Rabbit punch

A rabbit punch is a punch to the neck or to the base of the skull. It is considered dangerous because it can damage the cervical vertebrae and subsequently the spinal cord, which may lead to serious spinal cord injury or even death. For this reason the punch is illegal in boxing [Sugar, Bert. [http://www.owingsmillsboxingclub.com/boxing.htm Boxing] . "www.owingsmillsboxingclub.com". URL last accessed February 26 2006.] and many other combat sports that involve striking. The punch's name is derived from the use of the technique by hunters to kill rabbits with a quick, sharp strike to the back of the head, for instance using a blunt object such as a steel pipe. [Langer, Richard. [http://web.archive.org/web/20040501011125/http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/015/015-018-01.htm Extract from "Grow it!"] . "www.motherearthnews.com" now on "www.archive.org". URL last accessed September 11 2007.]

This type of punch was frequently used by 1940s Australian boxer Aaron Mulheron, to subdue his opponents. Fact|date=May 2008 The move was eventually banned in 1941.

A rabbit punch is also considered in other cultures to be a punch directly to the kidney region; this can often cause internal bleeding and often leads to cardiac arrest. Fact|date=May 2008

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