Why The Neck Flex is Superior
Neck training has been around for years and years going all the way back to the earliest days of modern man wrestling. The pulling of the neck to control your opponent is "training the neck".
This training is synonymous with the quote "where the head goes the body follows".
Neck training is primarily a method used in all Combat Sports such as Wrestling, Grappling, Boxing, Football etc.
Some of the ways to train the neck are:
Manual Resistance
The 4-Way Neck Machine
Plate Curls
The Neck Harness.
I'm going to talk about The Neck Harness and how a small company out of Texas/Virginia evolved this simple training tool into the "BE ALL END ALL" when it comes to Neck Training.
The old school neck harnesses were made of leather and quite durable. My first neck harness was a leather one and it is the one I used when I set a World Record lift in 2007 hoisting 300 lbs up off the ground in a rear neck extension for 2 full repetitions. Seen in the picture below.
This harness lasted me for many years and once saturated with salve the leather became even more durable. Finally the harness saw its end on that record setting day when I went for a 3rd repetition and the harness snapped.
The neck harness is primarily used to train the back of the neck. Some people do use it to train the front of the neck via laying down on their backs on a flat bench with their head hanging off the end and thus curling up and down.
I have never liked that version and found it very uncomfortable.
For building the back of the neck in my opinion there is no better way than hanging weight from your head & doing rear extensions.
There are many neck harnesses to choose from for this application but they are all the same with the exception of the quality in which they're built.
I recently did a video comparison between various neck harnesses that can be purchased online against The Neck Flex:
As you can see in the video some are made slightly better than others while most of them are simply too cheaply made and I feel would not be able to handle much weight and pose risk of injury under a heavy work load.
So what does this have to do with The Neck Flex and how did The Neck Flex take this old training tool and make it the best ever?
For one they made the durability of their harness insanely durable and strong.
Their harnesses can withstand whatever YOU, YES YOU can dish out when it comes to your strength level. I personally have put their Original Halo Harness and then of course The MMB PRO under heavy loads in excess of 135 lbs-190 lbs and no tearing, no slipping, no concerns, just a smooth, tight fit and fluid execution the whole set through. They also have a heavy duty harness called the Ballistic Kevlar kit.
Next unlike all neck harnesses that came before them that only had 2 D-rings on the harness (these had always been on the sides of the neck harness).
The Neck Flex added D-rings to the front and back of the harness along with two longer straps with D-rings that they aptly titled and patented 'DOG EARS".
This genius innovation took neck training to a whole new level of intensity and capabilities of neck growth where "THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ONLY LIMITED TO YOUR IMAGINATION".
But the men behind this brilliant idea weren't done they decided to add a band to their neck harness. Sure The Neck Flex comes with a chain as is normal but the band gives the user the ability to now train the sides of the neck and even the rotation of the neck. This concept was unheard of with using a neck harness.
The benefits were amazing, now they have a product that not only can train the neck in all angles but also with the use of the resistance band can be used for PREVENTIVE REHAB and NECK THERAPY.
This had never been done before, these two gentlemen Tom & Zach ultimately came up with the be all end all Neck Training tool kit that stands above everything else on the market.
For this reason there are 5 patents to their products. This is to keep those that want what they have at bay legally. That is what a patent is for, when your best the rest try and TAKE from what you've built.
I say when you're the first, you're the first and it can never be taken away from you...OFTEN IMITATED BUT NEVER DUPLICATED.
If you want to pay for some cheap neck harness and plan to use very little weight and just build an average neck while staying stuck in the PENCIL NECK POSSE then by all means go online and order yourself one of the other neck harnesses.
BUT...if you want to become a SAVAGE, a MAN WITH A TREE TRUNK for a NECK that is so damn THICK no matter what trouble life throws at you, you'll never be able to look down at your feet because your NECK WON"T ALLOW YOU. ALL YOU CAN DO IS LOOK UP!
If this is YOU, YES YOU! Then accept my invitation into The GATES OF YOKED-VILLE and become a NECKZILLA NOW.
Nuff said,
Machine out.
If you want to learn more about the history of Neck Training please go here:
Read my full 2026 ranking of five neck harnesses here
How my Neck Won a Fight
I was never that great when it came to the jacket arts of grappling, Jiu-Jitsu was not my thing but I did try, even winning some very early grappling tournaments back in the nineties under Kip Kollar first promotions. In 1997, I discovered Judo and found some success winning the 1998 Connecticut State Judo Championships. I was training under Serge Bouyssou and The MAYO QUANCHI JUDO CLUB. Having personally been caught in many rear naked chokes I want to address a common question— Can a stronger neck help prevent blackout when caught in a rear naked choke?
