Josh
You’re a man after my own heart.
Although there are many styles, they all depend on the strong beating the weak and the slow falling to the quick. These are not related to the power that must be learned – Taiji Classics
Josh, I have been too wiped out this last week to get into this topic (see my poor spelling in other posts), but you are one dead on guy. I’m gonna print this one out so I don’t have to yap so much.
I am a big beleiver in luck. The more I work, the more luck I have.
That’s all…
I think the phrase point striking is an empty phrase to you (I’m writing this and prefer to not go back to see who said). Since (If) it has no meaning for you, then anything that you think is a different name for that would also have virtually no meaning–you hit points(with your fingers). What’s that? perhaps, ~Fingers can’t do as much damage as my fist.
“Yes dim mak is just another name for point striking/pressure point attacks and all Chinese martial arts contain dim mak at some level.”
Striking to the leg to rupture the kidneys is Dim~ Mak. Throwing a hard punch to the kidneys is merely sensible.
“However my personal opinion on dim mak is the same as Wang Xiang Zhai; who once said, “every point is a pressure point if you hit hard enough.””
A teacher trying to get across a concept; not to be taken literally. It says you can hurt them anywhere if you hit them there hard enough (Note: hard enough does not necessarily mean as hard as you can End Note:)
“The internal arts have no particular emphasis on dim mak, and in my opinion point striking is counter to the conservative nature of internal arts.”
Basically, however they function from the same pool of understanding. An actual study of Dim Mak can improve your Internal Art for your health and development as an Internal Arts practitioner and as a Kung-Fu boxer/fighter.
“Besides if you have even a basic level of jin skills you can generate enough force to break bones and cause internal bleeding. It makes no sense to waste time developing point striking skills when you can develop enough power to make your opponent spit blood whereever you hit him.”
If you can cause your opponent to spit blood where ever you hit your opponent you are using Chee. Whatever you might call it. Even if you don’t think that you are, you are. And your strike (physical) or Chee could interfere with the opponent’s chee circulation which allowed your opponent to spit blood after getting hit…in the upper arm…
Learning an internal art (the long haul) one learns dim mak principles and theories. Take up Chinese medicine, onelearns Dim Mak principles and theories.
Have a Hua Tau day. Actually I think he was executed. Do something other than that. Have a really Good day 
Very some such,perhaps might have been, likely say some, some not.
No_know
You are the most cryptic writer. Are you saying yes, Tai Chi has a “special” kind of pressure point fighting? If so, how does it differ from the pressure point striking in a art like crane? Would hitting a pressure point with a crane head strike and a tai chi palm have the same effect on the corresponding organ ie spitting blood? Or does Tai Chi actually “shock” the opponent, with “chi”? Or is it that you are able to generate more pounds per square inch in Tai Chi and therefore able to hit pressure points harder?
Fu-Pow
“If you are talking about sport that is one thing. But when you are talking about combat-as it is-well then, baby, you’d better train every part of your body” - Bruce Lee
Let me get this straight…
You are the most cryptic writer.
Are you saying yes, Tai Chi has a “special” kind of pressure point fighting? If so, how does it differ from the pressure point striking in a art like crane?
Difference? There can be.
Chee is like hydrolics the more flow, the stronger the machine. An erection; the less the flow (blood)the weaker (less strong) it is. The more flow (blood), the stronger (firmer) it is. Like train stations the points or cave entrances are. Shutting down one can disrupt the train line forward of that station. Dead lymph does not break through the skin~ it fills up a pore. The pore or point is smaller than the amount of stuff that is there. There is sharp pain or burning sensation when there is pressure to force the dead lymph along the pore which opens. The opening of the pore is what pains or burns. When there is a delay in flow at any of the stations; as with any traffic flow jamming, is some kind of bad, usually. When the traffic flow is as the Autobond meets Gran Prix auto racing, a slowing down of flow at central points(curves)reduces, bad stuff that can happen. The long needles of accupuncture are used to reach these points (caves) through skins and muscles, to where the caves are.
“Are you saying yes, Tai Chi has a “special” kind of pressure point fighting? If so, how does it differ from the pressure point striking in a art like crane?”
T’ai Chee Quan and Arts like Crane can use energy and force(brute/muscular). An Art like Crane uses more force than energy (usually). Taijiquan uses more energy than force (at all times). Both can hit the places that they touch. but T’ai Ch’i Ch’uan can direct it’s energy through the muscles and skins to affect the accupuncture points. Not only points it touches with the striking area, but also surrounding points or areas or both. Arts like Crane affect skin and muscles. But only with chee do they affect only the muscles or penetrate to effect the meridian.
Would hitting a pressure point with a crane head strike and a tai chi palm have the same effect on the corresponding organ ie spitting blood?
Not necessarily.
When I hear crane head strike I think of what I’ve heard referred to as crane’s beak strike or crane’s bill strike. With the striking area being the back of the hand instead of the fingertips. But I think that you are referring to what I might call a crane’s beak strike and the contact area being fingertips.
I think that not every organ affected by a “pressure point” strike causes spitting-up of blood. A Crane strike might burst or rupture an organ with its force (brute,momentum…whatever) by compressing the skins, muscles and fluids straight-line between point of contact outside and organ inside. However, a Crane strike without chee leading or transfered through does not disrupt accupuncture point(s) enough, if at all, to cause the spitting-up of nor coughing-up of blood. A Taijiquan strike can produce this result of spittin-up of or coughing up of blood given that it affects an organ meridian sufficiently that supports that type of damage result. (huhhh, huhhh…catch my breath…:-))
Or does Tai Chi actually “shock” the opponent, with “chi”?
Tai Qi is limited merely by the imagination~. I cannot know every application of Tai chee. But as to current recollection there is no Capcom Street Fighterâ„¢ arcade game character Blanka effect by Chee~
Or is it that you are able to generate more pounds per square inch in Tai Chi and therefore able to hit pressure points harder?
For accupuncture points, the better control and development of Chee the less harder matters. There is at least a theory that everything is made-up of chee. So(needle and thread), either the pounds per square inch thing you mentioned or a better cooperation with the chee of the object to be affected, allowing subatomic manipulation of the involved thingies determined by intention and or or thought.
Perhaps some-such
“presure points” are musculotendonal-ligamentular which inhibits mechanical functioning (the Holland’s boot or the American’s(?)monkey wrench in the machinery). This can cause imobilization, pain, diziness, deafness or death. But with Understanding, different pressure or same pressure with chee, the points clear asthma, break fever stop infections improve the internal and or or external organ’s health and condition.
Pressure points are not necessarily accupuncture points. Accupuncture points can be pressure points.
A coin has three sides and two faces.
There might have been something else, but perhaps enough for now. I hope that this is approaching answering the questions in your mind that you tried to address-ish..
Very some such,perhaps might have been, likely say some, some not.
Mind over Matter by Shi Ming
An excellent book offering a scientific look at the differences between internal and external approaches to martial arts.
The Author focuses on relaxation and the training of coordinating movements in internal arts, rather than the reflexive speed movements and strength/endurence of the body in external arts.
A huge eye opener as far as I’m concerned.
Paul
Michigan