By: Sports Headline

Safety in the sport of boxing has always been the main concern since it was invented. Due to the continuous threat it poses on the brain, extensive research has been in place regarding contact sports such as American football. However, despite the physicality involved, the same cannot be said for the sport of boxing, which for the most part has still lagged behind in creating standardized testing procedures regarding protective equipment. That is, however, until Hit N Move came together with Virginia Tech. Together, they’ve reached revolutionary headgear safety results by truly proving that advanced technology can make huge improvements both in protection and performance.

Meeting the Need for Safer Boxing

Boxing is one of the demanding sports there is, and the headgear choice an athlete makes could very well determine their long-term health. Traditional designs of headgear have for years depended highly on bulk and heavy padding. These models protect from cuts and bruises but also have some side effects; they increase the cases of brain injuries. Heavier headgear carried on a boxer’s head adds weight to the head, which affects the balance and momentum when one experiences a blow.

This concern inspired Hit N Move, one of the innovative leaders in boxing equipment, to design the Precision headgear with the same protective qualities as older models but much lighter and sleeker. In order to validate their innovative approach, Hit N Move partnered with Virginia Tech to perform the very first standardized tests on headgear, awarding them a much-needed credential for this sport. 

Photo Courtesy: Hit N Move

Virginia Tech’s Role in Revolutionizing Testing

Virginia Tech has some excellent prestige regarding the safety of sports equipment, particularly with research and testing methods related to American Football helmets. It was from this foundation of expertise that they developed their own testing method for headgear in boxing.

Tests conducted by Virginia Tech were rather creative. Their pendulum system simulated the types of impacts a boxer would experience in a boxing match. The critical points they utilized for this study were the chin, temple, cheeks, and back of the head at three levels of energy. Each model of headgear – traditional Japanese, Mexican, and USA Boxing received numerous strikes at each energy level.

Precision headgear from Hit N Move joined the traditional models. Surprisingly, this model was 5 ounces lighter and far sleeker than the leading Japanese cheek protector but provided comparable protection in each category. Without the bulk, this was able to give boxers the freedom of movement and visibility needed to perform at their highest level.

Key Findings from the Study

Yet perhaps the biggest takeaway of this study, though, is that, overall, a headgear wearer has deeply reduced risks of concussion, as compared to sparring without protection. This is a helpful message to boxers and their trainers who commonly avoid wearing headgear while sparring because it limits both their vision and mobility.

But perhaps the important feature of Hit N Move’s Precision headgear was that it achieved the highest possible protection with much less bulk than other models. Here was a potentially paradigm-shifting discovery in the field of boxing equipment design with proof that safety and performance needn’t come at the cost of either.

Virginia Tech’s research validated that this headgear not only held its own against more traditional models in terms of protection but also conferred major benefits in terms of ease of mobility and visibility. By making the headgear smaller and lighter, Hit N Move could greatly improve a fighter’s ability to slip punches while maintaining peripheral vision and rapid response capability. All without sacrificing protection. 

Photo Courtesy: Hit N Move

The Importance of Scientific Validation

The scientific validation from Virginia Tech acts as a critical component to Hit N Move’s Precision headgear. A lot of companies tout how effective their products may be within the world of boxing gear, but without strict testing, they mostly fly under the radar unverified. This partnering with such a prestigious institution has shown that Hit N Move actually commits to producing safer gear that is justified by data.

Virginia Tech also cleared the use of the term “comparable” to the headgear’s protective capabilities, which scientifically proved the results sound. This, therefore, is how the Precision headgear can be validated to potentially change the game in the current market and offer boxers a more agile and lightweight alternative while still offering the ideal protection.

Photo Courtesy: Hit N Move

The Future of Boxing Safety

The breakthrough study results from Virginia Tech have brought a new era to safer boxing. With data supporting lighter, slimmer headgear being just as effective, other companies will likely join the Hit N Move approach of marrying protection with performance.

As boxing evolves, so must the protective gear that shields its athletes. The partnership between Hit N Move and Virginia Tech created a new bar-one that sets the price high for innovation, safety, and agility. Improvements like these give boxers protection but also allow them to be at their best during performance inside the ring.

Welcome the future in lighter, sleeker, and much safer boxing headgear.

Published by: Martin De Juan