When caught in a choke is it more in keeping the chin down/tucked so the choke could not be sunk in? If your opponent is able to get the choke locked in, is your neck strength able to outlast his arm strength long enough for you to get the escape? My answer is simple and going to shock you.
Answer is NO!
If a man can simply escape from being choked out by having a huge/strong neck why are so many still being choked/tapped out? The reason why is because most of it is a state of mind and individual character. I am not claiming to be an expert on the mental side of the game. I can share what my mentality was when I was able to overcome and win. There were many matches I had where I faced adversity and was able to come back and claim victory.
Two matches stand out in my mind because I should have lost.
My opponents could not have asked for a better scenario, they had the perfect hold, both chokes were sunk in and deep.
Lets take a look:
The first match is from 1997 and was the 2nd North American Grappling Association tournament ever held by Kip Kollar. It was held at Elite Martial Arts Center in Pawtucket Rhode Island and was owned by the classy Manny Neves RIP. NAGA as it became know is one of the most famous grappling organizations today. I was a beginner and entered the open weight division. I weighed in at 230 pounds, was in great condition, very strong and really green (meaning inexperienced). My opponent was a Black belt and good Jiu-Jitsu player. His technique was crisp and quick and he was very good at controlling my head with the lapel of the jacket. It was really annoying me. Thankfully I was able to counter most of his attacks simply by being so much stronger than him. I constantly overpowered him until……he got my back and sunk in the great choke you saw above. I started to get light headed, my throat felt like I was swallowing my tongue. My vision became pixilated and I started to see double. I remember gasping for breath and thinking to myself crap I am done. I tried to remain calm and take short breaths through my nose and out my mouth. I continually worked one of my fingers into the side of the jacket to create space to get more air. My head was pounding like you get with a severe headache, the room was spinning and everything seemed foggy. I heard the referee ask me 3 different times are you ok? I thought about tapping out, my family was there, friends drove far to watch me compete, but I didn’t want to quit. The deeper I got my finger in between the jacket and my neck the more air I got. I had quit on myself many times in the past but not this time. I wanted to be a champion.
Right then and there in a split second I made the choice! Do yo understand I used my brain and made a decision to not quit. I was determined to win. The lights started to become brighter…… the pressure in my head was letting up…….. I was tired but I felt better. I was able to swallow and noticed my opponent was losing his grip. I was in top shape and knew this is my chance….. I waited and took as much air in through my nose as I could. When I felt my opponent re-grip his sleeve I made my move and escaped.
As seen HERE:
I ended up taking 1st place that day and winning my first amateur championship.
The next fight that stands out to me took place at the Wonderland Ballroom/Dog track in Revere Ma year 1999.
I can’t imagine a better set up as a grappler than the one my opponent had me in. This would have been a dream come true for any grappler and most likely would have led to a victory. I had other plans.
Here I was, the match just started and I made a costly mistake. I over shot my strike and my opponent was able to take my back and put me on the floor. He was able to hook in both his legs and sink a full rear naked choke. This gent was very strong and I was all about finished. I remember lying there and thinking to myself dang! I don’t want to tap out. Guess I’m going to sleep. The lights became dark as my eyes began to water. Pressure built in my head what felt like to the beat of my heart. My tongue felt like it had swollen and my throat became very sore. The yells from the crowd and the instructions from my corner became very distant like an echo. All the sudden the pressure stopped, the pounding in my head was almost gone. I felt faint and very relaxed. I think I was close to going to sleep……when all of the sudden my opponent adjusted his arms giving me more space to get my hand inside his wrist! The lights began to brighten, the screams from the crowd became louder then I heard my corner yell “Mike grab his foot!” Easier said than done since I was so out of it I didn’t know where I was and I couldn’t see his legs or his feet. Controlling one of his wrists I let go with my other hand and reached down till I found a foot. As you see in the video HERE I grabbed the wrong foot LOL.
