In martial arts you often hear instructors
talk about being efficient and effective.
Although Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do is not a martial art itself, it is no exception to this.

Effectiveness is about results, the end product...so let's look at this first.

One of the basic ideas on which Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do is built is the
notion of "one shot, one kill". It is grounded in effective.
Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do is a finisher not a starter. It does not promote
aggression. It is not an art you use to prolong physical conflict.
It is not about fighting, brawling, or even sparring.

Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do is about finishing the fight, ending it so that you can get
away as safely as possible. Although sparring is used to practice techniques and hone
your skills, in real life situations Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do stops the fight. The
faster the better. Preferably before it gets started.
Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do may save your life with one technique, as long as you are effective.

What is effective?

Effectiveness is about the result you get. For example, on the
training floor you've been practising for weeks on one particular
technique. It's quite involved but you've been concentrating on
getting it right. The technique looks good, you feel comfortable
with it, it's becoming a move that you don't need to think
about, and it's fast. Effective right?

Wrong!

Why? Because even though concentrating on technique (ie: roundhouse kick followed by a punch) alone is valid
and may injure your attacker, you better have a follow-up in case it doesn't end the fight.
Depending on your opponent you may have to go at it a while.

You've done a great job on getting the technique
just right but you are unaware of the pressure points available to hit!
Your striking power is good, your speed is
good, but you are hitting in the wrong place...too high, too low,
or coming in from the wrong angle so you're missing the point. Or
your striking the wrong point with this technique. Not all techniques can be used to hit every point.


You've focused so hard on the technique/combinations and it's become second
nature in the form you've practiced. Now once you understand how to activate the points you'll begin to notice
how easy it is to adjust your technique to strike the correct target/point. You will
have re-programmed your mind memory and muscle memory to hit the spot
you've always been hitting, with increased effectiveness and achieving better results.

Now without pressure points, your technique, as a self-defence technique, will still be
powerful. Depending on the size and skill level of your opponent,
it may well slow them down considerably; it may even stop them.
Good.
But it may not.

What makes Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do effective is the combining of technique and
pressure points. To stop a fight with one, maybe two techniques,
you need to be able to not only perform the technique, but also to
know your pressure points.


Formula for Effective Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do:

Correct technique + correct pressure point knowledge = Desired Result (conflict is over fast).

How do you become effective using Dim Mak/Kyusho/Hyel Do?

In practicing the concepts together.

When you practice a technique, practice not only the technique
itself, but also make sure it hits the point; making sure it hits
the point means practicing your point location skills, and your
focus.

Practising your focus means that your technique will hit the right
target; hitting the right target with the correct technique means
you'll get the result you want - conflict is over and you walk away.

We are in the beginning stages of point location in class.
As time goes on you get better at properly activating the points.
It becomes second nature. A reflex.
The drills my seem simple but they are effective.

So what do you do?
Learn the points in the Kyusho Study Group. Be aware of them while working out in your regular classes.
Then bring your techniques back to the group and practice them with point activation.
See and feel the difference!

Oh, and have fun!

Sa Bum Nim Tom
American Hwa Rang