Kellman's Okinawan Karate

LIVER #12: LI-12

LOCATION: Level with the public symphysis, 2.5 inches either side of the centerline, in the inguinal groove.  It is located in the crease found at the border of the upper thigh and the hips.

ANATOMY: The ilioinguinal nerve, and the anterior branch of the obturator nerve.

SPLEEN# 12: SP-12

LOCATION:Level with the upper border of the pubic symphysis, 3.5 inches lateral to the centerline, in the crease of the leg.  It is located just at the outside edge of the femoral artery.

ANATOMY: The point at which the femoral nerve traverses.

METHOD: Strike these points diagonally downward, on a path that moves slightly outward.  Attacks to this area will cause an opponent to bend over, and expose points on the back of the head to attack.

SPLEEN #11: SP-11

LOCATION: Posterior to the sartorius muscle, on the medial aspect of the thigh, about midway between the knee-joint and the groin.  This point is located in the middle of the inner thigh.

ANATOMY:The anterior femoral cutaneous nerve and the saphenous nerve.

METHOD: Strike this point to buckle the leg and knock an opponent to the ground.

NOTE: Typically, this point is struck with a toe-tip kick(tsumasaki-geri).  A story told about  karate master Arakaki Ankichi illustrates the use of this technique. Apparently Arakaki's brother once bet him that he could take one of the master's kicks. Arakakai, using his toe-tip, kicked his brother in the thigh.  The brother became sick with a fever and a few days later required surgery on his thigh.  Though the story does not indicate which vital point Arakaki attacked, Sp-11 is likely the one.

GALL BLADDER # 31: GB-31

LOCATION:Beneath the tensor fasciae latae, in the vastus lateralis muscle, at the median line of the lateral aspect of the thigh, 7 inches above the knee.  This can be found by standing upright with the arm extended along the side of the leg.  GB-31 will be just at the tip of the middle finger.

ANATOMY: The lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, and a muscular branch of the femoral nerve.

METHOD: Strike this point from the side.

NOTE: This is a motor-nerve point, and the favorite target of the Muay Thai shin kick. Children often knee this point on each other while calling out, "charlie horse."

SPLEEN #10: SP-10

LOCATION:At the superior margin of the medial condyle of the femur, in the medial margin of the vastus medialis muscle.  This point is on the inner aspect of the leg, about 3 inches above the level of the knee-cap.

ANATOMY:The anterior femoral cutaneous nerve, and a muscular branch of the femoral nerve.

METHOD: Strike diagonally downward following an imaginary line through the center of the knee to dislocate the joint and/or knock the opponent to the ground.

SPLEEN #9: SP-9

LOCATION: In the depression between the posterior margin of the tibia and the gastrocnemius muscle, at the origin of the soleus. This point is on the inner aspect of the knee about 2 inches below the knee-cap.

ANATOMY:A cutaneous branch of the saphenous nerve, and the tibial nerve.

METHOD: Strike diagonally upward on a line through the center of the knee to dislocate the joint and/or knock the opponent to the ground.

STOMACH #34: S-34

LOCATION:On the lateral aspect of the thigh in the vastus lateralis muscle, at the border of the vastus medialis muscle.  This point is about 3 inches above the knee-cap on the outside of the thigh.

ANATOMY: This point is situated directly on the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.

METHOD: Strike diagonally downward on a line through the center of the knee to dislocate the joint and/or knock the opponent to the ground.

N-LE-7

LOCATION:About 3 inches below the knee lateral to the tibia in the tibialis anterior muscle.

ANATOMY:The lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf, a cutaneous branch of the saphenous nerve and the deep peroneal nerve.

METHOD: Strike this point diagonally upward through the center of the knee to dislocate the joint and / or knock the opponent to the ground.

NOTE ON FOUR KNEE POINTS: When striking with a very small surface (such as a knuckle) accurate placement is essential in order to effortlessly use these points to knock an opponent down.  However, when kicking, a shorthand method can be used for locating them: Simply envision an "X" drawn across the knee, and attack the ends of the "X" on an imaginary line which passes through the center of the joint.

SPLEEN #6: SP-6

LOCATION:Between the posterior margin of the tibia and the soleus muscle, 3 inches above the medial malleolus of the ankle.  It is on the inside of the leg, just along the rear edge of the bone (tibia) about midway between the prominence of the ankle and the lower edge of the calf muscle.

ANATOMY:A cutaneous branch of the saphenous nerve, and the tibial nerve.

METHOD: Kick this point from the inside with a rising motion to rob the leg of energy.

NOTE:SP-6 is named sanyinjiao, "the meeting of the three yins." At this point, the kidney and liver meridians cross the spleen meridian, forming an intersection of the three leg yin meridians.  SP-6 can function as a part of all three meridians; so it is commonly used to set-up other points.

GALL BLADDER #41: GB- 41

LOCATION:In the depression just in front of the merging of the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones.  It is located just in front of the bulge of the top of the foot where the bones of the fourth and fifth toes connect.

ANATOMY: The dorsal digital nerve of the fourth metatarsus.

METHOD: Stomp this point. If an opponent is shoeless and kicking.  GB-41 may also be struck with a single knuckle.

LIVER #3: Li-3

LOCATION: In the depression between the first and second metatarsals.  This point can be found on the top of the foot, between the two bones leading to the first (big) and second toes.

ANATOMY:The peroneal nerve.

METHOD: Press or strike this point diagonally downward.

NOTE: Li-3 is best used when the opponents feet are unshod, or in lightweight shoes.

*Taken from THE DILLMAN METHOD OF PRESSURE POINT FIGHTING by George A. Dillman with Chris Thomas (pages 125-132) and Dillman Karate International