Vital Areas

As a student of Taekwondo, you should know some basic anatomy. In a simple self-defense situation, you need to know areas of the body to strike to cause painful results. In a life-or-death self-defense situation, you need to know areas of the body to strike to cause lethal results. Confusing the two situations may lead to serious consequences. Using too strong an attack in a simple attack may lead to your imprisonment or a lawsuit. Using too weak an attack in a life-or-death situation may lead to your death or serious injury. In each self-defense situation, you must correctly judge the amount of force required and on what areas of the body to apply the force. When making this judgment, you must consider the affect of adrenaline, on both you and your attacker. Increased adrenaline decreases the effects of pain and gives you greater strength. Also, remember that persons under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs are less sensitive to pain. All this means that Taekwondo students should know where to strike and what the affects of a strike may be. 

Defensive techniques and targets should be chosen with great care. They should be legal and ethical and usually should tend toward caution. As you gain Taekwondo experience, you will gain knowledge of the human body, its vital areas, and their relationship to self-defense techniques. 

Major Targets

Vital areas along  the arms and legs are easy to reach and damage from strikes is usually minor. Wrist and elbow locks are the most common targets, since most attackers try to grab you or strike you with their hands. However, be careful when applying joint-locks. Only apply the amount of force needed to neutralize the attack since joint-locks can be very damaging. The use of excessive force, even in self-defense, is illegal! If you are forced to dislocate a joint, never reset it on the scene. Nerve fibers and/or blood vessels could be pinched or severed. This type of first aid should only be performed by medical personnel under controlled conditions.

Shoulders, as well as hips, are ball-and-socket joints that have large range of movement but they may be injured if over extended. The shoulders are highly susceptible to separations. Shoulder dislocations occur more frequently than in any other joint of the body. Even in the well-conditioned body, only a small amount of force is necessary to dislocate the shoulder.

Elbows, as well as the knees, are hinge joints that move primarily in only one direction. They are more susceptible to locking by hyperextension and twisting techniques than are the wrists. If you apply enough force against their direction of movement, it will cause extreme pain or possible separation of the joint. 

Wrists have a modified ball-and-socket joint. They are an important target of releases and come-a-longs. Although wrist locks are effective, they require years of practice to apply correctly. They must be learned to near perfection because they are so easily broken and countered, especially if the opponent is strong. Wrists may also be a target for strikes. A strike to a wrist may numb and paralyze the entire arm.

Fingers may be targets for either strikes or grabs where they are pulled painfully backward. A sharp strike to the fingers may make an opponent drop his or her weapon and may cripple the hand so it cannot be used it to continue an attack. 

Should the situation be serious, or the assailant is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, targets on the legs become your primary targets. It is easy to damage the knee with a kick to the front or side. When the knee is damaged, whether your attacker is able to feel the pain or not, he or she will not be able to stand or follow you as you make your escape. A strike or kick to the muscles of the inner thigh will not only cause pain but may cause a cramp which would make the leg useless and bring your assailant down. A sharp strike to the unprotected shin bone or a stomp to the instep of the foot will be extremely painful and could easily hobble an assailant. A stomp to the Achilles tendon could possibly cripple an assailant. A kick to the calf could cause a painful cramp. A strike just above the knee and at the bottom of the thigh could tear the hamstring and cripple an assailant. These are all repairable injuries, but they will allow you opportunity to escape. 

Strikes to targets on the torso may cause serious injuries and thus are less desirable as defensive strikes but there are some situations which call for drastic actions. In these situations, a downward strike may easily fracture or break the collarbone. An upward strike to the solar plexus may temporarily paralyze the diaphragm and restrict breathing. The lower set of floating ribs may be easily damaged by a upset punch. A sharp strike to the breastbone will be extremely painful due to the lack of cushioning fat or muscle. A downward strike to the top of the pelvic bone may disable an attacker. A strike to the groin, on a male or female, is painful and disabling. On a male, it may cause unconsciousness, however, sometimes any effect is delayed. If a gunman is kicked in the groin, he will be able to fire many times before the pain takes effect. A sharp strike to the kidneys may drop an opponent. A kick to the tailbone may incapacitate an attacker.

Strikes to the head should only be used in life-threatening situations. A blow to the head could prove fatal, however, the main reason for avoiding strikes to the head is because few people leave their head unguarded. Your opponent will most likely be expecting you to punch toward the head. However, if the opportunity presents itself and the situation demands it, do not hesitate to use head strikes.

Pulling the hair is an effective means of control and is the least damaging counterattack that you may use to the head. An upward palm heel strike under the point of the chin may snap the head back and possible cause serious damage to the spine or neck. Pinching the ear lobe, twisting the nose, or twisting the upper lip are also easy ways to control a person.

A strike to the hinge of the jaw, just below and in front of the ear, or slapping the ears with cupped hands may stun your opponent and end the confrontation. Almost any kind of strike to the nose will break the delicate cartilage, causing the eyes to tear, blinding the attacker. Use extreme caution when striking the nose since a broken or bleeding nose may hinder breathing and may cause suffocation. Only strike the throat when in mortal danger since the strike could crush the windpipe.

