What Is a Head Harness?

Every good athlete uses the equipment around them to improve their game and get the most from their training sessions. Boxers especially are known to take self-improvement into their own hands by using aids and additions to their sessions that aim to restrict their movements and work them harder than ever.

Studies have found that in the US alone, boxing has grown more than any sport from 2010 to 2020, attracting more than 26 million new American fans over that period of time. As it continues to grow and rebound over the last 50 years both internationally and in the UK, it’s only natural that new fighters are looking for the best ways to improve their game for the long term.

One of the best ways for boxers to do this is by using a head harness. Popular amongst boxing gyms and professionals, a head harness, or neck harness, can be the best way for young trainers to improve their strength and agility in the ring.

Research has discovered that a strong neck can help prevent neck and cervical spine injuries, as well as make you more durable in the ring; the study recommended long-term muscle training as a solution to reduce pain and increase neck muscle strength and range of motion.

That’s why we’ve put together this article explaining what a head harness is and how it can impact your boxing training. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what a head harness is, how it works and what benefits it can bring to your training.

What Is A Head Harness?

Almost all boxers will do anything in their power to improve the effectiveness of their training. Known to push themselves and their bodies to the limit, it is inevitable that young and mature boxers alike will always look for the best ways they can get the most from their workouts – and one of the most ideal ways they can do this is by using a head harness.

The head harness is a piece of boxing equipment that allows you to replicate the effects of weight training in the neck, in order to make you stronger and more stable in the neck and upper back muscles. Although neck training is not standard practice for amateur boxers, it can be the perfect addition to your workout and is often an overlooked and integral part of a professional or semi-professional boxer’s regime pre-fight.

A strong neck can be a valuable asset to a fighter because they can weather the storm of a punch easier. Stability in the neck will reduce the whiplash effect when you are rocked with a strong punch, and will significantly reduce the extent and speed to which your head is pushed back from a punch. As well as this, the concussive effect of punches will be minimised, as shaking within the inside of the skull will not be severe; strong neck muscles will help to stabilise your head faster and provide greater resistance against the punches, which can result in minimal shock and movement and therefore less concussive effects.

Most head harnesses, such as the Maxx Adjustable Head Harness sold by SportsMaxx, are made with delux quality nylon, chrome steel rings, adjustable head straps and leather materials that can come in a range of different colours and fonts. They are made with high-standard materials for greater durability and flexibility, helping users to adapt their equipment to their workouts and continue to make the most from their exertions.

Boxers such as Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are known to have used and continue to use head harnesses to develop the iron chin that they are so well known for. The chrome rings of the equipment are the perfect aid for mounting and holding weights in place, whilst the leather and nylon material of the product helps to prevent movement and tears in the equipment whilst in use. It can be the perfect addition to an aspiring professional’s training regime and can provide significant returns on investment once fully integrated into their schedule.

How Does A Head Harness Work?

Before using any kind of workout equipment, it’s important to have a strong understanding of how exactly it works. If you don’t have a firm understanding of how to safely use a piece of equipment, it could lead to you misusing it and getting no benefits from your workout, or even harming yourself. Here, you can learn all about how a head harness works to get the most out of using one.

When using the harness, you should strengthen your neck, place it on your head with the front part of the harness lower than the back part of the circumference, and ensure that it is secured tightly. The reason that you ensure the harness is attached this way is that when you move your head downwards, this will bring the front part up, and it will stop it from going too high. Additionally, firm attachment of the device in a comfortable position minimises the risk of strain, improper exercises and rubbing of the material – all of which could make it harder to use in the future.

A head harness works by targeting the semispinalis capitis, longissimus capitis, and splenius capitis muscles and isolating them for the most effective workouts – as a secondary target, it will also have the ability to target the sternocleidomastoid muscles. The head harness remains the number one exercise for strength athletes wanting to develop the entire neck region, which can be an attractive pull for boxers to try out this piece of equipment.

Because of the way that head harnesses are created and used, they can be implemented seamlessly into all workout routines and regimes. Furthermore, one of the biggest benefits of neck training for boxing is that you will find your neck muscles won’t need much time to recover from these exercises, and won’t interfere with other training you’re doing in terms of recovery either.

The number one issue for boxers wanting to train their neck muscles to resist punches better is that there is no safe way to do so. Attempting to balance weights on your head or neck can be dangerous, and hanging weights can lead to suffocation and accidents. Instead, head harnesses eliminate this problem by allowing for extreme comfort, unlimited loading potential of straight weight and flexibility for all different workouts, which can do wonders for making neck workouts more effective and, more importantly, safer in the long term.

Studies have found that most professional fighters train their neck 1-2 times a week, and often see great results in size, strength, and performance in the ring. As a tried and tested method of improving training performance, it is no surprise that many are researching how best to use a head harness, and jumping on the trend.

What Are The Benefits Of A Head Harness?

One of the biggest advantages of using a head harness is a more efficient neck workout. Boxers, kickboxers, football players, water polo players and MMA fighters particularly will all benefit from using the harness to develop the strength of their neck. This will protect them against injuries like concussions, where the head is impacted resulting in movement of the brain against the skull, as the neck will provide greater resistance against the impact.

Fighters looking to train their neck can experience a number of health benefits; it can improve the bone density of fighters and make their cervical spine stronger, which can make it more resistant to breaks and fractures, and can boost metabolism through an increase in muscle mass in your neck. Additionally, a fighter’s overall life expectancy can be increased from the protection of the neck and the aerobic fitness that is also going on whilst using a head harness, not to mention the fact that a strong neck can prevent fatal injuries during a car crash or fall.

Although we’ve slightly mentioned it, one of the most relevant and important benefits a fighter can get from training their neck is resistance to concussions. Concussions have forced many athletes to walk away from the game, and traumatic brain injuries have changed the outcomes of wins and losses because of athlete availability. The neck is a mobile joint system, and as such neck-strengthening exercises, even short ones can make a massive difference in the incidence and severity of a concussion.

Lastly, head harnesses and neck workouts can help you to get a psychological win over your opponent before the fight even starts. Nobody likes to fight a bigger and stronger opponent, and especially not one that has the physique of a superathlete like Brock Lesnar. Working out your neck can bulk up your overall figure and make you look like an intimidating fighter, which may be off-putting to potential opponents. This can give you a headstart to winning the fight before it has even started.