If you’re at all familiar with martial arts (karate, kung-fu, etc.) you’ve probably heard of Dim Mak (which translates to ‘press artery’), aka the poison touch or poison hand among many slang terms. This is where a highly skilled martial arts expert touches you and you are knocked out or killed without any apparent force. The idea of having magical like powers after learning martial art “secrets” has been tantalizing enthusiasts for hundreds of years. Is it real or a load of crap?
My Experience with George Dillman
In the martial arts world, George Dillman is widely known as one of the foremost experts on this esoteric subject. Around 10 years ago, I was studying hapkido and aikido in Louisiana and was fascinated with the prospect of gaining this skill as are many martial artists. My goal was to be able to knock people out with telepathy or telekinesis, but I’ve yet to find anyone with that ability.
George Dillman
I traveled to New Orleans to attend a seminar with George Dillman, a ninth degree black belt in Ryukyu Kempo Tomari-te (it sounds impressive if nothing else). It was my hope to score a one touch knock out before I left that day.
The seminar started with warm up exercises and several pressure point studies, but I had yet to learn anything I didn’t already know. He then performed a demonstration and knocked out several of his own students – it all looked fake to me. I asked him to knock me out but he said only his students were trained to receive the powerful techniques and I could be hurt or get sick from the massive amounts of ki energy flowing through my body.
I just couldn’t shut up and insisted he knock me out. He finally agreed to knock me out, but I had to sign a waiver in case I was injured. I happily signed it because I didn’t believe his touching me with his finger tips (lightly touching) would hurt me.
I could tell he did not want to do it, but I told him I really wanted to be knocked out. I wanted proof that his techniques were valid. After magically knocking out several of his own students, I told him, “You already warmed up, go ahead and knock me out.”
He did not tap me lightly on pressure points like he did his students. This guy hit me on the left side of my neck at the base, between my trapezius muscle and neck along the brachial plexus (an extremely sensitive section of nerve fibers). He hit me so hard, it almost knocked me off of my feet, but did not knock me out. He hit me with a shuto strike (the standard karate chop). To say he hit me with a lot of force would be an understatement. He hit me as hard as he could, putting all of his weight in it. He’s a pretty big guy and has tremendous power, but failed to render me unconscious. Had he struck a little lower, he would’ve crushed my collar bone.
The brachial plexus is in yellow
I yelled, “Ouch! Why did you hit me like that? Why didn’t you magically knock me out like you did your own students?”
He replied, “I had to use a different technique on you. You are not prepared to withstand the real technique.”
Though I could barely lift my left arm and the tortuous pain was making me nauseous (it seriously hurt), I laughed at him as did many people attending the seminar. In my opinion, his techniques are fake and he is a fraud. He was hoping to just knock me out by hitting me as hard as he could and made up a lie when asked about it. I was shocked by what he did because I did not expect him to hit me so hard – I still get mad when I think about it. The crowd was surprised too. One of my friends said, “I’m glad I didn’t let him hit me…hahaha.”
I have been hit by other martial arts experts that actually did have powerful ki energy, but have never actually been knocked unconscious by it. Seven years ago, I had a hapkido master knock me down with a light tap to my solar plexus. I wasn’t unconscious, but was unable to move at all – almost paralyzed until he revived me. I was afraid to ask him to knock me out because I knew he might be able to actually kill me accidentally. I have met people who actually posses skill at dim mak, but George Dillman is not one of them.
Does Martial Arts Belt Rank Matter?
It depends on the art and who your instructor is. For the most part, belt rank is just another way for a teacher to increase profits. In America, Tae Kwon Do schools are really popular and there are up to a dozen different colored belts you must test for, each one progressively more expensive than the last.
Most of these popular schools are a joke and you will never learn how to fight. If a martial arts school teaches you to point fight (where you don’t actually get hit, but score points for fake hitting), don’t waste your time or money there. Point fighting is bad in every way. Even doing it occasionally will be detrimental to your skill. I have a lot of pet peeves about martial arts schools I look for when considering them. Here are a few things to look out for:
- There are 12 or more belts you test for, each more expensive than the last
- The instructor never fights the students
- They point fight
- They don’t actually hit each other full force
- Trophy’s everywhere (I cannot stand this)
- Nobody has a black eye or bruises
- The instructor has “Master” written on his uniform
- An arrogant attitude from the instructor or high ranking students
If a school has the above attributes, chances are it’s a waste of money. Don’t get me wrong, some schools with a bunch of belt colors may actually be good, but be careful and look out for realism in training.
