Copyright © Geoff Thompson 2004
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‘Emerge from the void, strike vulnerable points, shun places that are defended, attack in unexpected quarters.’ – Sun Tzu

Due to the anaesthetic qualities of adrenalin and the assailant possibly being under the influence of drink or drugs, pain per se is not usually enough to stop an attack. Most of the time they won’t feel pain. For this reason attacks should, in the case of body shots, be penetrable, striking the nervous system, or in the case of head/eye shots, accurate (jaw, eyeball). Then they will cause deep-seated pain, disorientation or unconsciousness.

IN THEORY

In medical terms, a severe attack on any one part of the anatomy could potentially prove fatal. Even if such a blow was not a death-dealing one, the accidental consequences of it may result in death. For instance, a blow to the nose may render an opponent unconscious. If in falling the relaxed head strikes the pavement or another hard surface, which from my experience it very often does, a serious concussion or skull fracture may occur. This could result in a possible brain clot or haemorrhage, ending in death. Death may also result, in this instance, from the huge amount of blood from the nose clogging the throat during unconsciousness, which in turn stops the flow of oxygen to the brain, causing death. Even a kick to an opponent’s shin could, in an extreme case, result in death, either from shock or due to an ‘arterial embolism’. In the latter, small particles of the decimated bone splinter into the torn blood vessels and become lodged in a vessel too small to permit their passage. This forms a blood clot that could mean circulatory failure of a section of the body, causing gangrene and/or ultimately death.

IN REALITY

In real terms, broken bones, unconsciousness and death are not so common, or likely. The human body can be very durable and is not an easy vehicle to stop once it is charged with the pain-reducing influence of adrenalin.

As the potential victim in a self-defence scenario, one should never worry about the medical implications of a counter-pre-emptive attack on an antagonist; to do so would cause indecision on your part, indecision begetting defeat. Even one second of indecision can mean the difference between life and death, survival and destruction. 
 
The bottom line here is that he is trying, for no reason, to hurt, rob, rape or kill you. To pay him any consideration would be foolhardy and dangerous.

Undoubtedly, the three most vulnerable areas of attack are the eyes, throat and jaw, though not necessarily in that order. Vulnerability depends largely on how they lie in relation to your attacking tools at the time of a particular altercation. You would, for instance, have little chance of attacking any of the three if you were grabbed from behind. For this reason, it is wise to learn other vulnerable areas so as to cover all situations. So, again let’s get rid of some of the myths because I am sick of people saying stupid things like ‘just kick him between the legs and he’ll drop like a sack of shit!’ Oh, if only things were that simple.

HEAD

Anywhere above the opponent’s eye-line is a no-go area (unless you are using a weapon). To strike the skull with your fists or head is usually futile. The cranium, being of thick and strong construction to protect the master muscle, the brain, does just that, though it is vulnerable to kicking techniques if your assailant is horizontal. The temple is, of course, very vulnerable, but strikes to the temple take pinpoint accuracy to be effective. The head is also vulnerable if you grab it and smash it against a wall or a curb (or anything harder than the skull itself).

EARS

Attacks to the ears, especially when both ears are attacked together, can be potentially fatal if unconsciousness and concussion occurs. If both are attacked simultaneously with cupped hands, rupture of the ear drum would theoretically ensue because of large amounts of air being forced into the internal canal of the ear. In reality, this is unlikely to happen, though the pain inflicted by such an attack would likely be enough to stop your assailant long enough for you to make your getaway. The ears can also be ripped by gripping and pulling, though this can be difficult if the ear is sweaty/bloody. The most effective attack against the ear is the bite. This causes panic and extreme pain, stopping even the most ardent attacker. Also, a one-eared assailant would also be very easy for the police to trace, though I doubt they’d thank you for that.

EYES

The most vulnerable, accessible and sensitive part of the human anatomy. You may either scrape, poke or gouge them using the end/s of the finger/s, depending upon how you are situated in relation to the eyes. Any connection between finger and eye will cause extreme pain and more often than not stop your assailant. Strikes to the eyes could result in a collapsed eyeball, lacerated eyelid or even the eyeball being pushed completely out of its socket. Accuracy is the predominant factor when attacking the eyes, and needs much practice to obtain. Most attacks to the eyes are thwarted because humans have an instinctively fast reaction where the eyes are concerned. Your attacks are more likely to work if you attack up the face and into the eyes as opposed to a full frontal attack that will almost always be seen.

