Why do fighters have such large traps?

[harroy]

This is sort of a random question but why do MMAists/Boxers have such monsterous traps?

 

[Wololo]

LOL!!!!!!!

WTF is that?!!?!?!
LOL!

And the traps thing, its probably because they have to keep their guard up, and punch so much.

 

[Monger]

This is sort of a random question but why do MMAists/Boxers have such monsterous traps?

I've never noticed an epidemic of monstrous traps in fighters. Maybe our definitions of "monstrous traps" are different.

 

[Henry Swanson]

I imagine that large traps protect the neck region. So it's pretty obvious why a fighter would want that.

 

[bacon]

Form follows function?

BTW, nice rod Graedy...

 

[tical13]

And the traps thing, its probably because they have to keep their guard up, and punch so much.

Yup..

 

[piccione]

holding your hands works the delts not the traps, the traps do nothing, except assist on the millitary press. They most likeley have big traps because they do shrugs, they are not a main muscle in any movement or lift, like the biceps.

 

[TapOut67]

holding your hands works the delts not the traps, the traps do nothing, except assist on the millitary press. They most likeley have big traps because they do shrugs, they are not a main muscle in any movement or lift, like the biceps.

WTF?

 

[SmashiusClay]

i'm with Sonny on this one, they're there to protect and stabilise the neck (something Bill Starr seems to agree with in the 'traps make the man' article fcf posted a link to). Plus there a quite a few submissions in which the move will be finished with a shrug type move of the shoulders, most types of choke (particularly arm triangles), straight leglocks, reverse armbars etc. Finally a fighter will use trap muscles to help avoid chokes and neck cranks.

 

[farmboy]

How do I get montrous tra...ppppttttbbb, HA, HA, HA...sorry.

 

[Woob]

Well when ever a boxer or a striker in mma finishes a heavy round, they usually put ice on the traps. this is because keeping you guard up DOES rely on traps. You raise your shoulders up so your hands can cover you head. you cant do this just by raising your arms or you elbows will stick out.

secondly, when you pull a punch back, the traps will most likely be used as a secondary muscle

thirdly, it is believed that a bigger neck/trap area will help reduce the chance of a KO. a bigger neck will absorb the impact better thus result in the jaw not being compressed into the skull as much so a knock out is much less likely. who do you think can take a shot better? some twig with a pencil neck or Jeff Monson? further proof, refer to Evander Holyfield

 

[krellik]

....And it fucking helps you from geting choked out

+ deadlift + powerclean + powershrugs = good shit/large traps

 

[Henry Swanson]

i'm with Sonny on this one, they're there to protect and stabilise the neck (something Bill Starr seems to agree with in the 'traps make the man' article fcf posted a link to). Plus there a quite a few submissions in which the move will be finished with a shrug type move of the shoulders, most types of choke (particularly arm triangles), straight leglocks, reverse armbars etc. Finally a fighter will use trap muscles to help avoid chokes and neck cranks.

Yeah my boxing coach was anti-resistance training but oddly enough he made us do a tonne of neck/trap work because he believed it prevented our heads from being snapped back during a punch.

 

[CarnalSalvation]

Or turned too quickly. Yo heads i mean.

 

[Madmick]

I don't think boxers have noticeably large traps. I've noticed it more in wrestlers.

They do a lot of deadlifts and neckwork. The dude with the weaker neck/core/traps gets taken down.

I think it's just the nature of wrestling. They do a shitload of pulling. But like one poster says, form follows function. I've seen plent of NCAA championship and Olympic HL's with wrestlers who didn't have big traps.

Just do whatever you have to in order to succeed. It's kind of a lottery spin what body you get. Not everyone gets to look like Rich in his Fairtex jersey. Maybe it's because he prays to God so much.

 

[Ian Coe]

Well when ever a boxer or a striker in mma finishes a heavy round, they usually put ice on the traps. this is because keeping you guard up DOES rely on traps. You raise your shoulders up so your hands can cover you head. you cant do this just by raising your arms or you elbows will stick out.

secondly, when you pull a punch back, the traps will most likely be used as a secondary muscle

thirdly, it is believed that a bigger neck/trap area will help reduce the chance of a KO. a bigger neck will absorb the impact better thus result in the jaw not being compressed into the skull as much so a knock out is much less likely. who do you think can take a shot better? some twig with a pencil neck or Jeff Monson? further proof, refer to Evander Holyfield

that and we're sexy sexy men

 

[roybon79]

when you pull down on your neck, like in a clinck, and you fight your way out it builds muscle. When you wrestle and have someone pushing down on your head, it builds muscle. Any power exercise is going to cause your body to release testosterone which will effect the sixze of your neck because it is a male predominant muscle group. Also, I am a boxer and holding your hands up tires your traps out if you are very heavy.

 

[Henry Swanson]

This sounds weird but I remember when I first started skipping rope when I started boxing 12 years ago my traps were fucking sore for days.

 

[fatmatic]

1) Because I'm Sexy like that
2) Traps Make the Man
3)WTF?
4) To further explain #3, They are a main muscle in the deadlift noob, thats why i have such big traps for my weight. It's the rawest lift out there and becomes functional when someone has you in their guard and u want to pick them up and slam them(cleans also help do this, but is a method of speed/explosiveness training)
5) The bottom line to achieving monsterous traps is to deadlift, you can shrug all day but ur not going to put nearly as much of a load on them as you would when dling ---> They're the muscle that initially gets the weight off of the ground.

no wonder, im a deadlift noob, and i did them for the first time on friday and the whole day my traps were buggin

 

[The_Banger]

I never notice a disproportionate difference in the size of fighters traps as compared to other athletes. Clue me in. Yes some fighters have big traps but again, I havent seen anything to suggest fighters train their traps for size specifically.