Self Defense

Ultimate Tae Kwon Do stresses the importance of understanding the proper technique when delivering self-defense moves. Self-Defense is a part of every promotion test.

The body is broken down into 5 (five) areas when talking about vital areas. They are:

Head
Neck
Chest
Abdomen
Arms and Legs

The vulnerable areas within these five sections of the body are those areas that bones can be broken or nerve centers, blood vessels or where vital organs can be damaged.

There are approximately 244 pressure points located on the body. Of these 69 are considered vital.

Head:

The medulla oblongata resides at the back of the head. It regulates many important respiratory and circulatory functions of the body. A blow to the medulla oblongata can cause death. The temple is close to important eye nerve centers. A blow to the temple can cause eye damage.

The jaw can be easily broken, fractured or dislocated.

The bridge of the nose, the philtrum and chin are considered minor vital areas.

Neck:

The neck is a very vulnerable area of the body. The neck contains the larynx, windpipe, esophagus, and major blood vessels. A blow to the front of the neck will affect the windpipe, Adam’s apple, and the esophagus. Damage incurred can cause death from shock, bleeding, or suffocation due to collapsed breathing tube.

A blow to the back of the neck can cause a dislocation or fracture of the cervix bone connecting the skull and the spine. Damage here could result in paralysis of lower extremities.

Chest:

The chest houses two very important organs of the body, the heart, and the lungs. A blow to the chest could cause the heart to stop beating, which would result in instant death. The clavicle (collarbone) can be easily broken.

The armpit is vulnerable to attack and houses blood vessels and vital nerves. It is also possible to dislocate a shoulder by an upward strike into the armpit.

Abdomen:

The abdomen contains the organs responsible for digestion: the liver, stomach, the large and small intestines, the spleen, bladder, kidneys, etc. All the organs are vulnerable to damage and consequent internal bleeding and/or rupture if attacked.

Arms and Legs:

The arms and the legs need blood flow and nerve impulses to function properly. Because of this these areas are more susceptible to pain that are other areas. A blow to these areas can render them temporarily useless. The joints of these appendages, knee, elbow, wrist, fingers, ankles, and toes are also vulnerable to being broken and/or dislocated. The tibia even though large can be easily broken, as it does not have protective muscle surrounding it. The tailbone is easily broken. The groin is an extremely vulnerable area due to the nerves and blood vessels running close to the surface.