In "Starship Mine," when Picard disables Tim Russ' character, is what he does supposed to be a Vulcan neck pinch? I was under the impression that only those with the physical strength of Vulcans could successfully perform the pinch, hence the reason McCoy was unable to do it even when carrying Spock's katra, but Data was able to do it.
Picard's Vulcan Neck Pinch?
- Thread starter CoveTom
- Start date
I'm pretty sure it was a Vulcan neck pinch. Maybe McCoy couldn't do it because he had arthritis in his hands?
Odo used the Vulcan neck pinch to knock out a security guard in Paradise Lost, and Seven of Nine used the Vulcan neck pinch in Raven to take down Tuvok.
Odo used the Vulcan neck pinch to knock out a security guard in Paradise Lost, and Seven of Nine used the Vulcan neck pinch in Raven to take down Tuvok.
No. According to the ST:TNG Companion, it was meant to be a carotid-artery block. This is a real-life thing, a form of chokehold that cuts off blood flow to the brain and results in unconsciousness. According to Wikipedia, it's also called a blood choke or a sleeper hold.
Oooo I hadn't thought of that!
The writers have stated that is the case. "TNG Companion" by Larry Nemecek, IIRC.
I am fairly sure that Kirk actually did use the pinch in one episode - 'The Enterprise Incident', I think.
No, the "TNG Companion" entry on the episode actually says what Christopher stated... that it was not meant to be a neck pinch but was meant to be a carotid artery block.
^Right. Keep in mind that the Vulcan neck pinch is generally shown to work almost instantaneously, whereas Picard's sleeper hold took much longer to take effect on Russ's character.
I take it that the actual Vulcan neck pinch does not work IRL?
^
Don't know. You'd probably have to ask a Vulcan.
Very interesting. All this time I had just figured he had performed the Neck Pinch, and his knowledge of how to do it had been a result of the aforementioned meld with Sarek. Woo hoo, I learned something new today.
Don't know. You'd probably have to ask a Vulcan.
Christopher said:
Very interesting. All this time I had just figured he had performed the Neck Pinch, and his knowledge of how to do it had been a result of the aforementioned meld with Sarek. Woo hoo, I learned something new today.
It works about as well as the standard '60s TV knockout move of a pulled karate chop delivered anywhere in the vicinity of the neck, shoulders, or upper back. Which is to say, it only works when administered to an actor, stunt performer, or extra whose job is to feign unconsciousness at that moment.
No matter what it is Picard is doing, it's funny an ironic in retrospect to see "Tuvok" get knocked out that way. 
