The occipital ridge is the region at the back of the head where the base of the skull meets the spine.
This general area is quite vulnerable, and as such offensive maneuvers (esp. in martial arts) have been created to target the occipital ridge. If the occipital ridge is hit with sufficient force, it will cause immediate blackout. Only trained combatants should consider this tactic as a mistake is capable of causing death.
Famous quotes containing the words occipital and/or ridge:
“in the absence of feet, “a method of conclusions”;
“a knowledge of principles,”
in the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn.”
—Marianne Moore (1887–1972)
“The light passes
from ridge to ridge,
from flower to flower—”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)