Neck size

[marceloISbest]

Ive been thinking about this lately because I have heard alot of people say how Frank Trigg couldnt finish Hughes because of the circumference of his neck/trapezius muscles. Farmer Burns also reportedly had a 20" neck because he didnt want Strangler Lewis to choke him out. Theres also guys like Jeff Monson who would offer difficulty because of his neck being so short its almost non existent yet very strong.

I used to wrestle and our coach would have us do bridge exercises for 10-20 minutes everyday, we would bridge up with no hands on the ground and he would step up onto our chest and stand there for 5 seconds or so. He was around 220, I was competing @ 135 back then btw. Sure as hell never did break down though, whoever did had to stay after practice.

I understand having a stronger neck makes it harder to sink in and get your arms right. Theres no significant muscles protecting the carotid triangle though, so its pretty much a constant that it only takes +/- 6 psi to occlude the carotid/jugular of every human.

With that said, why would having an extremely big/strong neck make any difference at all once its sunk in and fully complete??

 

[boyko]

Because it's harder to sink it in... Try triangling someone like Monson and you'll just break your own foot.

 

[unearth187]

If anything the big guy would probably just go to sleep even faster since he's probably already a bit tired from pushing oxygen to all that muscle even if hes not showing it. Theres a reason its called the lion killer dude. Assuming we're talking about sunk in.

 

[Victa***]

I have a skinnier neck than average. It causes alot of annoyances for my training partners.

 

[Deecue]

I've got a 21" neck and a few people find it difficult to choke me. Pretty much everyone finds it very difficult to triangle/arm triangle me.

I don't have a heap of experience though so I can't really give a technical opinion.

 

[xPINKx]

It somewhat does work. I have an 18" neck right now and am still training it every day, people find it really hard to get me with fist chokes and such. Also, it just feels a lot better and is probably safer as all chokes can crank the neck at the least a little...

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

I think strong neck is super important. Really works as a 5 th limb for positioning.

Plus you get harder to choke.

Plus you risk injury less.

 

[xPINKx]

And you look cool...

 

[Deecue]

And you look cool...

Which, as we all know, is the most important thing

 

[notafighter86]

Neck size works both ways when it comes to strangles, I think it makes the setups harder but finishing them easier. One thing it really helps with is keeping posture.

 

[KJGould]

Having a strong neck is just a good idea for a sense of well being and health. I'll have to look into it again but I thought I heard someone say it can help the immune system somehow but I'm not sure.

Also Farmer Burns used to hang himself for fun:

 

[D00M]

you forgot to mention brock:

 

[marceloISbest]

Having a strong neck is just a good idea for a sense of well being and health. I'll have to look into it again but I thought I heard someone say it can help the immune system somehow but I'm not sure.

Also Farmer Burns used to hang himself for fun:

Wtf? Ive seen another picture like this of a fighter with a Chinese flag behind him being hanged yet not unconscious. Didnt look like the rope was over his carotid but more-so dug into the pit under his ear/behind the jaw. Im guessing thats whats going on here and is the reason hes still conscious??? If not, how could he possibly not pass out while being hanged?

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

Once you sink it the muscles don't help. They control the movement of the head, they don't push outwards against the choke. They will make it harder to sink in, and harder to control the head in order to get control for a choke.

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

Because it's harder to sink it in... Try triangling someone like Monson and you'll just break your own foot.

That's not because of his neck, it's because of his overall massive frame.

 

[Vitamin C]

There is a dude with a thick neck at my gym and he is nigh impossible to choke for anyone not significantly better than him. And he is one of the top guys in the gym, so there is maybe 2 guys I've ever seen choke him. Even then it's always one of those long slow collar chokes that the guy has to hold onto and control for around a minute before it finally gets to him. He is of course all the while calmly working to break your grips and defend, it never seems too urgent.

 

[marceloISbest]

Yeah, antomically the only muscle really protecting it is about as thin as a sheet of paper, but Ive heard people say its impossible to choke so and so, and the only time they get choked out is when they hold it for over a minute..... Thanks yall, just wanted to clear up that there wasnt anything special going on I didnt know about.

Also, about that picture above, does anyone know the purpose of hanging oneself? Is it possible that it actually helps condition one against chokes? Ive always thought geting choked out frequently actually weakens your choke "chin".

 

[SuperSuperRambo]

Also, about that picture above, does anyone know the purpose of hanging oneself? Is it possible that it actually helps condition one against chokes? Ive always thought geting choked out frequently actually weakens your choke "chin".

I'm sure it's for show. There are much more practical ways to exercise your neck.

 

[marceloISbest]

Yeah I doubt hanging yourself would change much about the anatomy of your neck drastically. Plus, from Ive seen, nooses dont seem to be positioned very well for blood chokes. All of the pictures I have seen, with the way a noose is setup, seem to emphasize breaking the neck and conventional choking much much more. Seeing as how the noose is tied the way it is behind your spine, and all your weight being put on it, would force the rope up behind your jaw and would put more pressure on the trachea than anything else.

Does anyone know anything about hanging and how it works/what its supposed to do? Obviously I know the main purpose is breaking the neck and they make it so the person falls the length of their body, breaking the neck but not ripping their head off. What was supposed to happen if the neck didnt break? Was the executionee supposed to go by asphyxia or hypoxia?

 

[bjjmedic]

I don't see how a bigger neck would help prevent chokes. I find it is harder to triangle choke somebody with a big neck because they also have big shoulders. If they have big shoulders/frame it is much harder for me to lock on the triangle.

In fact it is also hard to triangle choke people with very small shoulders/frame. One woman who I've trained with is almost impossible to triangle or head and arm choke. There just isn't enough muscle to push against her neck.