Brazilian Ju-Jitsu is another art where few colored belts are used. Generally speaking, belt rank actually means something in this art and is very difficult to attain. If you want to learn how to fight, I recommend real fighting. A few arts that offer this are Brazillian Ju-Jitsu, authentic Aikido, boxing, wrestling, jeet kune do, savate and especially MMA (mixed martial arts). The truth is, you cannot learn how to fight without actually fighting. It’s so funny, because most martial artists just think they can fight, but have never actually been in one.
Action star Claude Van Damne got the hell beat out of him by a Hell’s Angel gang member (Chuck Zito, Mike Tyson’s bodyguard). This is because Claude Van Damne doesn’t actually know how to fight and is a cocaine addict who beats up women; however, he was a point fighting champion.
Belt rank is similar to Google page rank on your blog – it really doesn’t offer validity. Don’t get me started on that…LOL.
The anatomy diagram is from wikipedia – brachial plexus
The George Dilman pic is from his site. I will not link to him unless he lets me hit him as hard as I can.
#1 by teeni at August 12th, 2008
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Wow. Very interesting stuff. Remind me not to get you mad at me. I’ve always been suspicious of things when they pop up all over. Martial Arts schools shouldn’t be like a McDonalds!
#2 by Revellian at August 12th, 2008
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Hi Teeni! Haha…I don’t really ever get mad, and live much differently than I did while younger. Yes, many schools are like McDonald’s. They want to make lots of money, not actually offer anything worthwhile
#3 by Chris | Martial Development at August 13th, 2008
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Hey, you should be glad you didn’t end up like this watermelon!
#4 by Mindy at August 13th, 2008
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I’ve only started studying Thai style kickboxing about 10 months ago but our instructor works by having us practice the techniques – different punches and kicks and combinations of routines – while regularly having separate sparring classes for those wishing to learn to use them in combat situations.
One thing he always emphasises is defense and keeping on your guard – even while practising – so it becomes automatic. With little experience and not having been to one of the sparring sessions yet, the first thing I noticed catching about 5 minutes of a Van Damme film while channel surfing is he doesn’t defend at all. His hands were around his waist, not near his head.
His opponent wouldn’t have to work hard to land a pretty severe head blow cause he’d take far too long to react from where his hands were against someone with any dexterity.
#5 by Revellian at August 13th, 2008
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@Chris: I wonder if that scene is fake…haha!
@Mindy: Thai boxing is a great and very effective art for fighting, I should have mentioned it. If ou pay close attention, Van Damne only kicks with his left leg – I guess his right one doesn’t work.
#6 by Mindy at August 13th, 2008
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One-leg only eh? I’ll have to look out for that one…. I’m sure it’s probably very effective when fighting unicycles.
#7 by ettarose at August 13th, 2008
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Bobby, excellent story. I know people in their early twenties who swear they are black belts. You have proved it doesn’t come easy and certainly not in a year or two. Now I wonder if the folks I know are actually fighting point not actual fighting. On another note, you told me once when I was down, you would be my friend. I have not forgotten how that made me feel. I have given you an award and I would like you to come by and pick it up. Thanks for that Bobby.
#8 by Revellian at August 13th, 2008
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@Mindy: Bill “Superfoot” Wallace only kicked with one leg, but it was clocked at 70mph. I hope he kicks Van Damne’s good leg just for me
@Ettarose: Well, even if they can’t fight, they’re at least in shape if nothing else. I haven’t been doing very well lately and I will come pick up my award…Thanks so much!
#9 by Michelle Gartner at August 13th, 2008
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I read this the other night and it gave me goose bumps- I forgot what I was going to write then, because I had to put kids to bed. Probably something along the lines, that dude was lucky he didn’t break your neck. (I know it should be lucky your neck was not broken)- but that idiot could have lost his career over chopping some one in the neck like that.
