Impact Resistance

by Atomic Athletic on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 4:33pm

Ever take an impact?  I am talking about mean serious impacts: a serious punch, a wrestling or judo throw, a hard tackle, or even a car accident.

The number one key for impact resistance is dealing with potential concussions.  There are definite strength training exercises which will help you take an impact.   Fortunately, the best exercises for cushioning an impact blow also help the neck and spine.  Instead of wasting crucial gym time, these exercises should improve your explosive lifts and will add very little to your training volume.  Like any real traditional strength training exercise, they will just help to make your routine more efficient.

3 Rules for Neck Training

1.) The first rule is to add one neck exercise to every workout.

This is the exercise that is neck specific.  If you are following my Traditional Training Legendary Strength routine, this would be a secondary (or accessory) exercise.  Some would call these bodybuilding or even prehab/rehab exercises.  They would include the use of head harnesses and various types of manual resistance.

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2.) The second rule is to add a complex exercise that includes the neck. 

The obvious example here would be something like the Power Clean.  You can't do a proper power clean without incorporating the neck.  When you really get into this concept, you will find yourself modifying your training to include several complex exercises that include the neck.  

3.) The third Rule is to work every angle of your mid section at some point during each week.

I can't stand the term “core” training, but it is essential.  I am a huge fan of medicine balls and bag work.  By bag work, I mean some sort of fight type training.  There are a lot of different types of “heavy bags” out today, as with everything else, some are better than others.  I believe that everyone should learn to throw at least one good punch.  After all, you never know when that skill might come in handy.  Additionally, properly thrown punches will work your mid-section in a highly functional way.  The same goes for medicine balls.  Hit the link below to see more on medicine balls, we will be adding more this week.

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Over the next few weeks, you will see that I flesh this concept out in greater detail.  Pay attention and start your work now!

Live strong,

Roger LaPointe