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Black Medicine Anthology

Page 2

by N. Mashiro


  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 rec
over. 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 t
he 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.

 

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