Pressure Point Nerve Strike
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Nerve Lock·GM Angelo Baldissone
Master Angelo showing Nerve striking the shoulder using Pressure Points, seminars and dvd details are available from www…
Nerve Lock
Group神経圧迫技(Shinkei Appaku Waza)
TraditionalTranslation: Nerve Compression Techniques
Overview
Nerve locks are submission techniques that apply focused pressure directly to nerve bundles or pressure points, causing acute pain without necessarily threatening joint, vascular, or respiratory integrity. [8] The mechanism involves compressing a superficial nerve against underlying bone — for example, pressing the knuckles or forearm into the mandibular nerve under the jawline, the peroneal nerve on the outer leg, or the radial nerve on the forearm. [3] The pain generated can be intense and immediate, forcing the opponent to move, release a grip, or submit. Nerve locks are not widely used as primary competition submissions because their effectiveness varies significantly between individuals — pain tolerance, body composition, and adrenaline can reduce their reliability. [1] However, they serve important roles as positional tools: a nerve-pressure application under the jaw can force an opponent to lift their chin, exposing the neck for a choke; pressure on the intercostal nerves can break a defensive frame. [8] In competition, nerve locks are generally legal (they do not violate small-joint or spine-lock prohibitions) but are rarely decisive at the highest levels.
History & Origin
Pressure point and nerve manipulation techniques have deep roots in Asian martial arts traditions. Chinese martial arts developed kyusho-jitsu (vital point striking) and Dim Mak (點脈, point striking) systems that map pressure-sensitive nerve clusters throughout the body, with documentation dating to traditional Chinese medicine texts. Japanese martial arts incorporated these concepts as atemi-waza (striking vital points) in jujutsu and as nerve-pressure controls in law enforcement techniques (taiho-jutsu). [2],[3] In Okinawan karate, the study of pressure points (kyusho) was traditionally transmitted as advanced knowledge alongside kata interpretation. Western combat sports have also recognized nerve pressure applications — the 'can opener' in wrestling uses chin pressure to force spinal flexion, and various cross-face techniques in wrestling and MMA use forearm pressure on facial nerves as positional tools. [1],[8]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Nerve locks (pressure point attacks) appear in traditional jūjutsu, aikido, and self-defence systems, targeting nerve clusters to create pain compliance. [1]
Competition Record
Nerve locks are generally not effective at high-level competition and are banned or impractical in most competitive formats. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Bilateral compression of the carotid arteries — restricts blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness within seconds
Joints Involved — Cervical spine (lateral flexion), glenohumeral joint of the trapped arm (if arm-in), nuchal region
Force Vector — Lateral squeeze creates inward pressure on both sides of the neck simultaneously
Choking Mechanism — Vascular strangle — occludes carotid arteries and jugular veins, distinct from airway (tracheal) chokes
Position & Entry
From dominant position — Isolate the target limb, secure the controlling grip, and apply force beyond the joint's range of motion
From guard (bottom) — Control the limb from guard position, configure the submission grip, and apply the lock
From transition — During a scramble or positional change, catch the exposed limb and lock the submission
Videos
Striking Lung-6 Nerve on the arm
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Nerve Lock·GM Angelo Baldissone
Master Angelo shows striking the nerve point lung-6 and explains how to activate this point, Dvds are available through …
2 videos
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
4
Moderate4/10
Nerve compression causes acute pain but minimal structural damage
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Illegal
— IBJJF — Pain compliance without structural submission mec...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Not a recognized submission category
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Prohibited
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFLegal
— ADCC — Legal
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Combat Sambo — Legal
FIAS Combat Sambo RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Nerve locks apply pressure to specific nerve clusters and pressure points — creating intense pain that forces submission through neurological response rather than mechanical damage (Dillman, Pressure Point Fighting, 2002)
✓Nerve locks target the body's peripheral nerve clusters: the brachial plexus (neck), radial nerve (forearm), peroneal nerve (shin), and mandibular nerve (jaw)
✓Unlike joint locks that threaten structural damage, nerve locks create pain compliance — the opponent submits due to intense neural pain
✓Nerve locks are most effective when combined with positional control — a free opponent can simply move away from the pressure
✓Nerve locks have deep roots in traditional martial arts: dim mak (Chinese), kyusho-jitsu (Japanese), and varma kalai (Indian) all systematise pressure point attacks
✓The effectiveness of nerve locks varies between individuals — some people have higher pain tolerance or slightly different nerve locations
✓In competition grappling, nerve locks are generally legal because they cause pain without structural damage — but their reliability is debated
Common Mistakes
!Relying on nerve locks as primary submissions — they are supplementary tools that enhance positional control, not standalone finishing techniques
!Expecting nerve locks to work on everyone — individual anatomy and pain tolerance vary; some opponents will not respond
!Applying nerve pressure without positional dominance — the opponent must be controlled first; a free opponent simply moves away
!Using nerve locks instead of proper technique — nerve locks should enhance technique, not replace it; a properly applied armbar doesn't need nerve pressure
