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The Death Touch - Ancient Discoveries
Uploaded to YouTube by: TDumican
Date of Upload: March 22, 2009
Info-Description: Extract from "Death Weapons of the East" - a documentary about the Ancient Chinese martial arts for Ancient
Discoveries, History US. Produced and directed by Tom Dumican for Wild Dream
Films.
["Ancient Discoveries: Death Weapons of the East "The oldest known weapon is the staff. Watch with
surprising results a comparison test between a staff and a shotgun. Learn about
the ermei--a deadly Chinese underwater attack weapon. "Which is more powerful, a meteor hammer or a
punch? Can Chi Warriors really kill a man with a single touch? Investigate the
ability of eastern warriors to withstand pain such as smashing concrete on live
human heads. "Finally, ancient Chinese crossbows are examined,
including one small enough to fit up your sleeve." ; — historyasia.com/synopsis.aspx?libId=734&sId=264&sTime=1380]
Tags: Tom Dumican Death Touch Ancient Discoveries Wild Dream Films Dim Mak
Kung Fu Wu-Dang martial arts
1.0 Preamble
This webpage is about the Death Touch from Chinese Kung Fu (or Martial Arts) ...
2.0 Notes
Wikipedia — the very useful, user-editable and free online
encyclopedia — explains about the Death Touch as follows ...
Touch of Death
The Touch of Death refers to any martial arts move that can, supposedly, kill while using
seemingly less than lethal force targeted at specific areas of the body.
The term is due to Count Dante, a martial arts teacher and eccentric active in the 1960s to 1970s Chicago.
The concept is known as Dim Mak, ... literally "press artery"....
It originates in the Wuxia genre of Chinese martial arts fiction.
It is depicted as a technique of Chinese martial arts, consisting in an attack
on pressure points and meridians, said to incapacitate or sometimes cause
immediate or even delayed death to an opponent.
[
See Cecil Adams, "Is the 'ninja death touch' real?", The Straight Dope, May 21, 2004.
From the 1990s, some authors, notoriously George Dillman, have identified Dim-Mak with the Japanese term Kyu-shojutsu (... "technique of vital points"), the concept of attacking "pressure points"
found in various schools of Japanese martial arts.
History
The concept of Dim Mak (Dian Xue) appears among the fictional martial arts
styles in the novels of Jin Yong from the 1950s.
Although Dim Mak originates in Wuxia fiction, there have been a number of
martial artists claiming to practice the technique in real life, beginning in
the 1960s with US American eccentric Count Dante, who associated it with the
English moniker "The Death Touch".
By the 1980s, Dim Mak was well known in US American pop culture. The Black Belt magazine in 1985 carried the speculation that the death of Bruce Lee in 1973 may have been caused by "a delayed reaction to a dim mak strike he
received several weeks prior to his collapse" alongside an article about Cai li fo [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cai_li_fo] instructor Wong Doc-Fai to the effect that "dim mak does actually exist and is still taught to a few
select kung fu practicioners".
[
See Jane Hallander, "The Death Touch" in Black Belt, ISSN 0277-3066, Vol. 23, No. 6, June 1985, pp. 43ff.
A 1986 book on qi identifies dim mak as "one of the secret specialites" of wing chun [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_chun].
[
See William Cheung, Mike Lee, How to Develop Chi Power, Black Belt Communications, 1986, ISBN 9780897501101, p. 23.
]
Dim Mak is referenced non-ironically in Bloodsport (1988), a film allegedly "based on true events in the life of Frank Dux", the founder of the first Neo-ninja [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-ninja] school of "American Style Ninjutsu [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninjutsu]".
In circa 1990, Taika Seiyu Oyata founded the style of Ryu-te [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%AB-te] which involves "pressure-point fighting" (Kyu-shojutsu).
In the 1990s, karate instructor George Dillman developed a style that involves
kyu-shojutsu, a term that he identifies with Dim-Mak. Dillman eventually went
as far as claiming to have developed qi-based attacks that work without
physical contact ("no-touch knockout" techniques), a claim that did not stand up to third-party investigation and
consequently denounced as fraudulent.
[
See M. Polidoro, "Just like Jedi knights", Skeptical Inquirer, May/June 2008, p. 21.
"In September 2005, National Geographic Channel's Is It Real? program (episode 20) asked for a demonstration of "Knockout" Chi (a no-touch
knockout technique), during which instructor Leon Jay was unable to knock-out
Luigi Garlaschelli, an investigator from CICAP." "CICAP (Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle
Affermazioni sul Paranormale; in English Italian Committee for the
Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) is an Italian, non-profit, skeptic
organization, founded in 1989. CICAP's main goals are the promotion of the
scientific analysis of alleged paranormal phenomena. It is a member of the
European Council of Skeptical Organizations." bsp; — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CICAP
]
Also during the 1990s, Tai chi chuan [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi_chuan] master Erle Montaigue (b. 1949) has published a number of books and instruction videos on Dim Mak.
Montaigue claims to be "the first Westerner to be granted the degree of
'Master' in taijiquan and dim-mak". According to Montaigue's own account,
Dim-Mak is a style of Wudangquan [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wudangquan] which he learned in 1978 from a master called Chiang Yiu-chun.
