Strength Training

YOU CAN’T CONDITION YOUR CHIN… OR CAN YOU??

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Your Last Defense From the Knockout Punch

What’s happening in the brain when you’re hit on the chin reveals a solution.

UFC 217 (Madison Square Garden): MMA fans were treated to a rare feat this weekend, as three title fights resulted in three new champions. While all three fights were expected to go at least three rounds (out of five), none made it to the end of the second round. In a sport where you can impose loss of consciousness on your opponent, the fate of a fight can change in a split second, regardless of what has happened leading up to that point.

Three Chins. Three Falls.
All three title fights had a similar end: Rose Namajunes connected flush with Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s chin with a left hook, TJ Dillashaw caught Cody Garbrandt with a right hook to the chin and Georges St-Pierre landed a left hook to Michael Bisping’s chin. For Joanna, Cody and Michael, their knees gave out, eyes rolled back, and they fell to the ground before their competitors jumped on top to close out the fight.

What is Happening Here?
What you’re seeing is the result of rotational acceleration on the brain stem. When a blow is delivered to the tip of the chin, the twisting on the brain causes “Diffuse Axonal Injury” (DAI), or sheer strain on axons in the brain.

University of Rochester researchers, Brian Blyth MD and Jeff Bazarian MD, focus on sports related concussion. Their research states:
Sudden rotational forces cause shearing strains and stresses that result in…post-traumatic amnesia, dazed states and loss of consciousness. Shear strain is most prominent after rotational injury, and brain tissue is particularly sensitive to this type of strain.(1)

 

It’s Not the Chin… It’s the NECK!

In a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, TJ Dillashaw said, “You can’t condition your chin.”

The reason the chin is the place to hit is because it causes the most rotational acceleration on the brain stem. The only way to mitigate rotational acceleration is by developing rotational neck strength that can more efficiently absorb these forces.           

Athletes generally focus exclusively on flexion and extension (working the back and front of the neck). But, how effective is this when the forces are primarily rotational? Rotational neck strength isn’t something most people work on – primarily because it is not easy to do – especially without a training partner. At DeFranco’s, we’ve recently started implementing the Iron Neck with our combat athletes. Mike Jolly, inventor of the Iron Neck (a revolutionary neck-strengthening piece of equipment), figured out a way to strengthen the musculature of the neck “three-dimensionally”. This “three-dimensional” approach includes rotation. Rotational neck training has lots of health benefits but the knockout punch to the chin is a clear example of how it helps.

 

TJ Dillashaw was right about not being able to condition your chin. But if you want a strong chin – try shifting your focus just below – and start training your NECK, rotationally.

– Joe D. 

 

Reference

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923650/#!po=0.416667

207 Comments

  9. Having a strong neck helps absorb the impact of blows to the face and better handles direct impact. It also enables quicker head movements, so you can see what’s coming and dodge blows,

  15. If one specifically wishes to train the neck for hypertrophy only, is it necessary to go beyond flexion and extension? Obviously, I understand training the neck laterally will be beneficial to a combat athlete but what about a recreational lifter? Thanks in advance.

  18. When struck on the chin, the rotational force applied to the head causes the brain to twist, resulting in what’s known as Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). This phenomenon involves the stretching and tearing of nerve fibers in the brain due to the sudden rotational acceleration.

  23. A punch to the chin can affect the brainstem, which controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate. A severe impact can cause temporary or permanent damage, leading to unconsciousness or even death.

  24. The article highlights the importance of rotational neck strength in mitigating the impact of blows to the chin in combat sports like MMA. When a fighter is hit on the chin, it causes rotational acceleration on the brain stem, leading to Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) and potential loss of consciousness. While fighters often focus on conditioning their chin, the key lies in strengthening the neck to absorb rotational forces more efficiently.

  41. This was a great read. From being in the painting and decorating industry for over 10 years I was getting frequent headaches. So I went to the Dr and he said that because of the awkward angles and ways I moved my body to say, paint a ceiling. Over the years it was causing problems and so he recommended neck exercises. It’s been 8 months of doing them and the headaches in the evening have virtually disappeared.

  49. I really like how you incorporated the graphic novel element throughout the painting, having the comic panels as part of their clothing! Love it!

  51. i’ve never wanted a happy ending for a pair on missedconnections more than now. i hope they find each other. and what book did you gleam inspiration from? the mini-illustrations on the boy and girl are adorable. is that a red lamb i see?

  52. I really like how you incorporated the graphic novel element throughout the painting, having the comic panels as part of their clothing!

  57. That is a good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate info… Many thanks for sharing this one. A must read article!

  66. If one specifically wishes to train the neck for hypertrophy only, is it necessary to go beyond flexion and extension? Obviously, I understand training the neck laterally will be beneficial to a combat athlete but what about a recreational lifter? Thanks in advance.

  78. “Incredible Article it its truly instructive and inventive update us as often as possible with new upgrades. its was truly important. much obliged.
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  79. I like your post and all you share with us is up to date and quite informative, i would like to bookmark the page so i can come here again to read you, as you have done a wonderful job.

  89. In a sport where you can impose loss of consciousness on your opponent, the fate of a fight can change in a split second, regardless of what has happened leading up to that point.

  122. prepare as much as you need, getting that neck to where you need it is crucial. The only realistic way to approach this is practicing wearing helmets, conditioning with them on, etc.

  125. the jaw portion of the skull, and specifically the point of the chin, is the area most vulnerable to a knock-out blow and therefore having an exceptional tolerance to punishment in this area is a great advantage to a fighter.

  126. Very informative! Thanks. If one specifically wishes to train the neck for hypertrophy only, is it necessary to go beyond flexion and extension? Obviously, I understand training the neck laterally will be beneficial to a combat athlete but what about a recreational lifter? Thanks in advance.

  136. Absolutely! There are a few factors that affect a persons ability to take a punch. The strength of the jaw, sternocleod mastoid + trapezius strength, and leg strength.

  144. Definitely not impossible to condition your chin but it would better to condition your body as your face is more likely to be protected.

  147. 6ix Photobooths is the best photo booth company in Toronto, ON supplying top-notch and budget-friendly solutions. We pride ourselves on guaranteeing that our consumers are more than happy with our services.

  150. Those Iron Neck things seem great.
    Doing neck ups (Like a sit up for your neck) I have found is great way of conditioning

  199. In boxing, having a strong neck helps absorb the impact of blows to the face and better handles direct impact. It also enables quicker head movements, so you can see what’s coming and dodge blows, and it doesn’t tire as easily so you can maintain proper body positioning.

  204. @Ryan Kephalas

    No sir Ryan Kephalas genuine information premium yes sir!

  205. @Sandeep

    Erm… thank you. I appreciate the response but, with due respect, something tells me this is a sock account. I think I may wait for Joe to respond. Lol

    Your,

    Ryan Kephalas

  206. @Ryan Kephalas

    No sir Ryan Kephalas in recommendation of my experience the recreational trainee would not require laterl training yes thank you.

    Great content by the way sir!

  207. Hi Joe,

    If one specifically wishes to train the neck for hypertrophy only, is it necessary to go beyond flexion and extension? Obviously, I understand training the neck laterally will be beneficial to a combat athlete but what about a recreational lifter? Thanks in advance.

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