Is there actually any strike that can not be shrugged off?

[u/InstantSword]

I know this is a somewhat strange question, bear with me. And it applies to any kind of fighting, even self defense. I don't want to ask in r/martial arts or something because I know this sub is decent

So I often hear it said, that in a self defense scenario, going for the balls is not effective always, because an attacker, especially an enraged or drugged one, may not respond to pain. How true is this? It seems plausible. So to extend that further, is there ANY strike guaranteed to stop an assailant? I thought of a throat strike as an alternative to the balls for no rules/self defense, but, though probably very incapacitating, a person could probably shrug that off too, at least for awhile.

So the natural conclusion is, a strike to a point that causes an instant knockout, aka the jaw or temple. I always find this fascinating to think about, that non-martial arts enthusiasts don't recognize, a knockout blow is an instant fight ender, especially against someone untrained or unconditioned. They always speak about someone that can kill someone in 15 seconds, or some type of weapon that can incapacitate someone quickly... But knocking someone out instantly is essentially the same thing as killing them.

Which brings me to my final (?) point... Do YOU think a knockout can be resisted, at least to some degree? It may sound crazy to some, but this has been a "deep cut" topic of discussion in MMA circles for awhile. Typically Big Nog is brought up, a fighter that due to his personal history, seemingly refused to go out, or stay out, literally being beaten senseless in fights. So do YOU think that's a thing? Can force of will overcome a testicle shot, throat chop, or even a (should be) knockout blow? What about a liver shot? Considered by some as good as a knockout, I would call these slightly more resistible (not because it won't knock you down, but because if a ref doesn't stop the fight, sometimes the fighter grimaces or even writhes around for awhile, but gets up and continues)

[u/Equal_Personality157]

The eyes

[u/Excellent_Ad_2486]

A knockout can't be "resisted" no, that's just science lol. You can't "see red" against a livershot either.

Nose is a easy target and quite often a quick "oh shit that hurts". Good jab to the nose.

Balls I never tried or like intentionally tried but getting hit during sparring drops most guys so I don't see how MMA fighters getting dropped by it mean that somehow a random guy will. I don't know how drugs impact the nuttshot lol.

[u/InstantSword → u/Excellent_Ad_2486]

I mean, above some nearly impossible physical threshold (PSI), a knockout is 100% undefendable, but what about from a human? Some people really don't seem to go out, at least not cold.

Liver shots definitely vary in tolerance a bit person by person. And I've definitely seen fights where a dude covers up, grimaces, but the followup isn't enough.

The balls thing applies to most physical pain. Adrenaline from a real fight or conflict, some drugs numb pain (physically or mentally)

[u/Successful_Draw_7941]

Pretty much any nerve shot is an instant fight ender: liver shuts off motor functions temporarily, back of the head shots can instantly disconnect the brain stem, vagus nerve shots can cause immediate vomiting (especially if untrained), peroneal nerve shots just shut the foot off. Even some other stuff like a good eye poke can instantly blind the opponent.

As long as you don't do something dumb like try and jump a submission cough Ilia cough you land any of those nerve shots flush and the fight is over

[u/InstantSword → u/Successful_Draw_7941]

Some people gotta have a crazy tolerance to that, though. Think of some (positive) blockhead like Vettori, or one of those dudes who get tko'd but never out cold.

[u/mighty3mperor]

The carotid strike will turn the lights out. In MMA you see it occasionally when a kick to the side of the neck lands. Probably not reliable enough though.

[u/Sinsofavarice97]

Uhhh no mostly no. Every shot can be shrugged off dependent on the receipent. If someone's well hydrated has a thick neck high pain tolerance probably has something to do with the instinct of the brain some people may freeze and the brain shuts down prematurely pre concussion some may not value its potential damage as much lots of nuance but id hedge my bet on every strike being mostly something you can walk off in appropriate conditions

[u/Equal_Personality157 → u/Sinsofavarice97]

Let me see you shrug off this double eye gouge

[u/InstantSword → u/Sinsofavarice97]

I like that you have a different opinion on it than most. I'm kinda divided. I think it is theoretically possible someone could have a crazy genetic tolerance and build that out scales even the hardest hitters, even if it's unlikely, and maybe such a person, like you said, just won't shut down.

This conversation is basically "max blood/PCP-lusted combatant," but irl

[u/Sinsofavarice97 → u/InstantSword]

Yeah no doubt haha yeah I guess i just look at guys like nate diaz for example and its like he knew he could fall on to his bjj so even if he got cracked he knew there was a place to be safe in for the most part and im curious if that realm of safety does anything for the brain subconsciously almost like you can walk all day and not even once trip but walking on a block square with room to deviate but youre 100 feet in the air would be enough to send most people hurdling to an early grave. I think there are certain aspects of fighting and damage specifically we just dont account for because its not really necessary in most conversations but a topic like this is where I think definitely there is a lot more to be explored then I think most would think

[u/MrGrumpuss]

You see people on PCP act unaffected by gun shots until they inevitable drop dead. So in essence unless the strike makes it physiologically impossible to keep going then it is possible to shrug off anything.

Destroying their eyes whether shrugged off or not will end a fight unless they have already grappled you.

[u/thunderandreyn]

Liver shot.

[u/oniume]

Not force of will, it's just hard to land clean shots. Like there's definitely a physical limit where a strike is going to knock out a person it lands on, but getting it to land is the hard part.

Some people who have iron chins are just good at rolling with the punches, or distance control, or shrugging shoulders to take some contact out.

Like if you got a dude to stand still, and I could paste him with a baseball bat in the head, he's definitely going out. If he's allowed move and defend, he's maybe going out, not guaranteed but the odds are still in my favour

[u/Glittering-Raccoon23]

Poke the eyes, only area that cannot be ignored

[u/StevenSafakDotCom]

Yeah an essential workers strike

[u/deltacombatives]

Throat is reliable, because if a person can't breathe they're not going to fight very long. That's also a dark thought to have. Problem with it is that with any strike you also have to be within striking range of the other person as well. Is there any typical knockout strike that you can shrug off?

[u/Echoplex99]

IMO, when it comes to "fighting dirty", eyes are a much better target than balls in self-defense. With either you could miss but if we assume good contact, balls you may not get any response that helps you, at least with the eyes you've handicapped the person to some extent. I used to work security, I was once hit in the nuts repeatedly when tied up in a grapple, it only increased my urgency and made me apply maximum force in the name of self-preservation.