The simple answer is… Build a thick neck. But, going even deeper than that, there are 3 go-to exercises I like to use in order to strengthen key muscles that will help prevent you from getting knocked out. These muscles include the traps, upper traps, the rhomboids, and the neck among other muscles in the upper back.
Aside from simply being blessed with a “good chin” or the ability to take a punch, the absolute best thing you can do to protect yourself against “getting rocked” is to strengthen your neck muscles.
Strength training neck muscles is an important part of a boxer's regimen because having a strong neck allows you to absorb punches better.
Having your head in a forward position makes it less likely for frontal punches to knock you out. Having your head facing forward allows you to absorb straight rights and right crosses better than if your head was turned to the side.
Being rocked occasionally is inevitable, but the reason why top-level boxers are able to endure is not only down to their chin but also their necks. A strong neck allows you to better absorb punches.
The pecs start to act as the driving force of power for the punch. The pecs are some of the strongest muscles used to punch in the upper body and are involved in all pressing/punching motions.
The higher the Newton (N) the greater the force or harder the punch. Punching forces in amateur boxing are around 2500 N. If you weigh 70 kg (11 stone or 154 lbs), you'll exert about 700 N of force on the ground just stood still. That makes punching force about 3.5 times body mass.
The simple answer is… Build a thick neck. But, going even deeper than that, there are 3 go-to exercises I like to use in order to strengthen key muscles that will help prevent you from getting knocked out. These muscles include the traps, upper traps, the rhomboids, and the neck among other muscles in the upper back.
Retrospective analysis of boxing knockouts has revealed that they typically are caused by a hook to the side of the jaw which causes a rotation of the head in the horizontal plane. Uppercuts to the chin may also cause unconsciousness, while straight punches to the face are unlikely to do so (6).
Benefits of Neck Strength
The neck is a great shock absorber and a great mechanism for decelerating the movement of the head. Having stronger neck muscles can help control the whipping motion of the head, which in turn controls the velocity of the brain moving inside the skull.
With a thicker, sturdier neck, your head will be more supported and you won't feel the whiplash effect as much. You'll be able to take punches and fire back without missing a beat. Over time, you'll be protecting both your brain and your neck by strengthening it from the start.
There's no denying that a big, thick neck just looks better than a thin, weak, pencil neck. But beyond just the aesthetics that come with getting a thick, muscular neck, developing your neck muscles provides injury prevention and performance benefits, too.
MMA fighters work hard to train and strengthen their necks. Strong neck muscles can help prevent injuries while also enhancing performance in fights. In particular, a strong neck and good "chin" will allow you to withstand a hard punch from your opponent.
In spirit of this, I have talked to some trainers advising bodybuilders not to train the neck. Why? Well, because they suggest it will make the shoulders look wider if you do not train the neck. This makes about much sense as refraining from legwork so your upper body will look bigger.
Technically yes. However the difference is rather negligible. Knockouts are caused by the brain slamming into the skull when suddenly accelerated. Larger men have larger heads.
A strong neck can be a massive advantage in combat sports like Muay Thai. A strong neck reduces how much your brain swishes inside your skull whenever you get hit with a big punch or kick and improves your ability to fight in the clinch.
The best TIMING for landing a knockout punch is for you to land the punch as your opponent is throwing his. Not before, not after. You have to land your punch RIGHT as he's throwing his fully body weight into his. The combined momentum is what maximizes the chance of you creating a knockout.
What are the long term effects of being knocked unconscious? It depends on the severity of the injury. If you lose consciousness briefly, and suffer a concussion, 75 to 90 percent of people will fully recover in a few months. But severe damage to the brain can cause unconsciousness for days, weeks, or even longer.
It takes a combination of speed, power, precision, and a little bit of luck to land the perfect knockout punch. Power, in particular, is a trait that can be developed. While it's true that natural power is something only the most 'special' of fighters are born with, it can definitely be honed in the boxing gym.
Boxing requires quick snapping movements and many of them. A single fight can have hundreds of quick snappy movements in all sorts of directions. Lifting weights is a relatively slow movement using a relatively limited range of motion, making it less effective for boxing training.
Another way that bicep training can support your punching power is due to the fact that the biceps absorb a lot of force from the elbow joint on impact. You've felt this if you've ever hit a heavy bag.
By using hand grips, you'll build up strength in your forearms, which is good for increasing your punching power. Forearms are somewhat like calves, but in the arms. I say this because calves and forearms are neglected areas of the body, despite the fact that play major roles in affecting your performance.