Atemi

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In Japanese martial arts, atemi designate blows to the body, as opposed to twisting of joints , strangleholds, holding technique and throws. Atemi can be delivered by any part of the body to any part of the opponents body. They can be percussive or use 'soft' power. Karate is a typical martial art focusing on percussive atemi. The location of nerve and pressure points, such as might be used for certain acupressure methods, also often informs the choice of targets for atemi.

Some strikes against vital parts of the body can kill or incapacitate the opponent: on the solar plexus, at the temple, under the nose, in the eyes, genitals, or under the chin. Traditional Japanese martial arts (the ancestors of judo, jujutsu and aikido) do not commonly practice atemi, since they were supposed to be used on the battlefield against armoured opponents. However, there are certain exceptions.

Atemi can be complete techniques in and of themselves, but are also often used to briefly break an opponent's balance or resolve. (For example, this is the predominant usage of atemi in aikido.) A painful but non-fatal blow to an area such as the eyes, face, or some vulnerable part of the abdomen can open the way for a more damaging technique, such as a throw or joint lock. Even if the blow does not land, the opponent can be distracted, and may instinctively contort their body (e.g., jerking their head back from a face strike) in such a way that they lose their balance. This effect can be similar to that of a powerful kiai.

The development of atemi techniques arises from the evolution of the Japanese martial arts, in particular ju-jitsu. Early styles of ju-jitsu from Sengoku-era Japan were created as a means of unarmed combat for a samurai who had lost his weapons on the battlefield. The purpose of ju-jitsu was to disarm the opponent and use their own weapon against them. As such, strikes to the body were limited as the intended victim would have been wearing extensive body armour. However, in later styles of ju-jitsu from Edo-period Japan empty-handed strikes to the body became more common as full-scale military engagement began to decline. This meant that the ju-jitsu practitioner's opponent would not have been wearing armour and the vital points that form the crux of atemi-waza were more exposed. Thus atemi began to play a pivotal role in unarmed killing and restraining techniques.

In modern styles of martial arts (such as Nihon-ryu ju-jitsu) the atemi may be classified into two categories- the primary atemi and the secondary atemi. Primary atemi, when attacked correctly, cause death whereas the secondary cause temporary, or in some cases permanent, paralysis. Owing to the potential danger of the vital points, atemi-jitsu is termed a "waza" or secret technique passed down from master to student. Atemi-jitsu is an extremely difficult art and few attain a high level of profficiency. Indeed, true atemi masters do not even number in their hundreds around the world, but in their tens. Despite the deadly potential of the atemi, it is important to realise that in the context of martial art where the aim is to prevent violence, the atemi are not intended to be used as a means for inflicting serious harm on your opponent. One must appreciate the Eastern philosophy that one cannot know how to protect life without also knowing how to destroy it.

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