You may have seen scenes like this in Chinese martial arts movies: The fighter kills the opponent with a single punch. There is in fact truth to this. The human body does have points of vulnerability, points where a hard blow could cause cardiac arrest and even kill the person.
A Severe Blow to the Heart Can Be Fatal
The heart is protected in the chest cavity by the ribs, and it beats every second to provide blood and oxygen to the whole body. However, blunt trauma to the vulnerable spot of the heart (above or near the heart) can cause commotio cordis and result in atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, making the heart will stop beating. Although it is rare, it is a main cause of sudden death in young athletes, among other factors….