Vince Morris is a Karateka that has become world renowned for his no-nonsense approach to martial arts and fighting. He is also the founder of the Kissaki Kai.

In an article I wrote some 9 months or so ago, I mentioned in the preface that I was concerned that too much was being made of the vital point striking and grappling part of karate, and that if not seen in a proper light - as an extra element of close-range defence techniques in real situations - then it could become "flavour of the month", much to its detriment, and to the disservice of serious teachers who wished to bring it to the notice and judgement of karate-ka (and other martial artists) who might see it useful both in terms of enlarging their understanding of Kata, and as another weapon in their close-range armoury.

Of course, some publicity was necessary to arouse people's interest, and certain exponents - George Dillman for example - being somewhat larger than life characters, attract publicity wherever they go.

In the main, this is inevitable, as the art of Kyusho-jutsu and its concomitant, Tuite, is spectacularly successful at some things, particularly in making effective sense out of many of what - frankly - were nonsensical Kata applications which were seemingly totally removed from the reality of personal combat, and were thus instrumental in relegating the practice of Kata to a secondary position in terms of fighting efficiency.

Having said this, however, and what's more demonstrating it to thousands of martial artists around the world, I also make a point of underlining the fact that it is only an adjunct to the student's fighting repertoire. It is not 'instead of' anything, it is 'as well as', if you like.

The truth is that unless the person using Kyusho and Tuite techniques is already a skilled martial artist, then they will certainly not be able to apply the often fast and complex higher level techniques with sufficient expertise to make them work to optimum effect.

I also try to stress (and show) that the use of the mind in co-ordination with the physical technique is absolutely necessary if the proper penetration of the strikes is to be achieved. (In fact I very often invite karate-ka on the seminars to punch me to the body as hard as they possibly can, and after 5 or 6 punches they are usually mad enough to really go for it, but - touch wood and I know I'm on borrowed time - no-one so far has been able to achieve the ikken hisatsu that karate strives so hard to achieve. (Thank God!)

I then ask the puncher's permission to demonstrate the difference in a relaxed low power punch to his tensed abdomen, and although I take great pains to ensure that I do not hurt or injure them, I usually manage to show the effects of using the mind and body co-ordinated.

I don't claim anything special about this, and of course I know I'm not the only one who can do this. But the truth is that everyone should be able to do it!

The ability to focus mind, spirit and body is the essence of all martial arts and practice in it should be a prerequisite. The reason it doesn't seem to be is that so many techniques in the majority of cases are done into the empty air, and 'kime' is often internalising the flow of ki (or ballistic energy, whatever you wish to call it).

Again, I understand why this should be so, as a good punch will perhaps hurt a partner, and so to drive home a technique in order to judge its effectiveness is therefore not an accepted method of practice. The other side of this coin, unfortunately, is that other methods of gaining direct experiential feedback (using bags regularly) are seldom used in many Dojos, thus the student is encouraged to develop the less effective type of kime.

With kyusho techniques, however, especially to non-vital areas, and being mindful of the fact that the blows are relatively light compared to the full-power strikes in kihon or Kata. it is quite obvious when proper penetration is achieved. So yet another value for knowledge of Kyusho is that it allows readily recognisable proof of just how effectively you co-ordinate mind and body, and how well or badly you can penetrate a target area for full effect of your blows.

By the way, I am not advocating that major vital points are struck this way in practice, but it is safe to certain areas on the arms for example, and for extra safety's sake I also have the students wearing two sets of leg-pads (yes, leg-pads) on the arms to cushion the vital points. The penetration can be easily felt even through this protection if properly applied, but the force is dissipated.

So, I make no apology for claiming that knowledge of Kyusho and Tuite can only enhance one's appreciation of whatever martial art one practises.

In my last article, an interview with George Dillman, we discussed the problem facing the regular martial artist, of deciding who to go to learn about Kyusho.

One thing I am not going to do is to try and claim that anyone (least of all myself) is the fount of all knowledge on the subject.