!Training nerve locks without understanding anatomy — study the nerve pathways; random pressing on the body is ineffective
!Applying excessive force — nerve locks require precise pressure, not crushing force; more pressure doesn't equal better results
!Dismissing nerve locks entirely — while unreliable as primary attacks, they are useful tools for grip breaking, position maintenance, and transition creation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinkingTwo-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locksTurn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressurePosture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle
Setup Chain
1Achieve Controlling Position — secure the position from which the choke is applied
2Isolate the Neck — clear defending hands and establish access to the throat
3Set the Grip — lock the choking configuration (arm, lapel, or leg placement)
4Apply Pressure — squeeze to compress the carotid arteries for the finish
Sources & References
Primary Source
Kodokan Judo — Jigoro Kano (1986)
1BookKodokan Judo — Jigoro Kano (1986)
Atemi-waza and pressure point applications in judo context
2BookMastering Jujitsu — Renzo Gracie, John Danaher (2003)
Nerve pressure as positional tool in modern grappling
Official Kodokan ground technique classification system
Standard Japanese martial arts terminology (kanji/hiragana)
5OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
6CitationKodokan Judo — Jigoro Kano (1986)
Atemi-waza and pressure point applications in judo context
7CitationMastering Jujitsu — Renzo Gracie, John Danaher (2003)
Nerve pressure as positional tool in modern grappling
Community
Athletics
Requires
grip strength, joint isolation ability, positional control
Favours
strong forearms and stable base
Key muscles
forearm flexors, core stabilisers, hip muscles for base
Sub-techniques
Notes
Nerve locks target specific nerve points to create pain and compliance — used in aikido, hapkido, and law enforcement. Different from joint locks in that they attack nerves rather than joints. Limited competition application due to the difficulty of reliably targeting specific nerve points during live resistance. (Aikido and Hapkido texts; law enforcement manuals)
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I accidentally hit a nerve point too hard and cause pain?
According to GM Angelo Baldissone, you can relieve the pain by massaging the area in a circle and then applying a light slap at about half the force you used initially. This helps dissipate the energy that was driven into the point.
Which knuckles should I use to strike a nerve lock effectively?
GM Angelo Baldissone recommends using your last two knuckles (the small ones) because the angle allows you to strike effectively in and up toward the target.
How hard should I strike when practicing nerve locks on a partner?
GM Angelo Baldissone emphasizes that you don't need to strike hard—it's enough that your partner feels it and you know where the point is. The technique works best under tension as the opponent moves, because this naturally opens up the target area.
How does the Nerve Lock work?
Nerve locks are submission techniques that apply focused pressure directly to nerve bundles or pressure points, causing acute pain without necessarily threatening joint, vascular, or respiratory integrity. The mechanism involves compressing a superficial nerve against underlying bone — for example, pressing the knuckles or forearm into the mandibular nerve under the jawline, the peroneal nerve on the outer leg, or the radial nerve on the forearm.
Where does the Nerve Lock come from?
Pressure point and nerve manipulation techniques have deep roots in Asian martial arts traditions. Chinese martial arts developed kyusho-jitsu (vital point striking) and Dim Mak (點脈, point striking) systems that map pressure-sensitive nerve clusters throughout the body, with documentation dating to traditional Chinese medicine texts.
Is the Nerve Lock legal in competition?
IBJJF: banned — Pain compliance without structural submission mechanism is prohibited; IJF: banned — Not a recognized submission category; ADCC: legal — Legal; Unified MMA: legal — Legal; FIAS Sport Sambo: banned — Prohibited; FIAS Combat Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Nerve Lock?
Danger rating 4/10. Nerve compression causes acute pain but minimal structural damage
How do I set up the Nerve Lock?
The standard setup chain: Achieve Controlling Position → Isolate the Neck → Set the Grip → Apply Pressure.
How do I defend against the Nerve Lock?
Standard counters include: Tuck Chin — protect the neck by lowering the chin to prevent the choke from sinking / Two-on-One Grip Fight — use both hands to strip the choking grip before it locks / Turn Into — rotate toward the choking arm to relieve carotid pressure / Posture Up — straighten the spine and create distance to break the choking angle.
What are the variants of the Nerve Lock?
Common variants: Standard variation (primary grip configuration and finishing angle); Gi variation (using the gi material for grip assistance and control); No-gi variation (adapted grips for submission grappling without the gi); Transition variation (applied during a positional change or scramble).
How effective is the Nerve Lock in competition?
Nerve locks are generally not effective at high-level competition and are banned or impractical in most competitive formats.
What are common mistakes when doing the Nerve Lock?
Top errors to watch for: Relying on nerve locks as primary submissions — they are supplementary tools that enhance positional control, not sta… / Expecting nerve locks to work on everyone — individual anatomy and pain tolerance vary; some opponents will not respond / Applying nerve pressure without positional dominance — the opponent must be controlled first; a free opponent simply … / Using nerve locks instead of proper technique — nerve locks should enhance technique, not replace it; a properly appl….
What are other names for the Nerve Lock?
The Nerve Lock is also known as Shinkei Appaku Waza, Pressure Point Techniques, Kyusho-waza, Nerve Compression.