Pressure Point Seminar
In 1999 several articles, interviews and advertisements in Combat Magazine caught my eye. A Grandmaster Rick Moneymaker from the USA was holding training seminars in the UK. He had developed a pressure point syllabus of techniques and theories based on the Chinese theory of Chi, the meridians and the five elements using acupressure points. He had used the name Torite Jutsu to describe his system although it has existed for many years in other forms, mainly from a Chinese origin. He had put the system out there and developed it into a commercially available format. His organisation is known as Dragon Society International.
On the day…
I attended Rick Moneymakers seminar in High Wycombe accompanied by two of my Taekwon-do students. There were about 30 to 40 students attending the seminar from a varied martial arts background. I was partnered with two guys from a military background who were very well experienced in martial arts.
Rick Moneymaker made a point of informing us that Moneymaker is in fact his real name and he wasn’t trying to just make money from everyone. I guess he had to clear up that point. The day consisted of mostly practical applications which is just what you need, not sitting in a classroom learning what you can learn from a book. Most of the techniques consisted of two or three contacts with pressure points resulting in a take down or strike. The theory behind the pressure points, their location and in what order to use the strikes or pressure is far too involved for a short blog article. With hundreds of pressure points over the surface of the body all linked to meridian lines the theory is very complex. We learned about five to ten sets of techniques throughout the day. The guys I partnered with hit and threw me around pretty hard, enough to feel the theory and techniques. With no serious injuries it was a good day.
Aftermath…
It concluded with a photo, and being one of the last students to leave I then found my car wouldn’t start. Rick Moneymaker successfully bump started the car and I was on my way.
I had a collection of VHS videos containing his Dragon Society International syllabus. Unfortunately my personal circumstances didn’t allow me to study them in any further detail.
Although the videos have now gone this is a subject that’s definitely worth a revisit. A believe to be proficient in these skills you would have to study these techniques and theories for a considerable time. Best practice would be to choose your favourite three or four applications and master them.
Dragon Society International
Click on the image below for the Dragon Society International website:
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