My goal was to grab the foot and ram my elbow down into the same shin bone of the foot I was holding. This would put pressure on the shin bone enough to get him to loosen his grip around my neck thus allowing me to make my move to escape. It worked. I was able to escape, recover and move forward winning the Western Ma Submission Wrestling Championship. Did I win because of my neck strength or was it because on that day I was mentally strong and determined not to lose? Maybe it was a combination of both mental toughness and a strong neck?
In my opinion it is a combination of both.
You can have the biggest, powerfully yoked neck on the mat but if you are not mentally tough you will only go so far.
Old newspaper clipping about my strength and work ethic from High school for the wrestling team.
Training our neck in all 4 ranges of motion will definitely help our grappling game. It helps us be harder to control in the clinch and gives us the ability to defend better against chokes and neck cranks. The most important trait a man can have when stepping on the mat is a strong character.
A strong character, strong mindset and a strong desire to succeed will far outlast a strong neck.
Own your day,
The Machine
The Machine Neck-Ism’s
The Machine Neck-Ism’s
These were started by Matt Jhbjbkj, Bud Jeffries and Ben Bergman. I think they are hilarious and I’m deeply humbled. I hope you get as much cheer out of them as I am. If you have any to add just send them to me in the comments section or an email.
It is said that long ago an incredibly attractive female vampire bit Mike’s neck…as a result ALL vampire’s fangs fell out…that is why they now only exist on TV.
Chuck Norris actually grew his beard to hide his neck from Mike’s neck.
It is a little known fact that if you put Mike in a choke hold it actually cuts off YOUR oxygen.
Mike has accidentally killed three people by turning his neck too fast…shot the buttons off his shirt collar at such velocity it went thru all three at the same time.
Mike’s neck is so powerful the state of Kentucky buys extra power from it on weekends.
When Mike flies he’s required to buy two seats…one for him and one for his neck
Mike’s neck actually has it’s own social security number and pays it’s own taxes.
If Mike was made into a sculpture, the artist would have to take more rest on the neck than the rest of him
In the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” the giant stalk the boy Jack was actually climbing was Mike’s neck.
Mike isn’t allowed in a movie theater because he’d have most of the audience telling him to move his head.
There’s no harness that really hold Mike’s neck, the moment he puts it on it breaks, Mike needs to invent one just to keep it from breaking.
That story about Rapunzel, her hair is not long enough, the prince would have to climb Mike’s neck to reach the tower lol.
People who sell neck ties speak of Mike in hushed, reverent tones…often holding secret meetings on how to fit his neck.
I don’t know how mike survived in the Marines, he must’ve needed special stealth training because his neck stood out more than his comrads.
Thor’s hammer would break if it hit mike’s neck.
In pro wrestling, nobody would be able to chokeslam Mike, his neck would break their hand just by touching it.
I once heard that when Mike was wrestling his neck had it’s own pinning combinations.S
Surprised you’re choking, your neck can hold a whole warehouse lol
Construction workers called Mike because their cranes broke, they needed his neck to take out the building.
Matt Jhbjbkj says: Legend has it that behind Mike’s neck… is another neck.
Once Mike was on a ship that sank…..7 passengers rafted his neck to safety onshore.
Superman’s cape won’t fit on Mike’s neck…and it refuses to try because it feels inferior.
Mr. T’s signature gold chain mega set was melted down to make a single chain to fit Mike’s neck….it still wasn’t enough.
Mike once went to the jedi academy, they wouldn’t give him a lightsaber, he just lit up his neck and he was instantly ranked a jedi knight. No sith could take him
I think you are not able to smile because the girth of your traps is pulling all your facial muscles downward. :)
Mike’s neck HAS to be that big to hold up his ego!
Chuck Norris once kicked mike in the head, he couldn’t walk for a week.
If Mike got sued and went to court, his neck would have it’s own lawyer.
Mike’s neck has it’s own Monopoly board game
That old tale of “Who Done it” could never put mike in it, his neck is the key suspect.
In Hollywood, Mike’s neck makes more money then the rest of him.
They should’ve remade The Jungle Book because if Mike came to Mowgli’s rescue against Shear Kahn, that tiger’s claws would be torn off just from trying to slash mike’s neck.
Mike wins a bet and a bookie would have to pay interest because mike’s neck placed a bigger side-bet
Mike’s neck is so big and strong it needs its own workout journal.
Mike’s neck is so big it looks like a 3rd leg
When asked why mike built his neck so big he answered: So I will never look down again, with a neck this big I can only look up”
Mike built his neck up so he can support his ears