And I say this as a Mother to five kids- even though you are probably around my age…. IF I EVER CATCH YOU ASKING SOME ONE TO KARATE CHOP YOU AGAIN YOU WILL BE GROUNDED UNTIL YOU ARE 50!
#10 by Revellian at August 14th, 2008
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@Michelle: I didn’t know he was going to chop me in the neck…lol! We maybe the same age. I will turn 21 this year – finally – old enough to legally drink!!!
#11 by DaveS at August 14th, 2008
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Excellent post Bobby!
There was a short period of time during my “moving” that I studied Wing Chung. Thought it would be a good way to get out and occupy myself. All of the bumps and bruises weren’t for me but I still do some of the “exercises” from time to time.
I will turn 21 this year – finally – old enough to legally drink!!!
hehehehehehe… I’ve decided to stay $48.95 + shipping and handling for a while.
#12 by dcr at August 14th, 2008
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I could knock you out over the Internet using my mental prowess, but you’re not trained to handle Internet kinetics, so I will refrain from doing that. Instead, I will make you sneeze. So, next time you sneeze, that was me. Now, I’m not sure how long the Internet kinetic sneeze energy will take to reach you, because it goes through the ethers and not Ethernet, and the energy may not know where to find you right away, so it could take anywhere from now to a month from now. But, rest assured, the next time you sneeze it will have been a result of the kinetic sneeze energy I’m sending your way.
Unless, of course, the sneeze is the result of some serious infection that may cause you discomfort, pain or death. In which case, that wasn’t me.
#13 by Revellian at August 14th, 2008
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@Dave: Wing Chun is a very interesting art – I’ve never studied it but have seen demonstrations. Actually, I’m 106 years old. I am on a canned anchovy and pineapple juice diet…LOL!
@Dan: ACHOOO!!!! My nose is bleeding! Your skills are formidable. After I get out of the hospital, I will psychokinetically mind blast you into oblivion!!!
#14 by DaveS at August 15th, 2008
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Yeah, I did find it very interesting.
Actually, one of the “excercises” we were to do on our own was to fill a large coffee can with sand. I still have one of the old metal ones for that purpose. Wrap a towel around the can and tape it in place.
Place the can on table, make a fist and put only your top knuckle against the can. The “flick” your wrist and strike the can with your bottom 3 knuckles trying to “slide” the can across the table.
I actually found that it was a help to my “trade” as it dramatically strengthened my wrists. Still do it today for that reason.
#15 by Genie Princess at August 15th, 2008
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Hola Bobby! I have a tag for you! Click here to have some FUN!
#16 by Eric "Speedcat Hollydale" at August 16th, 2008
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Google gave me a blackbelt … then a black eye!!
I know nothing about martial arts, but I have posted about my fighting prowess on many occasions. It is easy to be an expert of nothing at my blog. Ha haaaa!!!!
#17 by Genie Princess at August 17th, 2008
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Bobby!!!! I’m positive I left a comment here but I don’t see it anywhere!
:(:(
Anyway, I tagged u over at MPG, do stop by when u can okay? It’s time to relax and have some fun. Also, you are at Mariuca today YAY!
#18 by Debbie Dolphin at August 17th, 2008
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The Lord of Chun Kuk Do, Chuck Norris, and the Aikido Master, Steven Seagal never revealed their Dim Mak Movie Magic secrets to you?
#19 by Pandaren at August 18th, 2008
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LOL, I laughed so hard when I read he hit you s hard as he could. He really is a big man, I wonder how can anyone withstand his punch in the neck.
But at least some people know that he ain’t got the skills he claims to have. Haha, and all good deeds get punished
#20 by Matt from MMA Gyms at August 19th, 2008
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Call me bias, but if a technique is not useful in a mixed martial arts match, or a NHB (no rules) fight, then it is unlikely to be of any value at all.
I’ve studied various traditional martial arts, and have found them to be more about achieving mental and physical health than studying actual combat techniques. There is nothing wrong with this, as improving one’s health is much more useful than learning how to fight unarmed in this day and age.
