Death Touch: The Science Behind The Legend Of Dim-Mak
by Michael Kelly
List Price:
Our Price: $11.80
You Save: $8.20 (41%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Michael KellyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-11
ISBN: 1581602812
Number of pages: 184
Publisher: Paladin Press
Book Reviews of Death Touch: The Science Behind The Legend Of Dim-Mak
Book Review: Exceeds Expectation
Summary: 5 Stars
I realize there are already a lot of reviews, so I'll try to be brief.
First, about the osteopath controversy, in the US, osteopaths have the same privileges as MD physicians, and can take specialty training. I personally am acquainted with at least one osteopath who's an anesthesiologist and another who's a neurologist. I understand it may be different in other countries.
I'm a neuroscientist of sorts, a surgical neurophysiologist, and I approached this book with great skepticism, and only because one of my bagua brothers wanted my opinion on it. I am very surprised and favorably impressed. I also still have serious reservations.
I don't believe in the existence of acupuncture points and meridians, and as far as I know it hasn't been demonstrated that acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, or ear candling, foot reflexology, whatever like that, actually work (other than for anesthesia). Up to now I haven't seen why there would be any connection between dim mak points and healing points.
This book does a great job of explaining these things, in a very simple and logical way. The points and meridians are all on nerves, and attacking, or massaging, a spinal nerve (in the arm or leg) or a cranial nerve, can conceivably affect internal organs through convergence in the sympathetic nervous system, or directly in the case of the vagus nerve. The pressure point knockouts could be due to induced vasovagal syncope. The concepts of facilitation, aberrant referral, and convergence explain a great deal, including a few things I hadn't previously understood, though I'm sure they're common knowledge in neurology. It ties a lot of things together, and provides a simple, rational explanation for a lot of things that I didn't think could be so explained. So to me, this is very impressive, and extremely welcome. There's nothing New Age or pseudoscientific about it at all, no need to believe in anything ineffable.
All that said, it's true that there's a lot of speculation about things that would be hard to test, and haven't been tested. I personally still doubt if acupuncture and so on work reliably for healing, but this does provide a possible explanation for how they could work.
One of my bagua teachers once pointed out to me that the open secret about attacking dim mak points is, you can't really do it in a standup fight. Once you have your victim down, and maybe a little stunned and unable to defend himself, then you could actually attack dim mak points. I guess Earle Montague claims you can also do it in standup grappling. I don't know. I still think there's plenty of room for skepticism, but for the first time, it doesn't all seem totally mysterious and incredible to me.
I'd like to add that I don't see any constructive purpose for dim mak in modern times. If it works at all, it's dangerous as hell and certainly constitutes excessive force. This should only be an intellectually interesting issue, imho.
On the other hand, this offers some possible validation of acupressure etc. as healing techniques, so further research is definitely indicated.
Summary of Death Touch: The Science Behind The Legend Of Dim-Mak
The martial arts world is rife with tales of ancient masters who could cause instant or delayed death or illness by attacking secret points on the human body. But to the Western mind, the concept of striking acupuncture points to disrupt the internal energy, or chi, seems like hocus-pocus. Thus, many serious martial artists dismiss the ancient art of dim-mak (also known as kyusho jitsu), which is literally translated as "death touch," as nothing more than fiction. However, if one can accept the idea that a dim-mak point is an avenue for attacking the nervous system, then it becomes easier to understand how striking specific points or groups of points can devastate the organs and the cardiovascular system. In this book, Dr. Michael Kelly, an osteopathic physician and experienced dim-mak practitioner, explains dim-mak's effects based on medical science. In layman's terms, Dr. Kelly reveals the physiological basis for what is clearly a very real and dangerous method of fighting. In the process of unraveling the mystery of this legendary art, Dr. Kelly makes the true genius of its founders brutally, and painfully, apparent.Martial Arts Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Martial Arts Books
Dictionary of the Martial Artsby Louis Frederic
Athlone Press; Published: 2000-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.51
Price in other shops:
Be Like Water: Practical Wisdom from the Martial Artsby Joseph Cardillo
Grand Central Publishing; Published: 2003-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
On Boxingby Joyce Carol Oates
Pan; Published: 1988; Paperback; Book
Aikido: Coordination of Mind and Body for Self Defenceby Koichi Tohei
Souvenir Press Ltd; Published: 1966-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Dojo Wisdom for Mothers: 100 Simple Ways to Become a Calmer, Happier, More Lovingby Jennifer Lawler
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2005-03-29; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.95
Price in other shops:
Official WTF Taekwondoby David Mitchell
Ebury Press; Published: 1996; Paperback; Book
15-Minute Tai Chi: Strong Body, Still Mind (15 Minute)by John Ding, Alan Ding
Thorsons; Published: 2003-09-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $43.97
Ghosts Of Manila The Fateful Blood Feud Between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazierby Mark Kram
New York, NY HarperCollins; Published: 2001; Hardcover; Book
I Am Jackie Chanby Jackie Chan
Macmillan; Published: 1999-03-12; Paperback; Book
Wing Chun Kung Fu: Traditional Chinese King Fu for Self-Defense and Healthby Ip Chun, Michael Tse
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1998-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.82
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Secret Art of Pressure Point Fighting: Techniques to Disable Anyone in Seconds Using Minimal Forceby Vince Morris
Ulysses Press; Published: 2008-05-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.48
Price in other shops:
The Extra Meridians, Points, And More (Encyclopedia of Dim-Mak)by Erle Montaigue, Wally Simpson
Paladin Press; Published: 1997-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.37
Price in other shops:
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of CombatTuttle Publishing; Published: 2008-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Black Medicine: The Dark Art of Deathby N. Mashiro
Paladin Press; Published: 1978-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
Dim-mak's 12 Most Deadly Katas: Points of No Returnby Erle Montaigue
Paladin Press; Published: 1995-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.95
Price in other shops:
The Ancient Art Of Life And Death: The Book of Dim-Makby Rick Bauer, Flane Walker
Paladin Press; Published: 2002-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.20
Price in other shops:
Dragons Touch: Weaknesses of the Human Anatomyby Master Hei Long
Paladin Press; Published: 1983-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.01
Price in other shops:
Analysis of Shaolin Chin Na: Instructors Manual for All Martial Stylesby Yang Jwing-Ming
Ymaa Publication Center; Published: 2004-06-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.90
Price in other shops:
The Main Meridians (Encyclopedia of Dim-Mak)by Erle Montaigue, Wally Simpson
Paladin Press; Published: 1997-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $30.84
Price in other shops:
Vital Point Strikes: The Art and Science of Striking Vital Targets for Self-defense and Combat Sportsby Sang H. Kim
Turtle Press; Published: 2008-06-23; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.35
Price in other shops: