People seem to be asking me this question a lot recently, so here the answer.
“How can I KO? What is a KO? Can I knock someone the **** out like Mike Tyson did?”
It is not rare to see someone drop “like a stone” in the boxing ring when punched with force in the correct part of the head. This is usually called the “knock out punch spot” and there is a simple explanation for why a boxer, or any person will crumple in a heap if you hit them there.
Amateur boxing aside, however great boxing is as a sport, the aim is still to hit the other guy as hard as you can until he falls down, this is the basic goal. Although this may sound brutal and thuggish, it requires a great deal of boxing expertise and athletic ability to make a successful knock out.
However, it is not always possible to see a boxing fight won by KO. Therefore there are other systems in place to decide on a winner. These are of course the boxing scoring system and the TKO (Technical Knock Out). A TKO is where the boxer is very dizzy, confused and generally weakened by the fight so that he or she cannot continue.
But a proper knock out punch is the stuff of boxing legends.
So how does a knock out punch render an opponent unconscious?
Knock outs that happen after blows to the body are not as impressive, but they are equally effective. The boxer is knocked out due to the result of internal injuries or extended fatigue. But the classic Knock Out punch is when a deadly blow is delivered to the head, usually the chin. This is why the first part of any boxing guard is to protect the chin, because if you don’t do that then you are done for!
The science behind the KO punch. This blow is so devastating because there is a nerve in your jaw that it vulnerable to this kind of punch. This nerve runs through the lower part of the jaw known as the mandible and it has a great deal to do with the operation and functioning of the teeth, the tongue, the lips, the sinus apparatus and the related functions of digestion. A humans nervous system is very complicated and everything is interconnected. Therefore damage to a nerve in one part of the body can result is dramatic results elsewhere.
When you are knocked out it is very similar to other times when you lose consciousness. What happens is you do not get enough blood and oxygen to the brain. Whenever this blood flow to the brain is reduced the brain does not get enough oxygen as it needs (as oxygen is carried in the blood). Unconsciousness happens as a result, as sort of natural defence.
You cannot control this, you cannot stop it, your body does it for itself.
The mandible nerve is very much interconnected with the digestive system of the body and so when the nerve is struck with force, say by Mike Tyson, it causes a chain reaction. The reaction travels through the nervous and digestive systems and can cause blood to accumulate in the abdomen.
The main this is that oxygen flow to the brain is reduced because the blood flow has been reduced and unconsciousness happens, without fail.
You then fall to the canvas floor, “Like a Stone”.
This punch has very little to do with how strong or powerful you are, the majority of skill in the punch is technique.
There is no real amount of punching power that will knock out a boxer, it all depends on both boxers.
But with the right technique you can exert an extreme amount of pressure as Bruce Lee famously demonstrated when his 1 inch punch had about 500 pounds of pressure.
So I’m sure your all wondering:
So how do I knock out my opponent/school bully/teacher/older brother/random people on the street who annoy me?
Well the answer is, you have to learn the technique. Go to a boxing gym or martial arts club and get a proper coach to teach you the technique to put power into your punches.
Once you have got the technique…just aim for the chin!
This is awesome. I have to say that this subject is very true considering the fact that I am a boxer and I do have other martial arts under my belt. I am also amazed that someone has found out how hard Bruce Lees one inch punch is. There is also a guy in town that teaches Bruce Lees martial art. Anyway this subject was well covered.
Comment by Justin — March 28, 2007 @ 2:56 am
I think you have an awesome article here. It is very important to develop critical punching power when delivering a knock out shot. I also agree with you on how the knock out shot has more to do with technique then it does with how strong or powerful you are. Great article!
Mike
Contemporary Fighting Arts
http://www.sammyfranco.com/phpbb
Comment by Mike — April 12, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
iam 13 years ol i have done a little bit of boxing and matial arts but i am wondering how hard i need to hit someone to knock them out but not kill them
Comment by coryskerl — May 14, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
i’m not an expert or anything, but i have to say power has a big part in it. that’s why we classify them as boxers and slugger. unless we are talking about heavy weights, which most of them are capable of knocking out anyone.
