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Summary
Star Trekhas served up many distinctive races, but the definitive alien character will always be Spock. Leonard Nimoy established a relatable non-human character on TV like never before, setting many characteristics that have pushed the Vulcan species into pop culture. Everyone knows thetraits that mark Vulcans out— pointy ears, eyebrows, logic, and mind melds. But there’s also a particularly effective technique to subdue enemies.
It didn’t take long for Spock to introduce the Vulcan nerve pinch to the show — a skill that arguably became more ubiquitous in the broader franchise than the race that created it. While Spock has popped up more iterations ofStar Trekthan any other character, the technique he first demonstrated has appeared in every series and most films.
What Is The Vulcan Nerve Pinch?
Simply put, the nerve pinch is a technique by which Vulcans and some non-Vulcans can induce unconsciousness by pinching a pressure point at the base of the neck. It’s a highly effective stealth technique — while not guaranteed, a nerve pinch will often render a victim unconscious before they can cry out, without causing them any serious harm.
Spock first demonstrated the nerve pinch in the first season of theOriginal Series. “The Enemy Within” saw a transporter accident create an evil ‘negative’ Kirk, who at one point is subdued with a nerve pinch by the Enterprise’s first officer. It quickly became a staple and has subsequently appeared in the franchise over 60 times.
The technique is not exclusive to Vulcans. Characters like Borg Seven of Nine and Changeling Odo have successfully used the nerve pinch. However, it’s notoriously difficult to teach. Spock couldn’t pass the skill on to James T. Kirk, and Dr McCoy was terrible at it when possessed by Spock’s katra InStar Trek III: The Search for Spock. Captain Jonathan Archer proved to be inexplicably proficient at it in theEnterpriseepisode “Kir’Shara,” while Jean-Luc Picard seemed to learn it following his intense mind meld with Spock’s father Sarek.
InStar Treklore the technique is regarded as a quintessential part of being a Vulcan. Outside the franchise, it’s quickly spread into pop culture, earning references inSpaceballs,The O.C., and a playful Audi advert called ‘Leonard Nimoy vs. Zachary Quinto.’
Notable Uses Of The Vulcan Nerve Pinch In Star Trek
While mostly reserved for humanoids, the nerve pinch was effective on non-humanoids. InThe Animated Seriesepisode “Yesteryear,” Spock successfully nerve-pinched a horse. InStar Trek: Voyager, Tuvok could also use the technique on a member of Species 8472, albeit in the guise of a human.
Spock is clearly a master of the technique, even employing a two-handed version to knock out an Andorian and a Tellarite in “Whom Gods Destroy.” Probably the most famous use of the nerve pinch came in 1986’sStar Trek IV: The Voyage Homewhen Spock used it to knock out a punk playing loud music on a San Francisco bus, earning a round of applause from his fellow passengers.
Is Anyone Immune To A Vulcan Nerve Pinch?
The Vulcan nerve pinch has proved widely effective against humanoid life forms across the galaxy, although there were exceptions. The Vians of Minara were notably immune, as evidenced during theOriginal Series. While Cardassians and Ferengi have shown resistance to Vulcan mind melds, both species were susceptible to the nerve pinch.
Humans were highly susceptible, although highly-tuned individuals have proved immune. During “Assignment: Earth” the flawlessly conditioned human Gary Seven resisted the Vulcan nerve pinch. Similarly,Khan Noonien Singhfelt severe pain but could withstand the technique when subjected to Spock’s attempt inStar Trek Into Darkness.
Is The Vulcan Nerve Pinch Based On A Real-Life Technique?
The nerve pinch is entirely fictional. Behind the scenes, it was Nimoy who invented the move. While the script suggested that Spock knock out the Kirk duplicate in “The Enemy Within” the actor, with his quick and brilliant grasp of the character, sought a more dignified maneuver that befitted the Vulcan. In the 1992 VHS documentary25 Year Mission Tour, Nimoy credited William Shatner with finally persuading the episode’s director, Leo Penn, that the nerve pinch was the right move.
Despite inventing it, Nimoy’s preferred explanation for the technique hasn’t held up inStar TrekLore. Despite the creator suggesting it connects to Vulcan telepathy, it has been successfully deployed by artificial lifeforms likeThe Next Generation’s Data andVoyager’s holographic Doctor.
Another authoritative source offered a simple solution inThe Making of Star Trek. Published in 1968, when theOriginal Serieswas still on air, Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry’s book suggested that the ‘Spock pinch’ temporarily blocked blood and nerve responses heading to the brain. For a more scientific explanation, the EMH is on hand — theholographic Doctordescribed the pinch as rupturing nerve fibers in the trapezius neck bundle during theStar Trek: Voyagerepisode “Cathexis.”
Part of the nerve pinch’s appeal lies in the lack of a full in-universe explanation. But despite being as impossible to learn in reality as it is challenging to master in-universe, it remains a perfect gift for youngStar Trekfans nearly six decades after it first appeared. It’s a distinctive character trait, non-fatal, and ideal for roleplaying without any props. It’s no wonder the timeless technique has remained such a recognizable part ofStar Trek.
