A pressure point from the Police Pressure Point System as established by Professor Georges Sylvain, the mandibular angle is a nerve pressure point (as opposed to a nerve motor point) that can cause great pain to the recipient, yet causes no injury. Read Nerve Motor Points vs. Nerve Pressure Points to understand the differences. This makes it useful for controlling a person when you wish to limit the amount of force used, like when you’re extricating a non-compliant but non-assaultive subject. Not everyone is sensitive to this pressure point though, and subjects that are pain-resistant because they’re extremely drunk or high may not even feel the pain so it may not be a good choice if the stakes are high.

The mandibular angle is the place on the lower jaw bone where it starts to angle down toward the chin (as shown in the photo on the left). Just behind the bone is a spot where the inferior alveolar nerve tends to be closer to the surface, making it easy to manipulate to cause pain. To apply pressure to this point, anchor your thumb to your index finger’s knuckle and apply pressure in and up, while supporting the opposite side of the head with your other hand or your arm, depending on the situation. Alternatively, you could use a tool like a Persuader (or other type of kubaton) with the steel finger grip (as seen on the right).

Start by applying surface pressure until the desired result is achieved. If more force is required to gain compliance, apply deep pressure using a strong invasive movement. If this doesn’t work, then your subject likely isn’t sensitive to this pressure point so be ready to switch your approach.

Check out the video below for two applications we teach for the mandibular angle pressure point:

This video only shows 2 options for this painful pressure point, but I’ve found it useful in a variety of situations in which my hands are free and close to the head. Do you use the manibular angle in your training? What are your favourite applications? Please feel free to share them in the comments.