I am often amazed at how often the principle of fulcrum, lever and base is misunderstood, or never understood at all. This video lesson explains it. Once you understand it, you can increase the effectiveness of all your locks, your defences against locks and, of course, your strikes.

It is for martial artists, pressure point students and anyone whose locks work in class but not on a partner who resists.

The Three Parts

Any lock or lever needs three things:

  • The fulcrum. The point the movement pivots around.
  • The lever. The part you move, usually a limb.
  • The base. What stops the whole thing just moving away.

If any one of these is missing, the lock fails. No fulcrum, and you are just pulling an arm about. No base, and your partner's whole body follows the arm and the pressure goes nowhere. Weak lever, and you are working much harder than you need to.

Why Locks Fail

Most locks fail because the base is not there. People get a nice grip on the wrist or elbow and then pull, but the other person simply moves their body and the lock disappears. Fix the base first, whether that is your own body, the floor, a wall or your opponent's balance, and the same lock suddenly works.

The fulcrum is the other common problem. If it is in the wrong place, or it slides, the pressure is lost. A good fulcrum is small, firm and close to the joint.

Defending Against Locks

The principle works in reverse. If someone is putting a lock on you, take away one of the three parts. Move your base so they have nothing to work against. Slide the fulcrum off the joint. Shorten the lever by bending or moving closer. Understanding the principle tells you where to escape.

Strikes Too

The same thinking applies to strikes. A strike needs a base to work from, and a target that cannot just move away from it. That is why taking someone's balance before you strike makes the strike far more effective. Pressure points work the same way: a point on someone who is balanced and braced is harder to affect than a point on someone who is already moving.

How To Practise It

Work slowly with a cooperative partner. Apply a lock, then remove each part in turn and feel how it changes. Joints are easily injured, so always go gently, let your partner tap, and release straight away.

Take It Further

Locks made easier by pressure points are covered in the Pressure Point Fighting Course. For the bigger picture, read Pressure Point Fighting: The Complete Guide.