George and I both agreed, that you should check out anyone purporting to have knowledge, and then apply the test of logic. Can you understand the sense of what is being taught? Does it stand up to scrutiny? Does it conform to historical evidence or is it a mere flight of fancy? Is the teacher possessing real knowledge or simply jumping on a bandwagon and passing on second-hand information culled from other people's tapes and books? Is the practice taught with concern for safety? Will the teacher happily answer any questions, and do so satisfactorily?

These points are necessary to raise, as many will claim a knowledge of vital points. Indeed, some will quite rightly do so as did 7th Dan Ju-jutsu-ka François Van Haesendonck on hearing about Kyusho from his senior instructors.

François, who was instrumental in bringing the martial arts into Belgium some 30 plus years ago actually said to me that he and his fellow practitioners used to use vital point strikes 40 years ago when he trained with the venerable Mr Koizumi in London, but all they got were bruises. Now François recommends that a knowledge of Kyusho and tuite be incorporated into their regular practice and is even modifying the Kata!

The difference is not in the location of the points, but in the method and sequence in which they are used!

When François saw the dramatic effect of using Kyusho properly (in seminars and in private practice too) he was in no doubt at all about making use of such knowledge.

Some others, however, do not have such understandable reasons for claiming knowledge of Kyusho, so what George suggests is that you ask them to show techniques which are not on his videos!

There are other problems too. Sometimes with the best of intentions grandiose claims are made, and given the weight of "Fact" rather than opinion. For example I've recently read an article by a very respected Karate-ka where it was claimed that the Meridians ..."Were said to contain a free flowing, colourless, non-cellular liquid" and that the points were..."electro-magnetic in character and consist of small oval cells, called bonham corpuscles which surround the capillaries in the skin, the blood vessels and throughout the body."

Yes, it has been so claimed, but never by anyone who has been able to actually come up with any proof. The fact is that there could be many reasons for the effectiveness of kyusho, indeed I and my students, including members of the medical profession, are even enlisting the aid of a professor of neurology to try and gain a better understanding of the phenomena.

To date there has been no scientific 'proof' of the physical existence of the meridians. Only in the manner in which a testable physical response can be demonstrated from their manipulation, and although the theory of meridians etc., was demonstrably used by the formulators of some of the Kata, there could be other as yet not understood reasons for the effects achieved.

Naturally, if so this no way effects the interpretation of the Kata bunkai which were formulated under the conditions and knowledge prevailing at the time!

So what if you can't talk directly to the teacher, how then can you judge?

Well, sometimes photographs will help. For example if they purport to show a kyusho technique, but actually still perpetuate unreasonable practice, then you should again ask yourself "Is this really going to work in a fight?" If the technique is shown properly, then the answer will be "Yes!"

If, on the other hand, you see arms held in a Kata-like position but doing nothing, whilst the legs do something, beware. There are no techniques in Kyusho where a position is maintained for no practical reason.

Again you might see Kyusho techniques demonstrated as if they were doing regular Ippon kumite. Fine, but not if they are done from the usual long range. Kyusho doesn't work that way. Nor should you accept one hand or fist being pressed into the other arm and being used as a block (augmented block, for instance). Ask yourself, have you ever blocked this way in a fight? No, kyusho has other reasons for one hand pressing on the other arm or wrist or whatever, and none are for augmenting a block!

In the same way, you should beware of bunkai which ask you to block a kick with Juji-uke (cross-hand block) thus leaving your head wide open to be punched off in a real situation. All kyusho situations ARE real, and techniques must pass the test of working in such scenarios, not with a compliant partner who will not punch your exposed targets!

At the end of the day, you will just have to apply liberal doses of common-sense. Remember, no kyusho or Kata technique for that matter was invented to gain marks out of ten for style, grace and form. the only reason for their original existence was to help you survive an attack. If they fall down there, then they are simply wrong. and should be thrown out.