The Kyusho of Atemi

The vital points of the body (kyusho) are important in Japanese martial arts. How and where to strike the points (atemi) and the effects of striking them were originally kept secret. However, in the past 100 years, information on these points has become widely available, allowing them to be compared among sources. A 1977 descriptive review of 35 martial arts books identified 226 alleged vital points, most with information on their location, Japanese names, and sometimes with claims of the effects of striking them. Listing the points alphabetically and by source and anatomical location reveals similarities, differences, and probable errors, as well as the degree of agreement of sources for each point. This edition adds some more authoritative research findings and some information on medical aspects.