The remarkable martial art technique of dim-mak, frequently misrepresented and misunderstood as the "touch of death," or "death-point striking," is actually the strategic and focused use of force to cause pain or lethal damage to an aggressor. Master Erle Montaigue and Wally Simpson's The Encyclopedia of Dim-Mak: The Main Meridians is the most comprehensive, informative, and authoritative resource on the subject.

Montaigue, one of the world's foremost experts on dim-mak techniques, and Simpson, a renowned Australian acupuncturist, together possess an unparalleled knowledge of this ancient Chinese martial art. They map the precise locations of every major strike point on the body, referencing the twelve main energy meridians: gallbladder, liver, bladder, kidney, stomach, spleen, heart, small intestine, lungs, colon, triple heater, and pericardium, and go on to catalog the effects of hitting each point during combat or self-defense. The authors also explore combinations of strikes and describe action potentials, angles, set-up points, antidotes, and warnings. Knock-out and deadly points are fully explained, providing skilled practitioners with the knowledge to effectively use strikes in real-world situations. Since the very same points that can be used to cause damage can also be used to heal, Montaigue and Simpson describe what the healing applications of each point are, particularly when used for acupuncture. Detailed photos and illustrations accompany the text, clearly depicting the locations of specific pressure points along the meridians.

Complete with glossaries and a bibliography, this vital reference book is essential for the library of any serious martial arts practitioner or those interested in acupuncture and traditional Eastern medicine.

This book is also available from Echo Point Books as a hardcover (ISBN 1648373542).