[
"Erle travelled back to Australia upon the death of his father in 1978 and
[...] met Chiang Yiu-chun who became Erle's main internal arts teacher from
whom he learnt REAL Tai Chi, Wudang Arts and Dim-Mak. In 1981, Erle travelled
to Hong Kong where he met and trained with both Yang Sau-chung (the son of Yang
Cheng-fu) and also Ho Ho-choy, the great Bagua master."
— taijiworld.com/about_me/about_me.htm
]
Besides the books by Montaigue, Paladin Press has other titles on the topic,
including Kelly (2001) and Bauer and Walker (2002), both with a foreword by
Montaigue.
Cultural references
"Touch of Death" techniques appear in a number of kung fu films:
In Bloodsport (1988), Jean-Claude Van Damme's character proves he belongs in the Kumite
tournament by demonstrating the Dim Mak attack to the judges. Though the
demonstration was conducted on a stack of bricks instead of a human opponent,
the film does refer to the move as a "Dim Mak" and "Death Touch".
In Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Jade Fox uses a Dim Mak attack on Bo during a fight which paralyzed Bo
and prevented him from moving and further attacking her. The effects were
quickly reversed when Li Mu Bai applied a similar Dim Mak move to counter it.
The Bride [codenamed "Black Mamba"; played by Uma Thurman] in Kill Bill (2004) learns the "Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique" from her teacher
Pai Mei. In the Shaw Brothers films Clan of the White Lotus and Executioners of Shaolin, the character Pai Mei/Bak Mei uses a Ten Point Exploding Heart Technique as
well as a "100-step soul catching" Dim Mak which allowed the victim to take a
certain number of steps before dying.
In Serenity (film) (2005), the Operative utilises an attack that renders the target
completely paralysed, allowing for him to kill them easily.
The concept has entered pop culture to the point where it has been referenced
in diverse media, including use in:
The fictional martial art "Hokuto Shinken" from Fist of the North Star (1983-1988) and Fist of the Blue Sky uses pressure point strikes to instantly kill.
An episode of Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) titled "Day of the Samurai" was themed around the touch of death.
In the series Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008), Ty Lee uses techniques akin to Dim Mak, stunning her opponents by
striking at appropriate pressure points.
In the 2008 animated film Kung Fu Panda, Tai Lung and Master Oogway demonstrated Dim Mak-style moves that paralyzed
their opponents while Po and Master Shifu possessed a more powerful
accu-pressure maneuver called the "Wuxi Finger Hold".
In Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, one of the protagonists uses the "Vibrating Palm Death Touch", which kills
the opponent one year after it is used.
There is a record label called Dim Mak Records.
In the series Quincy, M.E. (Season 3, 1977) an episode entitled "Touch of Death" was about a martial arts
movie star that mysteriously died while making a new film. Jack Klugman as Dr.
Quincy discovers that he died because he had received the dim mak 10 days
earlier.
—
Adapted from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_of_Death
3.0 YouTube Videos
3.1 Video Clips
The popular video hosting site, YouTube, carries numerous videos about Death Touch and other martial arts techniques, skills, topics, etc. Here is a sample ...
Tags: MMA martial arts karate death touch humor Ultimate Fighter UFC
Stephan Bonnar fighting
pressure point death touch taekwondo Martial art
Ashida Kim Ninja Death Touch Dim Mak steel trap test
dillman mma ma chi pride ufc karate
Dillman Martial Arts Chi
ChosonNinja Aikido Hapkido Judo Juijutsu Karate KungFu Nintaijutsu
Ninjutsu China Filippino Japan Korea
chosenDTGkarate
3.1.1 Video Summaries
Here are the YouTube video summaries:
Title: Martial Arts Death Touch From: GracieKiller Added: May 13, 2006 Info-Description: A Fox Chicago newscast about a karate instructor who knocks people out
without even touching them. Notice that Stephan Bonnar is one of the Carlson Gracie jiu-jitsu students who
is apparently immune to the deadly technique.
Title: The real human stun gun From: DarkLightWhite Added: May 31, 2009 Info-Description: Mind Body & Kick Ass Moves - Dim Mak Death Touch
Duan Bao Hua - Liang Yi Dian Xue Gong Fu (Dim Mak) Duan Bao Hua is the Master and Inheritor of Liang Yi Dian Xue Gong Fu (Liang Yi
Pressure Point Kung Fu), a rare internal martial art that has been passed down
within the Duan family for generations. Also known as Dim Mak or the Death
Touch, the art, based on the theory of Yin and Yang or the Liang Yi (Twin
Poles), combines soft and slow practice methods similar to Tai Qi Quan with the
fast and sudden release of power similar to Xing Yi Quan.
Striking the pressure points can cause different results; some might lose their
power of speech, others might be paralysed temporarily. The opponent can only
be restored to 'normal' by striking alternative pressure points.
[...]