Comment by saucy — June 3, 2007 @ 8:00 am
studs
Comment by calum best — July 8, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
im more of a street fighter than a martial arts expert, but its true- it aint always about how big you are or how hard you can hit, its all about technique. ive seen a 5ft6 14 year old knock a hench 19 year old spark out because he knew how to punch.
Comment by tyronne — July 16, 2007 @ 8:02 pm
Punching someone in the temple with 400 pounds of force can KO them just as easily, but the jaw is easier to aim for
Comment by Anon — September 21, 2007 @ 2:53 am
I only weigh 161 pounds last week i got into a fight i had 3 friends who helpd aginst 10 i broke tha dudes eye socket then i started fighting the 250 pounder we where about equal but this week im fighting the best fighter out of all of em and i was wondering if i practiced punching the side of the neck if it would knock him out almost guarenteed? or if i should just aim for the chin or back of the jaw im not really worried if i hurt them seriously because all of these guys are 18 and older im 17 and one of them broke my little brother’s nose so i want to get him good for it
Comment by Alex Martin — October 18, 2007 @ 2:58 pm
im 13 with a second degree black belt. i have a broken ankle and this kid want a fight so a one-shot would be sweet
Comment by matt — October 28, 2007 @ 3:16 am
very intersting more of a heavy hitter at 200 pounds and never have to really carry a fight out for long if you was wanting to try any moves then just beat up on some chavs ( annoying as fuk luv nokin them around) try this video some interseting self defence moves.v.good
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/830218/lethal_street_fighting/
i remember once being sat on a patch of grass and this guy came over and spat on me for no apparent reason so as i stu d up i layed a punch under his jaw. a very rong thing to do especially how he was stood.
Comment by mat — November 14, 2007 @ 11:47 am
To build knockout power you need technique and the right way to train. Training with medicine balls push ups all help with power.
Comment by boxer1 — November 26, 2007 @ 10:13 pm
thanks for leaving the artical im still in school and i have been told i have quite a hard punch by a couple of people but i rarely fight because i dont like it. so there fore i get the oiss taken out of me very regularly with some very sad thing said to me. when i was younger i went to kick boxing and i was told that a hit to the temple could cause sever concution (a KO) with enough power behind it. also i was woundering how can i test the power of my puch in pps” (pounds per square inch) and i want to start boxing. please write to me and attempt to answer my questions at Michael@dibbern.demon.co.uk thanks for your time.
Comment by Dibbzy — December 12, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
very interesting! thx for the knowlage.
Comment by jon — January 7, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
This Website Is Great!
I’m Will Tell All My Friends!
I Often Go Boxing And Pick Up Fights On My Way In Life Such As In Places Like School Or On The Streets But I Never Fight Without Reason!
Comment by Daniel.S.Lewis — February 5, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
i have KO some one in the ring or ready well 15 peps but how counting lol
Comment by sheppard — March 18, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
its true i ko some 1 twice the size of me lol
Comment by rob — April 2, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
could this kill someone?
Comment by poppy — April 29, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
I am 14 years 0ld 6ft and I fight all the time (I’m an african american and in queens I never knocked someone out but everytime I hit them once they stopped fighting…I would really like to box can someone teach me..thankyou
Comment by quataee — June 25, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
i am 18yrs old 5ft8 from the north of the england and medium build i just wanted to say that i was in a bad fight the other day and it got a little bit out ov control becuause i was drunk and this lad was a dik aswell, when the fight was split up i ended up running back up to him and punching him in the side of his head that hard that loads of blood squirted out of his head i was drenched in blood, i just wondered what could of i dun to him and could i get sent to prison.lol trust me it wos a proper knockout sikk as fuk hahaha
Comment by knockout boy — July 22, 2008 @ 2:05 am
you just sounded like a fucking typical scumbag coward hitting like that….”
Comment by knockoutking — July 25, 2008 @ 10:29 pm