CAVITY # Mimi

• Name: Mimi, definition the ear itself.
• Striking point: None
• Location: Whole of the Ear
• Direction of strike: Perpendicular
• Depth: This is the standard compression strike.
• Vasculation: Facial Vein
• Innervation: Facial Nerve
• Type of damage: Eardrum, Swelling of the outer ear.
• Power: Extreme rooted stance, high speed, slight twist of the upper torso.
• Technique: This strike is a standard technique shown in all systems.
• Weapon: Blunt; Palm Heel, one finger fist, back fist, dagger fist.
• Best strike time: Any time of the day or night.
• Effect: Rupture of the tympanic membrane (ear drum), unconsciousness, concussion.
• Result: Possible deafness, trauma to surrounding nerves and veins, shock. Note; All the point of the human body are accessible from the ears or the feet. Effects or results may be numberless.
• Cure: Depending on type of strike use and force of strike, recovery is possible on all count. Hearing loss may heal naturally or may be corrected by surgery.

Commentary

Although this strike is an old standard, used in every martial arts school from here to Timm Buck To, it is shown on many ancient manuscripts as a devastating blow. Therefore I have listed the ear along with its surrounding pressure points (Mimi). The double palm heel strike (one, two each ear) has been demonstrated by instructors around the world to beginners of there style as a counter to many types of two-handed grabs and the like, and rightly so. In advanced Kata, this strike is revealed as a one handed strike to one ear. The reason is, a beginner in the martial arts my not be able to generate enough power to produce the above effects. The beginner’s double strike, which uses a cupped palm heel, delivered into each ear at the same time. If the timing is right each hand will have a kind of stabilizing effect on the head, stopping the head from a possible recoiling effect. A more knowledgeable advanced student will strike with more power than a beginner and has been given techniques that propel the adversaries’ head into the strike itself. That is the key to the other types of weapons listed above.

One of these techniques is demonstrated in the Okinawa classic, The Bubishi among others, which depicts a traditional block-strike move, a high low palm strike called Mawashi uke. Mawashi Uke (circle block), illustrate as a circular block followed by a double palm heel strike. Mawashi uke has many possible pressure points. One possibility is to the floating rib with one palm and the other palm striking the ear. In this case, the low hand strikes the floating rib first, in an upward motion, which will cause the body to dip to the side as the high palm strikes the ear. The low hand (fingers tip downwards) and strikes with the heel of the palm. The high palm (fingers pointing up) is used with a cupped hand. This type of strike is shown at the intermediate level, but has been over looked for the front strikes use of Mawashi uke.

A strike to the ear may appear to be harmless but it is one of the most traumatizing blow that can be made to a human. Why?… because a strike to the ear, has a plethora of possible effects. One; unconsciousness and or concussion will occur from any forceful blow to the head even at the ear. Loss of consciousness may occur on several levels, ranging from simple transient fainting (syncope) to stupor, from which one can be aroused only with difficulty, to a complete unconsciousness or coma, do to a cerebral hemorrhage, from which the person cannot be aroused at all. Two; rupture of the Tympanic membrane or the eardrum may occur if struck forcefully. A rupture will result from air being forced into the external auditory canal, down to the Eustachian tube. Loss of hearing range from partial to complete, depending on the volume of air forced through the cannel. This type of strike alone may cause shock as well as great pain. Three; damage to the facial nerve. This is possible when the facial nerve is jammed between the striking weapon (palm heel) and the jaws were the ear lobe connects to the face. This may result in paralyses to that side of the face. Paralysis may be temporary unless the nerve is fractured, punctured or severed, in that case the damage would be pertinent. Also a hematoma from the facial vein maybe punctured causing a lump, which will shortly turn black and blue.

The science of acupuncture uses the ear to treat many sicknesses of the human body. There are over two hundred points on the ear, which can influence virtually all parts of the body. In the same way, when the ear is struck, almost any part of the human body may be affected unnaturally. A masterful strike, just behind the ear cannel, is none to be a lung point, just behind the lung is a heart point, lung being a metal point and heart being a fire point. Striking the two points at the same time is none to be a Dim Mak strike when using a single finger or a one-knuckle strike. This type of strike will traumatize the heart, which causes a range from loss of consciousness to death.

Conclusion.

As you can see striking the ear is a very dangerous strike to use on a human being. Restraint should be use when applying this strike. The instructors in teaching the striking point would be wise to caution students when practicing with a partner.

In addition to the above description of the striking point Mimi, there are many nerves and veins around the ear that can also be affected as well. All together, this strike is not quite as innocent as it once seemed now is it!