Pushing your thumbs into an attacker's eyes will temporarily blind him or her and allow you to run away. A flick of your fingertips in front of the eyes will cause an attacker to flinch and blink, permitting a powerful follow-up counterstrike.

The solar plexus is the approximate center of body mass. Strikes to the front of the body below the solar plexus will cause the person to bend over, but not the person will not be knocked backward. Strikes to the front of the body above the solar plexus will probably knock the person backward; the higher on the body the strike, the more movement.

Each person, depending on many factors, such as physical conditioning, amount of body fat, and thickness of clothing, has vulnerable or invulnerable areas. Do not assume that because a particular target strike is effective on one person that the same strike will be effective on another person. A street fighter or a boxer is used to receiving head, rib, and abdomen strikes. Also, not all people react to pain in the same way. For some, pain is pleasure and will only serve to encourage brutally. When in doubt, go for the most crippling strike possible and let a court of law prove that, as a victim, you were NOT in fear for your life.

SING

When defending yourself remember to SING. Attack the Solar Plexus, Instep, Nose, and Groin. 

Arms

Upper Dorsal Surface of Arm

Middle part between the bicep and triceps. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the ulnar and median nerves and blood vessels of upper arm. This may produce an unusual type of pain in chest and neck and that may lead to loss of motor functions.

Lateral Surface of Elbow

 May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the ulnar nerve producing an unusual type of pain in chest and neck and may cause loss of motor functions.

Dorsal Surface of Wrist

Space between ends of radius and ulna. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to median nerve and loss of motor functions.

Inside Wrist

Between brachioradilis and flexor muscles of the fingers. An attack to this point produces trauma to underlying nerve and artery, which may cause an unusual type of pain that affects chest and throat regions and may cause loss of motor functions and loss of consciousness.

Back of Hand

Especially the points between thumb and the index finger. Also points between middle and ring finger. May cause loss of consciousness due to shock to the median nerve leading to an unusual type of pain in chest and throat regions that may produce a loss of motor function. A similar result may be expected from striking any of the bones located on back of hand. 

Head

Coronal Suture

Line of juncture of the frontal bone and the parietal bones. Death may result from severe trauma to the cerebrum and disruptive stimulation of cranial nerves.

Frontal Fontanel

Region of head between forehead and the coronal suture that is exposed. On a newborn infant the area pulsates. Death may result from concussion and trauma to cranial nerves.

Temple

Includes suture of zygomatic (cheekbone) and frontal bone. Loss of consciousness may occur due to trauma to cranial nerves, resulting in loss of sensory and motor functions. Death may result from concussion and trauma to cranial nerves.

Circumorbital Region

Upper and lower parts of eye socket. Loss of consciousness may occur from cerebral trauma and resulting loss of nervous control.

Eyeball

Loss of consciousness may occur from severe trauma to cerebrum resulting in disruptive stimulation of cranial nerves and loss of sensory and motor functions.

Glabella

Area at the base of nose between eyes. Loss of consciousness may result from severe trauma to cerebrum leading to disruptive stimulation of cranial nerves and loss of sensory and motor functions.

Intermaxillary Suture

Juncture of left and right upper jawbones below nose. Loss of consciousness may result from trauma to cranial nerves and loss of sensory and motor functions.   

Center of Lower Jaw

One-half inch below lower lip. Loss of consciousness may result from trauma to cranial nerves and loss of sensory and motor functions.

Concavity Behind Ear

Between mastoid process and lower jaw. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to cranial nerves and spinal cord, resulting in loss of sensory and motor function.

Base of Mandible

Lower ridge of lower jaw, including the articulation below and in front of the ears. Loss of consciousness may result from concussion and loss of nervous coordination. Blow to any of the vital areas of face may cause trauma to the cranial nerves resulting in loss of nervous coordination and consciousness as well as vascular shock. There are eleven cranial nerves that have sensory, motor, or mixed functions:

• Olfactorius
• Opticus
• Oculomotoris
• Trochlearis
• Trigeminus
• Abducens
• Facialis
• Acousticus
• Glossopharyngeus
• Vagus Spinal Accessorius
• Hypoglossus
  

Side of Neck

Length of the sternocleidomastoid muscle covered by the platysma. May cause loss of consciousness due to  trauma to carotid artery and the pneumogastric nerve. May also lead to shock and to loss of sensory and motor functions.

Back of Neck

Third intervertebral space. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to cerebrum, cranial nerves and spinal cord, producing loss of sensory and motor functions. 

Legs

Inguinal Region

Inner region of upper thigh; part of the musculature of the pubic bones. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to underlying artery and nerve, as well as to the closing nerve, causing an unusual type of pain in the hip and aabdomen that produces loss of motor function.

Lateral Lower Thigh

Middle part of Lateral vastus muscle. May cause loss of consciousness due to cramping of the muscle in the thigh, leading to pain in the lower abdomen and loss of motor function in leg.

Medial malleous

Point just below medialtuberosity of the tibia. This term usually indicates the inside surface of ankle. An attack will be to used to the medial surface of the tarsal bone just below ankle. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to tibial artery, causing an unusual type of pain in the hip area that may lead to loss of motor function.