Title: Dim Mak Finger Test From: skssystems Added: January 13, 2007 Info-Description: Grandmaster Ashida Kim shows the Ninja Death Touch by putting his hand in
a steel animal trap! Ouch! Visit Grandmaster Ashida Kim online at AshidaKim.com
or his book store at Dojopress.com.
Title: George Dillman - National Geographic Channel From: scrappydog65 Added: September 30, 2008 Info-Description: Master Dillman discusses the use of the Chi for no touch knock outs. www.dillman.com/
Title: Dillman explains chi KO nullification From: EcdysiastMidget Added: May 06, 2006 Info-Description: A famous skeptic stands up to a chi ko! George Dillman, martial arts
fraud, tries to explain why the chi KO didn't work.
Title: SPEED & KNOCK OUT punch by ChosonNinja. #103 From: ChosonNinja Added: August 16, 2007 Info-Description: DISCLAIMER: "These videos are for entertainment purposes only. The videos are not for
instruction and are not intended to encourage viewers to try anything without
first learning from a qualified instructor. No one should attempt to try these
techniques without being trained and supervised by a qualified person."
Title: 372 Pressure Points human chart Part 1 From: ChosonNinja Added: March 14, 2008 Info-Description: Teach with love and protect those you love. DISCLAIMER: "These videos are for entertainment purposes only. The videos are not for
instruction and are not intended to encourage viewers to try anything without
first learning from a qualified instructor. No one should attempt to try these
techniques without being trained and supervised by a qualified person."
Title: 298 Wing Chun by ChosonNinja From: ChosonNinja Added: December 30, 2007 Info-Description: Teach with love! I will post elements and drills. I'm not into fancy names but I customise it for easy learning. I'll even make
up names for you to remember them easier. The techniques is important and not the name. I will come down to a childrens
language if i have to. Its about your UNDERSTANDING! The key word is
"Understanding". DISCLAIMER: "These videos are for entertainment purposes only. The videos are not for
instruction and are not intended to encourage viewers to try anything without
first learning from a qualified instructor. No one should attempt to try these
techniques without being trained and supervised by a qualified person."
4.0 Postscript
This webpage is a preliminary article, comprising some brief notes and some
YouTube video clips, on the Death Touch from various martial arts, notably Chinese Kung Fu ... More to come!
Please do not assume or conclude that, just because I present many views (in
the form of textual notes and video clips) on this website, it means that I am
in agreement with or that I believe in the views offered-proferred ... That
would be displaying such a parochial and provincial attitude, towards this
website and towards me as well!
As an ex-military officer, I assure you that I am in the habit of reading,
viewing and digesting lots of stuff that I don't necessarily believe in ... We
call all the stuff we read, view and digest, 'military intelligence' ... The
same applies with 'business intelligence' in the business world, of course.
Our aim, as usual, is to find out what others (including our friends, enemies,
competitors, suppliers, strategic partners, business partners, etc.) believe in
... In order to do that effectively, we have to 'get out of the way', so to
speak ... we have to remove our humongous ego! ... else we will never ever
really have gotten started in our journey of exploration and discovery of the
Mysteries of the World
.
Here is a sentiment that I am wholeheartedly in agreement with ...
As I sit down to redo this book for an American audience, what rises before me
is last night's dream: I'm in a broad and beautiful land among many trees. It's
night. I look up at a huge old tree that's dark against the starry sky in its
detail of twig and branch. There is room enough here for all of us, I realize,
here in this big, intricately textured park. But I see that some want to cut
down the trees and level it out, so huge throngs of people can gather to gaze
up at the sun's glare. I watch dark twigs fingering the remote, untouchable
stars. A voice speaks: "Don't turn this into a Copernican Garden."
Waking up, I remember that I went to sleep wondering how to put this book
together. And I take "Copernican Garden" to mean a parking lot vista where
masses gather to honor the bright sun of traditional science with its old rules
as the center of the universe.
So I will not cut down the trees and level this book out. It is between you and
me [or you and I], a conversation as we stroll along in a moonlit fractal
garden past webby connections of thought that merge to patterned insight. Here
hidden delights nestle in scaling patterns of self-similar but never quite
repeating beauty. Here the tree of life hold stars in its branches. No matter
how huge, this garden stays human-sized because we have a place in it, you and
I. No need to cut down the connective forest and level things out for that
bright Sol [sun] of left-brain logic whose daytime dazzle — so
close and glaring — can blind us to the myriad constellations
beyond.
[...]
— Katya Walter,
Tao of Chaos
Sub-title:
Merging East and West
(1994, 1996)
Here is an observation (adapted) made in the Acknowledgement page of a book ...
It takes many minds to produce a book [including an e-book, of course].
Although most authors [especially of non-fiction books and articles] would
prefer not to admit this fact, fundamentally they are merely 'synthesisers' of
accumulated knowledge.
The process of synthesising may unveil a new reality map, or paradigm, which,
in due course, will be used by future pioneers to unveil further paradigms.
This principle was summed up by Sir Isaac Newton when he remarked: "If I have
seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants".
[...]
— Christian von Nidda,
Our Secret Planet
(2005)
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We will, of course, come to a conclusion (eventually!) about each 'Mystery' ...
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'unexplained to our satisfaction'.
