Dim Mak

Dim Mak or "Death Touch" (dim mak is an approximate Cantonese pronunciation of 點脈, as subset of 點穴, pinyin diǎnxuè) is training the attack of Pressure points in some styles of Chinese martial arts to kill, incapacitate, or otherwise control an opponent.

Traditional Chinese medicine theory is based on the idea that specific pathway lines called meridians exist on the human body, along which are found many hundreds of acupressure points. Acupuncture is the most well known use of the meridian system. Pressing, seizing or striking these points (or combinations of points) with specific intent and at certain angles can result in either heightening or diminishing qi circulation in the body, according to this theory.

Effects are said to range between weakening an opponent, to deadening limbs or organ systems, to slowing bodily functions to the point of death.

However, many modern martial artists consider the legends of Dim Mak to be a wuxia fiction. Others assert that it was a form of sorcery, at one point, but is now a lost art. Yet others claim to teach it in the martial syllabus of their schools.

In the United States, Tom Cameron is a karate instructor who claims to have the ability to knock a person unconscious using this method. He also claims to be able to do this without making physical contact with the person and has demonstrated this on video using his own students. The target students had notable changes in their heart rate. However, his attempts to demonstrate this on other nonpartial observers such as a skeptical newsreporter and Jiu-Jitsu students has failed. This appears to be similar to telavangical Christian faith healing where paranormal effect is observed only in people who expected that effect, but no objective result is visible beyond the placebo effect. This is also known as a Subject-expectancy effect in science. The placebo effect is capable of creating physiological responses so the abnormal heart rates in his students can be explained without paranormal means.

Movies

In the movie: Kiss of the Dragon the actor Jet Li uses a sort of Dim Mak as main fighting style.

See also

• Chin na
• Kyusho jitsu
• McDojo
• Neo-ninja
• Qigong
• Tui na
• Pressure points
• Commotio Cordis
• Varma Kalai

External links

• Investigating the Dim Mak Death Touch
• Dim Mak explained
• Ao Denkou Kai International
• A Video Dim Mak Demonstration on YouTube