Top, Lateral Part of Foot

Just below heads of the fourth and fifth metatarsals. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to tibial artery, causing an unusual type of pain in the hip area that may lead to loss of motor function.

Middle of Fibula

An attack to this point produces trauma to the fibular nerve, causing severe pain and loss of upright posture. 

Torso, Front

Supraclavicular Fossa

Front portion of the on either side, just above collar bone at the origin of lateral head of sternocleidomastoid muscle. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to artery located below collar bone and to sublingual nerve. May also cause shock and loss of motor functions.

Suprasternal Notch

Concavity on ventral surface of neck between sternum below and the hyoid bone above. May cause loss of consciousness due to blocking of windpipe.

Sternal Angle

Just below juncture of manubrium and sternum. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to heart, broncus and arteries supplying upper part of body, and trauma to pulmonary artery, leading to malfunction of respiratory system and shock.

Xiphoid Process

Lowest part of sternum. May cause loss of consciousness due to severe trauma to liver, stomach and heart, leading to shock and to disturbance of nervous system and loss of motor functions.

Solar Plexus

Concavity just below sternum. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to stomach and liver, leading to damage to adjacent regions above and below, which may affect the nerves that control function of other internal organs.

Tanjun

Point about one inch below naval. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to small iintestine and bladder and may affect large blood vessels and nerves in the abdomen, which may cause shock and loss of motor functions. 

Subaxillary Region

Fourth intercostal space. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to lungs and associated nerves, leading to loss of lung function and stoppage of breathing and circulatory failure.

Area below Nipples

Between the fifth  and sixth ribs on either side. May cause loss of consciousness due to similar to loss of lung function, stoppage of breath, and circulatory failure.

Commotio Cordis

Also known as cardiac concussion. This is a syndrome in which a non penetrating impact to the chest causes heart failure but causes little or no structural damage to the body or the heart. A common victim is a player who takes a baseball, hockey puck, or other hard object in the chest, but it also could be a punch or kick. About half the time, the victim collapses immediately; otherwise, it usually occurs within a minute or two. Death is thought to result from ventricular fibrillation, a state in which the lower heart chambers start fluttering and stop pumping blood. One study of 128 cases reported that 84 percent of the victims died, with nearly all the survivors receiving prompt defibrillation. Relatively little force is required for the killing blow; one researcher estimates that the blunt instrument need be moving at only 30 mph. Although this is a proven medical phenomenon, animal experiments indicate that one must strike within a 15-20 millisecond window in the heartbeat cycle to have a reasonably good chance of taking down an attacker; therefore, in a self-defense situation, it is practically useless.

Abdomen, Hypochondriac Region

Seventh intercostal space. Cause of loss of consciousness is different for left and right sides. On right side, it is caused by trauma to liver, leading to loss of nervous function associated with the liver and lungs. On left side, it is caused by trauma to the stomach and spleen along with effects on heart and lungs, producing loss of nervous function associated with heart and lungs. 

Abdomen, Lumbar Region

Eleventh intercostal space. Cause of loss of consciousness is different for left and right sides and is nearly identical to the those of injury to hypochondriac region.

Testes

May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the nerves and arteries of the testicles and groin, causing the testicles to rise and cause loss of motor function and inability to breathe.

NOTE: Attacks to the vital areas of torso may cause disruptive effects on spinal cord and sympathetic nervous system, which may affect the cranial nerves leading to loss of consciousness caused by shock and loss of breathing. However, attacks to vital areas of the head do not always lead to loss of breathing in spite of loss of sensory and motor functions. 

Torso, Back

Middle Scapular Ridge

Level of third intercostal space. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to lungs and spinal cord, which may cause difficulty in breathing and blood circulation, and loss of motor function.

Space Between Fifth and Sixth Thoracic Vertebrae

May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the spinal cord, aorta, heart and lungs, leading to loss of sensory and motor functions that may stop breathing.

Lumbar Region

Left and right sides of the ninth and eleventh thoracic vertebrae. The two sides of the eleventh thoracic vertebrae are the more effective points for attack. May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the kidneys and associated nerves and blood vessels, which may lead to shock and loss of motor function.

Tip of Spine

May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to entire spinal cord, which may lead to cerebral trauma and loss of sensory and motor function.

Gluteal Fold

The central portion of the back of the upper thigh just below the Buttock. The cause of the loss of consciousness is trauma to the Sciatic Nerve that produces an unusual type of pain in the Abdomen and Hip regions, also the loss of motor functions.

Lower Part of Soleus Muscle

May cause loss of consciousness due to trauma to the tibal artery and tibal nerve, which produces an unusual type of pain in the abdominal and hip regions which may cause loss of motor functions.

NOTE: Attacks to the vital areas of torso may cause disruptive effects on spinal cord and sympathetic nervous system, which may affect the cranial nerves leading to loss of consciousness caused by shock and loss of breathing. However, attacks to vital areas of the head do not always lead to loss of breathing in spite of loss of sensory and motor functions.