There’s a great, funny, and sad video on youtube where a fraud actually agrees to put his magic touch to the test in a real NHB fight in Japan. The opponent looks like a Pancrase (MMA) fighter, and he makes short work out of the fraud:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEDaCIDvj6I
Oh, and another video taken from another angle shows a lot of people in attendance for this embarrassing demonstration.
#21 by Paula at August 20th, 2008
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http://www.paulasplayground.com/archives/million-dollar-baby/
#22 by Club Par Excellance at August 21st, 2008
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Great post! I hope one of these days you get to hit him back just as hard or even harder ;D I hate frauds. Interesting post about the Dim Mak, I didn’t believe that the dim mak actually exist except for in old skewl Chinese action flicks. But then my gf started taking tai chi and she started to build up a lot of energy/force or Ki i guess its called. It was pretty neat that I could feel or sense that energy. but i’ve also noticed that a lot of the other people that been doing it for a decade doesn’t have any Ki at all (or i just don’t sense any). I was wondering why would that be? they seem very dedicated to the art too.
#23 by Robin at August 21st, 2008
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Bobby,
I always wondered how those martial artist movie stars would fare in a real fight. What is your opinion on Chuck Norris? Do you think he could hang in a real fight?
#24 by teeni at August 21st, 2008
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Yoo-hoo!! Anybody home? Well, I’ll just leave these nice warm, fresh from the oven brownies here for you when you show back up at your blog. If they’re gone by the time you get here that just means we got hungry or you took too long. Or both.
#25 by kouji at August 22nd, 2008
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interesting post, and a little disenchanting. used to think that some of the stuff on tv, similar to this, was pretty cool. at the back of my mind, i’d think that it probably wasn’t real, but still, to have it confirmed is a wee bit disappointing.
#26 by Jeff at August 23rd, 2008
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You know when you are tagged with a MeMe you find out who your real friends are and I felt comfortable tagging you with this: My Seven Quirks MeMe! This is what I said on, #3. “I am so afraid of making mistakes in spelling or grammar that it keeps me from leaving comments on other people’s sites.” and I also said this, “I want to apologize to the people I am going to tag and please don’t feel obligate to participate if you don’t want to…It’s supposed to be fun and if it isn’t fun for you please don’t play along.
Enjoy Life!
#27 by Jean Chia at August 25th, 2008
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Hello Bobby! How are you? Hope you’re not so busy, coz i’ve got a tag for you!
#28 by Genie Princess at August 26th, 2008
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Bobby Bobby!!!! I LOVE my birthday card ha ha ha so cute!!!! And you’re the first to wish me Bobby!! Thanks so much, love and hugs for u. Hope u’re doing okay, you’ve been pretty quiet lately!
#29 by investing for beginners at August 26th, 2008
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just stumbled on your site and gotta say it gave me a good laugh.
i’m an MMA practitioner and have been for the better part of a decade. we used to challenge instructors of schools because what they told people would save their lives, usually had very LITTLE merit
but in line with your post, you may want to check out the gracies in action videos where they have challenge fights against various martial art school ‘masters’. one of which practices ‘death touch’ which is similar to your post. guess how the fight turned out lol
#30 by Genie Princess at August 27th, 2008
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I’m here Bobby! Bringing you some love and joy! And a nice yummy Mug cake to cheer you up! *HUGS*
#31 by Nick Phillips at August 29th, 2008
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Belt rank is similar to Google page rank on your blog! LMAO! That my friend is absolutely true
Oh, I took up Tae Kwon-Do when I was young and I absolutely agree with you. Most of what they teach, especially in the World Tae Kwon-Do federation (WTF) is totally different from what I learned in the International Tae Kwon-Do federation (ITF) and there is a difference in the two. Unfortunately the WTF is the one that is recognized in world sanctioned events like the Olympics and stuff and those guys are a bunch of useless point fighters!
Have a happy weekend Bobby
#32 by Monavie at September 2nd, 2008
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I’m lovin the analogy to Page Rank! I wish more people would realize it doesn’t matter. I can’t believe that story about George Dillman – what a joke! And the fact that he lied about his technique being too powerful for you just because he couldn’t knock you out…I’ll make sure to check out my nephews Karate instructors before they waste their money.
#33 by Hairdresser Helen at September 5th, 2008
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belt rank is similar to page rank lol, like the reference.
Good article.