Neck training has been discussed on this blog before, along with numerous related discussions within the forum. Use of a weighted harness is one of the most common exercises for the neck. Below is a video that shows a low-tech variation with bands (starts approximately 50 seconds in).
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7047236306185198492
These band exercises are similar to a partner exercise that I often perform with a towel. The athlete will hang his head off of a bench or over the end of a boxing ring. The coach will then stand next to him with a towel draped over his head. He’ll apply resistance by pressing down with the towel, as the athlete resists with his neck (typically performed for slow, controlled reps).
With a partner and towel, you can train the neck in several directions. The athlete will begin by lying on his back, then each side, and finally on his stomach. Resistance bands can also be used in place of the towel. The added benefit of the bands is that they are much more useful when performing these exercises alone while standing (as seen within the video).
Ultimately, the neck is one of the most neglected areas. All fighters should train the neck regularly. Resistance bands are a useful tool to add to the neck training arsenal.
To ensure success and results with any strength training or conditioning program, it must be designed through the following principles in mind. Effective training programs will incorporate periodization, specificity, and overload, while avoiding overtraining.The following paragraphs will briefly describe what each of these terms mean.
PeriodizationPeriodization is a name used to describe the breakdown of a training program into periods, or phases. The idea behind periodization is to constantly present a new training stimulus to the body to force it to repeatedly adapt to this new stimulus.
If a new training stimulus is not presented, the body will adjust to the training and performance will not continue to improve and will eventually decline.