the importance of large traps in MMA

[MMA]

there is a guy at my gym with MASSIVE traps. he regularly gives up his back, but it doesn't matter because he is COMPLETELY immune to the rear naked choke. a complete waste of time to even try, because his giant traps complete shield his neck. a lot of guys think a thick neck helps stop chokes, but they did a study (for olympic judo comps) and discovered that thick necks actually just made the chokes tighter. the traps are what really guard the neck, especially if you hold the correct shoulder position while grappling.

i don't know whether this is achievable for everyone, or this is guy is just a genetic freak, but i've really started amping up my trap work, and its already making it more difficult to choke me.

note, neck muscles are also extremely important in MMA, but they don't block chokes the way traps do, no matter how big they are.

[zimmy]

dude... it's not just big traps... I got a dude in my school who doesn't have a neck at all...he's body then head... I swear dude...he doesn't even BOTHER to block his neck. He gives his back and doesn't even worry about it... i always have to transition to armbar cus it's utterly useless

[sonar1234]

You guys should send this to David The Crow Loiseau, lots of trap exercices LOL this guy gives is back every damn fight he is in.

[simm]

Too big traps make you stiffer when you throw punches..jmo

[Panzerfaust]

Who cares about trap development, learn how to stop bleeding and then you defeat the Mata Leao

[USfighterFC]

I can def see how big traps help block a sunk in RNC. You'd have to bring your forearms at a more down awkward angle. I think thick necks would just make a choke more secure if anything. Pretty interesting stuff.