In Yiliquan, we make use of pressure points extensively (even though this is the karate forum, I figured since Kenpo/Kempo was in this thread, too, it would be okay if I chimed in...).
We have three levels of points - Stunning and Painful, Temorarily Disabling, Killing and Crippling.
In our forms, we acknowledge four levels of breakdowns - Obvious (punch is a punch), Hidden (punch is a block), Secret (throws, breaks, joint locks) and Mysterious (striking points).
Every strike is meant to go to
some striking point. My teacher has always quoted his teacher as having said:
If you do not strike a vital point every time you strike, you may as well slap your opponent across the face.
The forms (and I do
not want to debate forms again
) contain the strikes and the angles that allow for the proper application of the strikes. Without a teacher that knows the applications, they will be lost to the first group they are not taught to. Subsequent "generations" will then also be without that information, and so on.
Once you have been taught the principles of form breakdown, it is easier to understand other forms, even from other styles, though it is unlikely you will be able to unlock
all the information contained in them...
Just my devalued 2 yen...
:samurai: :samurai:
