Do more compliant tendons in the arms soften the impact?

Discussion in 'Boxing Training' started by megavolt, Oct 31, 2011.


  1. megavolt

    megavolt Constantly Shadowboxing Full Member

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    I'm not too well versed in tendon anatomy so hopefully someone can help out- but to my understanding they seem to operate similarly to rubber bands

    I've read that compliant tendons are desirable for wide ranges of motion, but do they result in more "give" than a stiffer tendon when impact occurs?
     
  2. scrap

    scrap Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Analogy, Go to the Top of a Highrise Block of Flats. Drop a Brick when it Hits the ground it will break. Now do the same thing with a Rubber Ball.
     
  3. lefty

    lefty Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Having compliant tendons and stiff tendons at the right joints helps to maintain the energy throughout the correct range of movement, resulting in increased force. Increased force means harder impact on your opponent. Your muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons aren't just going to crumple in on themself.
    The forces summate throughout the movement. If the tendons of the shoulder were stiff it wouldn't be helpful because their contribution to power is small compared to the power being generated from the ground, it's an area that needs to easily pass on the forces. A compliant tendon allows that, making the transfer of energy more efficient.
    Stiff tendons of the shoulder would help if you pulled your shoulders back before every punch and you didn't punch through a full range of motion. That's why so many beginners come into the gym throwing short range arm punches, they don't understand boxing technique and think their benching exercises have been helpful in making their arms strong for boxing. Boxers punch with their arms right?
     
  4. bballchump11

    bballchump11 2011 Poster of the Year Full Member

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    Hey Lefty, what do you think about this thread? :nut

    http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=354633
     
  5. megavolt

    megavolt Constantly Shadowboxing Full Member

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    Interesting.

    Lets say the compliant tendon allows more force to efficiently travel through the arm; can it be said conversely that the return force traveling back will easily travel across your body thus making it a more rigid, single unit and thus more "weight" behind it?
     
  6. megavolt

    megavolt Constantly Shadowboxing Full Member

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    Trying to see the analogy here, are you saying the stiff tendon will tear and a compliant one will not? Because that's what I got.
     
  7. scrap

    scrap Boxing Addict Full Member

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    you got it, plus it will keep contracting.
     
  8. KillSomething

    KillSomething Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't want to come off as an ******* but hey, I am one so:

    Who cares? (ie how big of a difference does this make?)
     
  9. megavolt

    megavolt Constantly Shadowboxing Full Member

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    Hmm last I checked this was the sweet science..
     
  10. scrap

    scrap Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Analogy again, why should all Tyres on a car, be the correct Pressure.
     
  11. KillSomething

    KillSomething Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's why I'm asking: how much of a difference can this make? Seems negligible imo.
     
  12. lefty

    lefty Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Why would you say that if you don't know the measurable difference? If you don't understand the relative contributions of different tissues in the body to movements then it's impossible to explain to you.
    The body works as a unit, tendons recoiling efficiently and losing less energy when they recoil makes all the difference. Every sport has individual needs.
    Most strength and conditioning coaches are behind the eight ball when it comes to this sort of stuff, you'll begin to hear more over the next few years. S&C coaches are all about muscle physiology, a good sports biomechanist with a decent understanding of the nervous system would be able to improve an athlete more.
     
  13. scrap

    scrap Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lefty in my experience, you are spot on. Plus I can tell you, its not going to take 2 years. :good
     
  14. KillSomething

    KillSomething Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ok, and on that note, how would one go about stiffening/loosening one's tendons?
     
  15. scrap

    scrap Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Killsomething, Muscles and Tendons work for explosive Power, by Contraction. If you dont Stretch them in time, something will give snap, somewhere on the biomechanical line. One good thing that occurs, while Streching is you get tiny tares in the muscle, which with the help of Neurons the muscle learns to repair themselves.