Karate/Expert Profile

Expertise

I can answer historical or technical questions involving most Okinawan/Japanese styles of Karate and Kobujitsu. Also I have made a study of the acupoints and other pressure points and have researched the medical explanations of why they work the way they do. Ask me questions about the neurological implications of pressure point strikes. If I don`t know an answer I will gladly research it.

Experience in the area

I have 34 years experience in traditional Shito-Ryu Karate. I am currently Rokudan in Shito-Ryu and Sandan in Kobujitsu. I practice the Seito method of doing the Shito-Ryu kata. Also I study as often as possible with Seiyu Oyata, although this has not been as often as I would like. My research of pressure points caused me to study the peripheral nervous system, spinal laminae, corticothalamic network, reticular activating system and various links to other brain areas. I currently have 2 articles out on the subject.

Publications

MARF news letter.

Education/Credentials

AAS Microprecision Technology

Awards and Honors

Graduated Sigma AAS, Renshi grade TKA, Illinois state representative TKA.

What do you like about this subject?

It explains how many things work that were previously unexplainable.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

As much as I can retain. I hope to uncover and illuminate the neurochemical mechanisms that are involved in triggering an unconscious state in response to impact.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

The Thalamus acts as both filter and amplifier in different circumstances, responding to cortical messages marking specific areas of the body as either irrelevant or highly salient. The Thalamus then reduces what sensory information is relayed through to the cortex, and ultimately the conscious brain.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Strikes that cause a knock out generally cause a small degree of n tissue due to momentary drop of oxygenation of the brain. Over time, this effect is cumulative if many knock outs are performed and this can lead to serious consequences. In particular, the Reticular Activating System is involved in this type of knock out and can be damaged. Such damage might trigger seizures, even in extreme