NOSE

Because the nose protrudes from the face it becomes an obvious target, though not a favourite of mine. A strong aggressor would shake off such an attack and carry on. Because of its protrusion it is a very good target for biting. From a rear bearhug the nose is a very vulnerable area for the rear head-butt. As was formerly mentioned, a severe attack to the nose could prove fatal; however, pain and watery eyes are far more usual.

THE JAW

Most people who have experienced and participated in real fighting with any degree of success will tell you that the jaw is the ultimate target for the ultimate fighter. Not because it causes pain or fractures, but because, if struck correctly, it causes unconsciousness. This, in a defence situation, is the ultimate goal, especially if you are facing more than one aggressor.

An accurate punch to the jawbone will shake the brain, causing unconsciousness. Accuracy is of the essence if this is to occur. A severe knockout that sees the opponent unconscious before he falls can easily result in a fatality if the head strikes anything harder than itself, e.g. the pavement.

More on in Chapter 18 – ‘The Knockout’.

THROAT

Vulnerable is not a descriptive enough word to depict this accessible, susceptible area. Although only partially protected by the jaw and neck muscles, it still takes accuracy to strike a telling blow. Chopping and straight finger strikes are most effective when attacking the throat. A strong, accurate attack may cause any one of a myriad of contusions, from contusion of the internal jugular through to contusion of the larynginal nerve, a fracture of the spinouse to a possible injury to the branchial plexus, which would cause partial or complete paralysis of the arm. All of these could be fatal.

For close-in fighting, grabbing the windpipe around the Adam’s apple sector and squeezing the larynx tightly may cause choking, extreme pain and unconsciousness. Be warned: many fatalities occur as a direct consequence of attacking this vulnerable area.

SOLAR PLEXUS

Medically speaking, a severe blow to the solar plexus can cause anything from a deep fissure in the liver to a torn gall bladder or even a complete rupture of the stomach, which may culminate in massive internal bleeding. Due to severe shock or blood loss this can end in death. More realistically, you can expect to knock the wind out of your opponent, at the most, which would give you enough time to run. From my own experience in these matters, body shots (unless employed as a finishing technique to a felled opponent) are not usually stopping techniques and should only be employed when there is no other option or target open to you. Adrenalin, with its pain-reducing qualities, builds a brick wall around the body, often making it impervious to punches and kicks. You may break ribs or cause internal damage to your foe and still not deter him at the time of his attack. As a paradox, an attack to the face/jaw will at the very least cause disorientation in your assailant, because of the simple fact that it ‘shakes’ the brain.

JOINTS

I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have heard people saying ‘take the knee out, take the elbow out, etc. etc. etc. As though it were as easy as picking apples off a tree. Let me be very honest here and blunt – it’s a lot of horseshit. Breaking limbs with attacking movement is very hard and very unlikely. The time they are vulnerable of course is in newaza (ground fighting) where arm and leg bars do, have and will break bits off an opponent so easily that it often happens by accident in the dojo (training room).

All joints – finger, elbow, knee, etc. – are in theory vulnerable to attack, but, and this is a big but, they are very well protected by surrounding muscle and tissue. Knees can be attacked with kicking techniques, but you’d have to be a very proficient exponent to find the accuracy that is necessary to do so. Paradoxically, it takes no skill at all to break fingers, only the opportunity to bend them back.

GROIN

Anywhere around the lower abdomen and pubic bone area is very vulnerable to knee, foot or fist attacks. A severe attack to these regions may rupture the bladder causing shock, internal bleeding or thrombosis or even a clot in the femorial vein, which could ultimately lodge in the lungs, causing death.

Again, though possible, these are unlikely in reality. If no other target is available to you though, this is a good option.

TESTICLES

In my time I have kicked, punched and grabbed this supposed vulnerable area in a bid to stop an attacker, usually to no avail. My lack of success has been largely due to the testes being so well protected. Attempted infiltrations with foot and fist have been lost to either the large front leg muscles that sentry the testicles or the assailant’s instinctive thrust-back action. In the case of the ‘grab and squeeze’, the assailant’s underpants and trousers demand an iron grip to get even a whimper. Paradoxically, if you are fortunate enough to score a direct hit, that is an entirely different matter.

These, to my mind, are the major attack areas of the human anatomy. As you can see I am not a great believer in body shots for the aforementioned reasons. When you have a choice, always attack the jaw, eyes or throat. If these areas are not available for attack, aim for the most vulnerable area that is. Never expend energy on non-vulnerable areas like the skull, back, chest and shoulders. Whilst some of these areas do conceal major organs that may be susceptible to attack, they are too well protected by major muscle groups/bone to penetrate.

You may only have one shot so don’t waste it.