I have had this point used on me in training. It really does hurt like hell.
You pretty much forget about the ability to move any other part of your body.

OK, Guys.....

Anyone familiar with "Element" hand configurations?

I realize that.  I think I would just wail away, too.  I was just curious if anyone had an opinion about them. 

Are you familiar with the cycle of destruction?  Here's the analogy of how I remember the order:

Water puts out fire
Fire melts metal
Metal chops wood
Wood peirces the earth
Earth dams water

Each finger of your hand represents an element:
Thumb earth
Index wood
Middle fire
Ring metal
Pinky water

There are certain ways to make a fist or ridge hand or shuto into an element to attack the element of a meridian.  For example:  To make a metal ridge hand, touch your thumb to your ring finger where it's connected to the hand, keeping thumb straight.  Use it to attack a wood meridian, say GB20.  This just makes the strike's impact much more effective and HURT LIKE CRAZY!!!

What do you consider a real situation?

We practice the theory on each other in class.  Our class time is 90 min.  30 min is devoted to self defense techniques.  We break down a kata move, decide on what the attack is, see which points are the most logical and work from there.  For instance your kata move with the wrist or elbow lock.  The knees buckle and the attacker gives you his neck and/or side of his head as the target.  I believe you uses a twisting punch as a finish off?  You can make a metal fist: make a fist but leave your index and middle fingers knuckles sticking out.  Now, attack any gall bladder point on the side of the head, hitting with the 2 knuckles.  The reaction is very intense.  We practice the move, see what reactions different people get.  Then we add element theory.  Big difference in reaction.  Stances have elements as well, we add those, too, and the reactions are even more intense.  It's alot of fun, we enjoy overkill.  But isn't that why we call it practice?

Yep.............me and my husband, Don

The thumb at one time was the best kept secret of many master. mostly Okinawa Master, The Cinese Shoalin would use the finger for pp, but would not not tell how they made the fingers so strong. So the Okinawa Masters adapted by using the thumb it takes less train time and it is almost as effective.
 The tip of the thumb can penatrate three fourths of an inch even to the point of separateing muscule. one way to start the training is to do finger tip push ups and in time remove a finger at a time till you are using only the thumbs. another is to hang a log by rope from a tree push the log away from you and as it returns to you stop it with the tip of the tumb only. an other is thumb hand stands keeping balance by resting the feet against a wall. At this point the thumb will have the power to penatrate with great speed and power with out damage.

Hi

In real fights Ive never had the inclination to use single digits.


Dont think I ever will and dont believe people ever did in real life.

But If you had to use one the soft body parts and not the head would be the obvious targets


If you can hit a makiwara with it full power then maybe you can think about targeting the head with it or maybe you hit like a cissy. 

tc

KG