Protecting the chin

[john55]

Before bjj class me and few others sometimes hit the bag etc. We also discuss boxing/mt as some of guys do it and they show us stances, how to move our feet, hold our hands, head etc.....anyway....

So the key is to keep you chin down and protect the chin with the hands. So my question is why the chin? Is it easier to be knocked out by getting hit in the chin than forehead?

[Chapel]

Originally Posted by john55

Before bjj class me and few others sometimes hit the bag etc. We also discuss boxing/mt as some of guys do it and they show us stances, how to move our feet, hold our hands, head etc.....anyway....

So the key is to keep you chin down and protect the chin with the hands. So my question is why the chin? Is it easier to be knocked out by getting hit in the chin than forehead?

In boxing they use the phrase 'getting hit on the button' if you get hit in the right way on the chin. The reason why it is bad is that a punch to the chin has a lot of torque and can really rock your brain. A good hit has the possibility of giving you a concussion 4 or more times over, where as a punch to the forehead is limited to 2.

Also, your forehead is the thickest part of your skull. A non-gloved hand punching you in the forehead stands a decent chance of breaking and/or hurting the puncher more than the punched.

[Joemoplata]

If you are given a choice of taking any kind of trauma to any part of your head, the forehead is the best choice.

The chin has a number of issues, the number one being what Chapel already stated. You also have a nerve that sits between the jaw joint that when compromised "short circuits" the neurological pathway to the brain.

At least, that's what I've read.

But for sure, the chin is your target when punching to the face/head area.

[WC_Lun]

Both Chapel and Joe are accurate in what they said. I'll also add that the jaw is more fragile than the skull in the forehead. While getting your jaw broke may not incapacitate you it is still a hell of an injury. Most guys would be finished if they broke thier jaw.

[souldrum71]

Looks like everyone else has already answered your question with excellent answers. I'd just add that, as Joe mentioned, it's a nerve that's being affected when you see people get knocked out from a blow to the chin, and there's really no way of knowing how much power it takes to affect that nerve in different individuals. That's why sometimes you see fighters get knocked out by punches or kicks that don't seem to contain a lot of force.

[JackG]

Yes I have always thought so because the chin is at the bottom of your head and therefore causes the most leverage for your head to spin hence why your "button" is on your chin.. I just saw chapel said the same thing

[Draven]

Originally Posted by john55

Before bjj class me and few others sometimes hit the bag etc. We also discuss boxing/mt as some of guys do it and they show us stances, how to move our feet, hold our hands, head etc.....anyway....

So the key is to keep you chin down and protect the chin with the hands. So my question is why the chin? Is it easier to be knocked out by getting hit in the chin than forehead?

Well keeping your chin has more to it then just protecting the chin. Keeping your head down creates an angle of deflection that reduces the impact energy away from the more damaging nerves and blood vessels.

If you keep your head square a straight chin shot can Knock someone Out cold. This because your jaw is effectively an arch and asorbs wieght/force throughout the whole structure until you reach the base which is the henge of the jaw. The jaw hinge is connected to the base of the skull and so you end up with force/energy directed to the nerves in the base of the skull.

Now if you hit at a raising angle (head still square) you snap the head back and cause the skull to impact the spinal cord. Plus since your brain basically floats in fluid it just bounces around in yous skull from the initial force (which is similar to a whiplash).

Plus if you hit the jaw hinge from a straight angle (side of the square head) you jam/compress the joint and effect the mandable process (a nerve cluster) which hurts like all hell and if you and if you break/dislocate the hinge you tear tissue, nerving endings, possibly drive bone into the process and at the very least cause that whiplash like effect.

As for the forehard, thats the thinkest part of the skull and again that same deflection thing with the arch structure applies to the skull; a circular (ovel) object that tranfers energy over a large surface. So by hitting the jaw not only do you have the anatomy issue, you also cause the neck to bend with the impact and jar the head and brain more then attacking the skull directing.

Oh yeah and tucking your chin also allows you spine to absorb part of the shock as well...

Grays Anatomy is required reading for me

[john55]

thanks for the info. It makes a lot of sense and yet was something I never really thought about.

[TRIANGLEFROMGAURD]

I don't know about the spine part??

But the rest the nerve grouping, the torque and even angling your head off to encourage blows to glance are all on the money.

[Draven]

Originally Posted by TRIANGLEFROMGAURD

I don't know about the spine part??

But the rest the nerve grouping, the torque and even angling your head off to encourage blows to glance are all on the money.

If I bean you on the skull, some of the force will travel to the base of the skull and the spine, not much since the most of it will be distributed throughout the surface of the skull. You tag that chin the spine just helps bounce your brain pan around like a bobble head lol

[47MartialMan]

Well, there are three primary strikes which seem to be effected by chin striking. One strike comes from underneath as per delivered by a uppercut. Another is straight on from a direct frontal. The third is from the side. A hard blow in any manner cause off-balance from normal brain functioning. In boxing, when one is KOed seemingly too easy, from the one to the side, per either the chin or the jaw, was referred to as "glass jaw". But some even give reference to a "glass chin".

Some give account for the action because when the chin is struck, forces the mandible to cause pressure on a group of nerves, sending interupted signals to the brain causing disorientation. Some point out that the force generates pressure on the styloid process, having effect on components of the ear.

The "rocking back" action, from the chin being struck from underneath, per a upper cut, has some point out that the force is generated to the neck vertebra.

Protecting the chin can be difficut as when action is being deployed, the body cannot fully keep the chin "down-secured"

[yuet77]

Thanks for your comments, whatever you told that is very helpful to protect our body parts.