hand-to-hand combat in which the pistol may be employed, a
bullet fired into a vital portion of the enemy’s anatomy will drop him. One that does not
hit a vital point might drop him … or he might just keep coming.
Almost all manuals of hand-to-hand combat, self-defense, and oriental or European
martial arts contain at least a short section on vital points. Frequently these treatments are
very incomplete and full of misinformation. Military manuals in particular are very poor
sources of information about vital points.
For general anatomy, nothing beats the classic text:
Gray, Henry. 1973. Anatomy of the Human Body, 29th edition. Ed. by Charles Mayo
Goss. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia.
For a detailed treatment of potential injuries due to twentyfour formal karate attacks, see
Adams, Brian. 1969. Medical Implications of Karate Blows. 128 p. il., A.S. Barnes and
Co., New York.
Fairbairn’s knife-fighting “timetable of death” appears in
Fairbairn, W. E. 1942. Get Tough! ix + 121 p. il., Paladin Press, Boulder.
The authorities cited in the section on pistol stopping power include:
LaGarde, Louis A. 1914. Gunshot Injuries. William Wood and Co., New York.
Hatcher, Julian S. 1936. Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers. Small-Arms Technical
Publishing Company, Marines, Onslow County, North Carolina.
Fairbairn, W. E. and E. A. Sykes. 1942. Shooting to Live. xiv + 96 p. il., Paladin Press,
Boulder.
Medical Department, War Department. 1927. Medical Department of the United States
Army in the World War: v.ii, Surgery, pt. 1, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery,
Neurosurgery, xxiv + 1324 p. il. 7 pl. 1 tab.

Army Medical Service, Defense Department. 1962. Wound Ballistics. Editor-in-chief

The U.S. Government publications can be found on the shelves of any official government
depository.